Solar Panel Maintenance: Tips and Tricks for Longevity

Installing solar panels is a significant investment that can pay dividends for decades through lowered or eliminated electricity bills. However, it is essential to properly maintain your solar panel system to ensure optimal performance and longevity. This comprehensive guide covers all the key tips and best practices for solar panel maintenance.

Why Solar Panel Maintenance Matters

Solar panels can last 25-30 years or even longer with proper care and maintenance. However, neglecting maintenance can lead to a rapid decline in system performance and durability. Here are some key reasons why regular maintenance is essential:

• Removes debris buildup, dirt, pollen dust that blocks sunlight
• Prevents overheating and damage from extreme weather events
• Detects early signs of wear, cracks, corrosion etc.
• Maintains optimal energy production year after year
• Extends the total usable lifespan of the solar system

Benefits of Regular Maintenance

• Optimizes solar electricity production
• Saves money over the system lifetime
• Prevents costly repairs or replacements
• Enables the system to work as intended
• Gives peace of mind that system is functioning safely

Creating a habit of periodic inspections and maintenance tasks will keep your solar investment delivering returns for decades.

6 Key Tips for Proper Solar Panel Maintenance

1. Visual Inspections

• Schedule walkaround visual inspections every 6 months. Some issues to look out for:
  • Debris accumulation
  • Damaged/cracked panels
  • Corrosion
  • Pest infestations
  • Ground erosion
  • Issue with structural integrity (detachments, loose parts etc.)

2. Clean Solar Panels

• Schedule deep cleanings 1-2 times per year
  • Spring and Fall work well
  • Use soft brushes and avoid abrasive materials
  • Dish soap or specialized PV panel soap optional
  • Avoid cleaning when panels are hot
  • Safely remove all debris, dirt etc. with water
• For frequent light cleanings, rain can suffice

3. Trim Overhanging Tree Branches

• Schedule twice yearly inspection for encroaching tree branches
• Trim any branches threatening to overhang and cause shading

4. Inspect Electrical System & Wiring

• Check wiring connections to make sure they are intact and corrosion-free
• Ensure wires are attached and housed properly without risk of damage
• Address any damaged wires or connectors observed

5. Bolts, Screws and Structural Integrity

• Examine structural integrity twice per year
• Tighten any loose bolts, screws, and fasteners
• Check attachment points to roof and ground mounting
• Address any observable structural wear or weakness

6. Maintain Vegetation

• Keep weeds and other vegetation in check
• Overgrowth can cause shading or damage panels
• Schedule zone around solar array to be cleared 1-2 times per year

Solar Panel Maintenance Guide

Here is a more complete step-by-step walkthrough guide to solar panel maintenance best practices:

Quarterly Maintenance

Conduct Visual Inspections

• Walk around the solar system
• Check for damage, debris accumulation, corrosion etc.
• Inspect wiring system
• Check mounting integrity

Remove Debris with Light Cleaning

• Use soft brush and remove built-up debris
• Spot clean any bird droppings, leaves, dirt etc. by hand
• Hose down area to allow rain runoff

Maintain Vegetation

• Keep weeds and plants trimmed around the solar site
• Check for overhanging branches

Yearly Maintenance

Thorough Solar Panel Cleaning

• Schedule when sunny weather is expected for several days
• Have helper safely access panels
• Use soft brush and soap/water mix
• Carefully clean each panel until 100% debris-free
• Take safety precautions against electric shocks

Tree Trimming

• Trim any tree encroachments that could shade panels
• Check twice yearly for new branch overhangs

Structural Inspection

• Inspect roof attachments, mounts, etc.
• Tighten any loose bolts or screws
• Check for any weaknesses or detriments

Electrical System Evaluation

• Hire a solar professional to inspect
• Check all connections, wiring housing
• Address any documented issues

Every 3 Years

• Have a solar professional do a deep clean
• This may involve carefully removing panels for inspection
• Allows hard-to-reach areas to be fully cleaned
• Ensure any issues get documented

As-Needed Maintenance

After Extreme Weather Events

• Heavy rain, wind, hail, and snow can damage solar systems
• Do visual inspection for broken panels, and debris issues after storms
• Document any damage discovered

Address Pest Issues

• Some birds and insects can nest under panels
• Rodents can chew wiring causing fire risks
• Have any infestations safely removed

Troubleshooting Electrical Issues

• Dimming lights or tripping breakers signal issues
• Hire a solar pro to test connections and wiring
• May require an electrician if house wiring impacted

Repair Structural Damage

• Severe weather, debris, time can compromise mounts
• Fix loose bolts promptly to avoid detachments
• Have professionals properly reattach any dislodged panels

Replace Broken Solar Panels

• Extreme weather, accidents, falling debris can crack glass
• Most modern panels don’t need full replacement
• Typically, just broken unit will need solar pro to swap out

Inverter Replacement

• Inverters transform solar energy into usable electricity
• Life expectancy is around 10-15 years
• Hire a solar pro when replacement is needed

Setting Up a Maintenance Schedule

Maintaining a calendar reminder system is highly recommended to stay consistent with solar system upkeep. Here is a template annual schedule:

Customize this template based on your climate, plant life, weather patterns and solar system needs. The key is sticking to a consistent schedule that fits your situation. Apps like Duosida and SolarLife have built-in maintenance reminders too.

Some additional date-based tips:

• Schedule cleanings for sunny, dry weather stretches
• Best Months for cleanings vary by climate:
  • Hot & Dry: February-May
  • Temperate: March-October
  • Cold & Wet: April-September
• Clean in early AM before panels warm-up
• Enable easy roof access for any roof-mounted tasks

Having a solar maintenance checklist printout stored with related manuals also helps streamline the process when the time comes.

Documentation & Monitoring Best Practices

Creating System Baselines

• Document system performance when brand-new
• Log initial electricity production totals per month
• Take photographic record of all equipment

Use data to compare against in the future to check for deterioration

Logging Electricity Production

• Track monthly solar electric generation totals
• Review annually and compare to baseline
• Make a note of any decreases year over year

Recording Maintenance Tasks

• Save dated maintenance checklists after completion
• List observations and issues for solar pro review
• Keep descriptive photographic evidence as well

File Sharing with Installer and Solar Professional

• Grant digital access to documentation
• Enables remote troubleshooting and performance analysis
• Check-in if production drops or new damage occurs

Thorough documentation provides insight into system health and helps identify developing problems early.

Proper solar panel maintenance goes a long way toward protecting your investment in renewable energy. Following these solar panel care and cleaning best practices will help your system function efficiently for decades to come. Reach out to solar professionals whenever issues emerge and stick to a regular maintenance schedule.