What Kind of Maintenance Do Solar Panels Require?
Solar energy systems are typically sold as low-maintenance investments, and, in most cases, that’s true. But “low maintenance” is not “no maintenance.” If you have solar panels or are thinking about getting them, you should know how to clean them and how often they need to be cleaned. In this resource, we’ll take a deeper look at solar panel maintenance and bust common myths to reveal the ins and outs of how Efficient Home Services keeps your system running in tip-top shape for years and years.
Knowing the Life and Maintenance of Solar Panels
Today’s photovoltaic (PV) systems are designed to be long-lasting. Many top-of-the-line solar panels have warranties of 25 years or even more, and outperform that time frame by generating electricity. Yet the performance of a solar panel system can fail prematurely without regular inspections and care.
Maintenance isn’t a matter of fixing what’s broken, but of not allowing performance to decline. Dust, pollen, bird droppings, tree resin, and other dirt can obstruct sunlight and reduce the system’s energy production. Your system could be outputting less than what it was intended to, but without regular cleaning and checking the components, how would you know for sure?
So, what kind of maintenance is necessary to keep the panels running in top condition?
Regular Cleaning: It’s More Than Just a Hose and a Ladder
The number 1 type of solar panel maintenance is giving our panels a good clean. Even a small layer of dust can decrease your panels’ efficiency by 5 percent or more. Over time, that adds up. Although Florida rain can help wash away surface dirt, it does not always scrub quite well enough, especially in the dry seasons or if your panels are installed at a low angle of tilt.
At Efficient Home Services, we clean your panels using professional equipment and a deionized water system, ensuring a mild wash that keeps your panels in good condition, preventing any damage to the tempered glass and anti-reflective coating. Our staff is trained to notice buildup in places you would never look, so every panel gets the treatment it deserves.
System Monitoring – Early Warnings if things fail
The solar systems today are smarter than ever. Monitoring software follows real-time energy production and notifies you (or whoever maintains your system) if the output suddenly decreases. But it is only half the battle to be able to access that data — it is equally important to interpret it correctly.
Efficient Home Services also offers monitoring and professional diagnostics. If a panel is underperforming, we can see if it’s because it’s shaded, if a microinverter is malfunctioning, if there’s a wiring problem, or if the panel has been physically damaged. We stop small malfunctions from becoming costly fixes.
Inspections Are A Small Investment For A Big Payoff
Solar panels themselves have no moving parts, but the whole system includes electrical parts, like inverters, wiring, and mounting hardware, all of which can deteriorate or shift over time. Yearly inspections are important to safety and operation.
At an annual maintenance visit, the Efficient Home Services team will conduct:
- Examination of all panels for cracks, discoloration, or breaks
- Inverter output and efficiency test
- Inspection of all electrical connections and wire harnesses
- Assessment of the racking support and roof attachments
How the Environment Affects Your Solar Maintenance Requirements
The weather also has a lot of say in how to maintain solar panels as well. The environment in Florida, with its high humidity levels, lots of rainfall, salty location (coastal areas), and the hurricane season, needs to be taken into account.
Seaside corrosion can affect mounting parts and uncovered hardware. Effective and Affordable is made of high-quality steel that is designed to withstand the elements. And we use corrosion-resistant alloys to provide additional protection where necessary at Efficient Home Services.
Rooftop solar can be at risk in bad weather, with high winds and flying debris during storm season. After a hurricane, you should also have your panels thoroughly inspected — even if you don’t see physical signs of damage — because impact cracks can cause microfractures that create electrical leakage down the line.
Types of Solar Maintenance
If you’re considering rooftop versus ground-mounted solar, here’s a list of pros and cons.
Rooftop systems generally entail less vegetation maintenance, but can be more difficult to reach for cleaning and inspecting. Panels mounted on the ground are more accessible but may have to be cleared more frequently of grass, weeds, or animal obstructions. When you choose Efficient Home Services, your tech will possess the expertise to provide services for either configuration you require.
String vs. Microinverters
Your maintenance requirements may also vary depending on the kind of inverter your system uses. In a typical string inverter, the output of the panels is all tied together, so if there’s a problem with one, the whole array underperforms. Microinverters, on the other hand, turn the problems into something you can look at per panel, simplifying diagnostics but still causing you to check several failure points. We’re set up to service both technologies and adjust our maintenance procedures accordingly.
Battery Storage Systems
If you have battery backup as part of your solar system (Tesla Powerwall or Enphase batteries, for example), then maintenance goes beyond the solar panels. A battery not only has to have firmware updates regularly, but there must be a system to constantly probe the battery system for temperature and voltage balancing. When you choose our maintenance packages, you receive a complete battery assessment through Efficient Home Services.
DIY or Expert Care
Some homeowners are left to wonder if they can handle this kind of work themselves. It’s tempting to save a few bucks by lugging a hose and squeegee up to the roof and going at it yourself. But sometimes the risks outweigh the savings. Poor cleaning practices can invalidate warranties and damage panel surfaces, or cause electrical shock. And perhaps most importantly, DIY doesn’t account for the complete spectrum of maintenance—think electrical inspections, inverter testing, or structural assessments.
When you count on Efficient Home Services, you know that the experts will check every part of your system. Our maintenance programs are all about giving homeowners peace of mind without the inconvenience or danger of going it alone.
The Price to Keep Your Solar Panels in Working Order
The good news? Maintenance is also not so costly for solar panels. In most cases, a single annual cleaning and inspection visit costs less than you’d gain from the extra energy it makes available. Regular maintenance may even be part of a warranty or service agreement for the system.
Efficient Home Services has tiered maintenance plans, which are determined by system size, location, and whether it has added features (such as battery storage). Upfront and clear pricing, convenient hours, and transparent billing are essential elements of our service model.
The EHS Distinction
So, just what kind of maintenance do solar panels need? As we’ve covered, it’s not so much the cleaning of the panels, but system-wide care. Efficient Home Services is committed to making sure that your solar investment works for a long time.
Why customers trust us:
- Trained and Professional Technicians
- The best tools and techniques
- Continuous scanning and diagnostics
- In-depth report on the inspection and recommendations for repair
- Customized working knowledge of Florida weather at a local level
- Varying service plans to accommodate any system or budget
We do more than just install solar panels — we stick with you long after we leave your neighborhood to help you maximize your system’s performance, manage your system’s output, and get the most out of your solar experience while you own your system.
Get The Most Out of Solar Energy With Professional Servicing
What maintenance do solar panels require? If you’ve been asking yourself what kind of maintenance solar panels need, the answer is straightforward but extremely important: professional, comprehensive, and preventive maintenance. Like any long-term investment made to your home, your solar panels require extensive attention to keep their performance at an optimal level and to extend their life.
Make Efficient Home Services your friend in the care of your solar system. Our professionally trained staff performs everything from routine cleanings to advanced diagnostics so you can maximize your renewable energy investment. Whether you’re a recent solar customer or a longtime owner who wants to return to a peak of performance, we’re on hand.
Ready to maximize the value of your solar system? Contact us today to schedule your maintenance inspection or to inquire about a personalized care plan for your system. Your panels are busting their ass for you every day, let the best in the business keep them doing what they were created to do…making you money!
