subject: Maintaining Solar Panels - What You Should Know [print this page] If you are one who is considering installing solar panels, congratulations. You are looking at one of the most impactful ways to reduce your carbon footprint, reduce your dependence on fossil fuels and possibly be in a position to save a lot of money in the process. Solar panels can even provide enough energy to charge a hybrid or electric car, further reducing your ecological impact while saving even more money. But one thing you have to keep in mind when tallying the costs versus savings ratio is that solar panels do need to be maintained.
First, in order to be as efficient as possible, they need to be cleaned on a regular basis. Water spots, leaves, snow and other debris will affect how well the solar panels work and having a regular cleaning schedule will ensure you are getting as much power as possible from your grid. Another thing that needs to be done is to check the connections between the panels to make sure they're hooked up right. Not only will debris get on them but a loose connection needs to be corrected as soon as possible.
When a bad storm blows through, take time to look over your setup. Taking a look for damage from wind, hail or blown debris such as tree limbs will be an important part of your maintenance routine. While solar panels are designed to take some abuse from the elements, they are still susceptible to being damaged since they are in large grids. This means improperly anchored panels may blow off so ensuring you have taken all precautions possible to prevent it are essential.
One part of the solar energy system that will require replacing every few years is the battery packs. Even the most modern battery technology "wears out" which essentially means it won't hold the charge supplied by the solar panels. Aside from having to replace damaged panels, this will be the most expensive part of the maintenance process, albeit a necessary one to keep your solar panel grid working at peak efficiency.
Even with the maintenance needs and expenses, being able to convert to an all-electric, all solar home and changing over to an all-electric car will pay for itself over time. This means you will come to a place where you are saving money and if you have a power surplus, you can actually sell that to your local power company to earn money. Solar panels are finally to a place where they are not just ecologically important but economically important as well.
