A lot of people in Australia have already switched to solar energy in their homes. It is not only a sustainable source of energy, but it actually saves you on electricity bills in the long run. Maintaining solar panels may not be a walk in the park, but if you perform regular, preventive maintenance, it will help keep them running at peak performance and last for decades.
Here are some of the reasons why solar panel maintenance is important:
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PERFORMANCE WILL BE CHECKED.
Your solar panel expert will be able to check whether your solar energy system is in top condition. By conducting a performance check, you will be able to see if your solar energy system is at its peak and is producing a lot of energy for use. Problems are also identified early and you will be able to do something before things get worse.
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ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS WILL BE MANAGED.
If some of the electrical components of the solar energy system are faulty, particularly wiring, the system will deteriorate and would not be able to function properly. As time goes, these components suffer from wear and tear, and so a regular check-up from a professional will help you manage this and prevent further damage as well.
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CLEANING
Part of regular maintenance is cleaning the solar panels. The solar panels are responsible for bringing in solar energy into your homes. Dirt and debris build-up or broken panels may result in lower production. So regular cleaning helps to ensure that your solar panels can capture a good amount of sunlight to produce as much power as possible.
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PROTECTION FROM SURGE
Extreme weather conditions like storms may negatively affect your system because solar panel arrays are vulnerable to surges in voltage. It will harm some of the components and affect energy production. Upgrading and maintaining your surge protection can help protect your solar energy system from damage and downtime.
Since solar panels are the ones responsible for bringing in enough sunlight for energy conversion, obstructions should be immediately addressed. During regular inspection, the following should be checked from your solar panels:
- Loose leaves or vegetation growth
- Loose or exposed wiring
- Corrosion
- Water damage
- Animal infestation
- Discoloration, burn marks
- Broken or cracked glass on the panels
- Loose or missing bolts
- Roof drainage problems
When ignored, these can cause low performance or possible damage to your solar panels. Solar panels are generally low maintenance and are built to last for decades. But these are very costly and are considered to be an investment. Exercising proper care and precautions will help maintain them and give you value for your money.
A yearly maintenance check and review is highly recommended by solar panel experts. This should include the regular performance check, cleaning of solar panels, and auditing the system. By doing so, you will be able to identify small problems and address them before they get worse. You are also at ease knowing that your investment is performing at its optimum.
Of course, it’s important to make sure that the person who’ll be checking your solar panels is a licensed solar panel expert.