Solar Panel Maintenance
Solar panels continue to decline in price even though imports have recently slowed down. With the 30% federal tax credit, photovoltaic systems can cost as little as $2.00 per watt. Interested homeowners often express worry that they won't understand this complicated technology. Fortunately, solar panels are simple to maintain.
Panels
An average 5 kW system uses 20 to 25 panels, which cover about 30 to 50 square meters of roof space. They will accumulate dirt and algae over time, but leaves and other large debris will generally blow off of the panels' smooth surfaces.
Even a fine layer of dust will block some sunlight from reaching the photovoltaic cells, and they'll generate less electricity over time. To restore panel efficiency, spray off the panels with a garden hose from the ground two or three times a year.
At least once a year, climb onto the roof and manually scrub dirt off with a brush. After the dirt is broken up, rinse the panels off with a garden hose. Although you may want to clean your solar panels off periodically throughout the year, you'll especially want to hose them down in the spring to clear off any pollen.
During the summer, don't hose your panels off in the late morning or afternoon. Cold water from the hose can damage your solar panels when they've been sitting in the hot sunlight for several hours.
Batteries
The batteries typically used in off-grid photovoltaic systems can require more maintenance than the panels themselves. While you can install batteries that are maintenance-free, they are substantially more expensive.
Lead-acid batteries are far more common because they're affordable and reliable. However, they will need to be refilled with water on a regular basis. To charge up, lead-acid batteries release a tiny amount of hydrogen gas, and they'll stop functioning without water.
How often you need to refill your batteries is determined by how often you discharge them, but you should check your batteries every 2 to 3 months to ensure that they're not running out of water. Dry batteries can run into problems like sulfate buildup, which can cause irreparable damage.
You will also want to take a soft wire brush to remove any corrosion or buildup on the terminals. Solar battery systems are expensive to purchase, so you'll want to perform regular maintenance to avoid costly replacements.
Monitoring
Besides keeping a log of your battery levels, you can track your system's overall performance by installing a solar monitor. Some monitors let you track the performance of individual solar panels while other monitors only record overall system performance.
The first warning sign that your system is malfunctioning is a sudden drop in performance. Without a monitoring system, you might not even know that there's a problem with your photovoltaic system until it stops working entirely.
Many solar installers also offer extended service plans so you don't have to worry about maintenance at all. For a small fee, service technicians will come out to your house several times a year to clean off your panels and ensure that your system is running efficiently.
