How to Ensure Your Solar Panels Last a Long Time
After you’ve purchased solar panels and installed them on the rooftop of your residence or small business in Australia, you should ensure that you take care of them so that they last a long time. The following are some important tips to help ensure that your solar panels last.
Keep them clean
After installation of the solar power system on the rooftop, it works so well that you forget it exists. However, the panels are exposed to bird droppings, dust, grime and other substances which may interfere with the exposure to direct sunlight, and this goes a long way in negatively affecting the performance of the solar system.
The frequency in which the solar panels should be cleaned depends on the place where you live. For example, if you live in an area where there is ongoing construction or in a windy, dry area then a lot of dust is likely to settle on the panels and obstruct sunlight, and the panels may need frequent cleaning. Therefore, in some areas, cleaning may be required every week while in others, cleaning may be required after one, two, three, or several months. Generally speaking, you should regularly check the panels; if you find there is a layer of dust on them then it implies there is a need for cleaning.
How to clean the panels
Caution should be exercised when cleaning solar panels because some cleaning materials and detergents may cause scratches on the glass and thus affect the functioning and performance of the solar power system. The goal of cleaning the panels should be to remove dust, grime or other materials that have accumulated and settled on them without causing any scratches because these will create shadows and have a negative effect on the performance of the solar system.
You should completely avoid the use of a cleaning sponge or abrasive soaps in cleaning solar panels because these will cause scratches and may ‘eat away’ the glass. Because most of the panels are installed on rooftops where reaching them may not be easy, you should use a soft cloth and mount it on a brush with a long handle to ensure that you reach them without having to climb onto the rooftop.
If the panels are placed so high such that you can’t reach them while on the ground, you may want to consider hiring an expert to do the job rather than exposing yourself to the risk of falling when cleaning.
Ensure that they are placed where there is maximum exposure to sunlight
Solar panels should not be placed under shade because this will negatively affect their performance. You should find the best location or position for the installation of the solar power system. Expert installers position the panels such that they are exposed to direct sunlight right from dawn to sunset. To function optimally, the entire surface of the panels must be exposed to direct sunlight. If there is shade that covers about a quarter of the panel’s surface area, you won’t lose only a quarter of its total output, but about half or even more of its optimal output.
Monitor the panels daily
You should check the solar panels and see whether there is any dust or other substance covering them, and check if they are functioning properly. When functioning properly, most solar power systems will have an LED (Light Emitting Diode) display which emits a green light. Other systems may have lights of different colours to indicate operational problems. Read the user manual to learn the indicators of normal or abnormal performance of the solar power system you’ve installed.
