How to maintain your solar panels

Worried about solar panels and hail? Fret not! Solar panel systems are incredibly durable and require little to no maintenance over their productive lifetime, spanning 25 years or more.

If something goes wrong, your solar PV system components have long warranties covering replacement and repair costs. If you lease your solar panel system, repairs and maintenance are the leasing company's responsibility, not yours.

As mentioned above, solar panel systems generally do not need much (if any) maintenance over their lifetime. Solar panels are made of tempered glass, so they're built to withstand hail, strong winds, and other rough weather. Except for solar systems with tracking mounts, solar panel systems don't have movable parts, which reduces the possibility of any problems. For the most part, keeping your panels clear of debris is all you'll need to do regarding maintenance. Any issues with solar panel performance are usually related to electricity production, which is why most installers recommend monitoring your system's production. By paying attention to production changes, you can proactively identify and address issues.

Should you clean your solar panels?

Generally, solar panels don't need to be cleaned - rooftop panels at an angle will naturally clean off with rainfall. If you live somewhere where there is a lot of smog, dust, or dirt, you may see a dip in your production (especially during times of low rain) over time that can be remedied by cleaning your panels. If your panels are mounted on your roof, however, your best option is to hire a professional cleaning service rather than try to clean them yourself. Your installer will be able to recommend someone local to help you.

Cleaning your panels can improve their performance, especially if they are roof-mounted. Some light cleaning is recommended 1-2 times a year to clean away debris and ensure the sun is making full contact with each panel. If you decide to clean your panels, your best option is to hire a professional cleaning service rather than try to clean them yourself. Your installer will be able to recommend someone local to help you.

How to clean your solar panels

If you must clean your solar panels, carefully follow the steps below.

1. Shut off your solar panels.

2. Wipe off the surface of your panel with a brush.

3. Use a low-pressure hose or source of water to get rid of other debris

4. Scrub the remaining areas softly with another brush

5. Monitor output to find if the cleaning has made a difference in efficiency.

A solar system that is either damaged, dirty, or otherwise malfunctioning will leave a trail of breadcrumbs in its energy output stats. By monitoring your electricity bill, using system software, or installing a solar monitoring system, in most cases you can narrow down the culprit for faster-than-usual degradation.

As with any service that involves hiring professionals, some cost is associated with cleaning and maintaining solar panels. The good news is that because cleaning and maintenance are not frequently needed, annual solar panel maintenance costs are pretty low. They could be as low as a few hundred dollars per year or $10 per solar panel.

At some point in their useful lifetime, your solar panels will probably come into contact with unfavorable weather. Modern solar panels are designed to withstand lots of damage from the elements, including rain, snow, and high winds. Even though weather damage isn't common, purchasing panels with a strong warranty is important in case you need to repair or replace them.

Solar panel manufacturers provide a range of warranties that guarantee you will have support and coverage in the unlikely event of an issue caused by unusual circumstances, such as large hail or falling tree branches. Power output warranties guarantee that panel performance won't fall below a specified level over the warranty term (usually 25 years). For instance, a manufacturer might provide a warranty to guarantee that peak power output won't fall below 85 percent for 25 years.

Some manufacturers will also include an additional warranty that promises a higher output level over a shorter period. For example, a secondary warranty might guarantee no less than 90 percent of the initial power output for the first ten years.

Panels typically come with a workmanship warranty that protects consumers against defective panel parts, generally for the first five years of operation. Solar inverters also come with warranties, usually for ten years. In many cases, these warranties mean that you'll pay little to no solar panel maintenance costs over the lifetime of your system.

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