In only 10 years, the price of solar electricity fell by 89%. Because of this drop, installing solar panels is now affordable and accessible to the average homeowner. But you may wonder, how difficult are they to maintain?
Luckily, solar panel maintenance is not too difficult. With just a few steps, you can keep your solar panels lasting for many years to come. Let’s take a look at what you need to do.
How Long Do Solar Panels Last?
Solar panels are great because they provide passive power with very little effort. The majority of the effort in working with solar panels is over once they have been set up. With this in mind, longevity is an obvious concern.
The good news is that solar panels can last a long time. Properly taking care of solar panels can cause them to last up to 25 years or even more.
However, it is important to note that proper solar panel maintenance is required to reach this extended lifespan. A lack of maintenance can degrade solar panels and reduce their longevity. A lack of maintenance can also reduce a solar panel’s efficiency.
Common Solar Panel Maintenance
Solar panels don’t require much maintenance in order to keep them functioning. However, there are a few things you can do in order to make sure they last as long as possible.
Cleaning solar panels is often the most direct form of maintenance. The panels need to be clear in order to make sure there isn’t anything obstructing sunlight from making it to the panels. You can simply periodically clean the panels off to remove any dirt, leaves, or other debris.
Rain can even help you with some of this maintenance. Titled panels allow rainfall to clear away a lot of the debris that accumulates on the panels. You may just need to clean them manually during extended periods without rain.
It’s also helpful to clean them generally about two to four times per year. You can just clean them with a leaf blower or a garden hose.
If you have a heavy snowfall, you should also clear the excess snow away. You can use a squeegee with a long handle. Or you can clear it with water from a garden hose.
Signs You Need New Solar Panels
Caring for solar panels helps, but they do not last forever. Eventually, they will need to be removed and replaced. Knowing when to do this can help keep your solar power system running at peak efficiency.
The most obvious sign that your solar panels need to be replaced is reduced output. If energy production has dropped significantly, it may indicate that the panels are wearing out.
However, before jumping to conclusions, make sure there isn’t another possibility. Ensure that the panels are clean and well-maintained. Visually inspect them to see if the reduced output is caused by a physical obstruction. Also, consider having the panels professionally inspected.
If you’ve determined that new solar panels are necessary, don’t wait to have them replaced. You want to make sure your system is operating at its best. Contact a solar company like blueravensolar.com/south-carolina/charleston/ and have your problem taken care of.
Keep Your Solar Panels Top Notch
Solar panels can last as long as 25 years with proper maintenance. While there isn’t much to solar panel maintenance, cleaning them off and watching for signs that you need new ones is helpful.
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