There are many advantages to installing solar panels in your home. Not only can they be a great way to save money on your energy bills, but they will also go a long way toward reducing your home’s carbon footprint. Installing them isn’t exactly inexpensive, but they can last about 25 to 30 years. You’ll have plenty of time to see a return on your investment. But if you want to get the most value and productivity out of your solar panels, you will need to do the proper maintenance.

While their maintenance requirements aren’t as heavy as other parts of your home, you can’t just forget about them. All you need to do is give your solar panels a good cleaning, because dirt and debris can collect on your solar panels (especially during storms and long periods of rainfall). You may also want to consider scheduling an annual inspection with a solar specialist who can make sure everything is in working order.

How You Can Monitor the Health of Your Solar Panels

To keep an eye on the health of your solar panels, you should regularly check them for the buildup of dirt and debris (which can affect their performance). It’s natural for your solar panels to experience a decrease in performance as time goes on. But if they’re underperforming, it might be a good idea to see if they need a good cleaning. Some solar panels have mobile apps that will show you how much energy each panel is producing in real-time. If you see a dip in performance that’s unusual for their age and condition or if something has gone wrong, you’ll get an alert on your phone.

How to Maintain Solar Panels

Because dust and debris can build up on your solar panels (which can affect their production), keeping your solar panels maintained may be as simple as grabbing a hose or bucket of water and cleaning them off. This is the only type of solar panel maintenance you need. But if you don’t want to do it yourself, you can hire someone to do it for a relatively low cost. If you experience any other problems, you can contact your solar panel installer to schedule an inspection. That way, you can find out if any other types of solar panel maintenance have to be taken care of.

How Often Solar Panels Need to be Maintained

Because solar panels require very little maintenance (with the most common issue being the buildup of dirt and debris), it will depend on where you live. It can also depend on your area’s climate, environment, and weather. If your area has an active storm season, you may need to clean your panels more often during that time of year. If you live in an area where you can experience long periods of no rainfall, you will most likely need to check your solar panels regularly for dirt buildup.

Solar panel companies often recommend cleaning your solar panels at least twice a year, regardless of the weather conditions and where you live. This will reduce the chance of having too much dirt and debris collecting on your panels. More will accumulate as time goes on. The longer you let it go, the harder it will be to clean. Read the manual that came with your solar panels, and look for any suggested maintenance practices.

The Cost of Solar Panel Maintenance

While the cost of keeping your solar panels maintained is pretty low, it might be worth considering other costs. Some solar panel companies have a mobile app that will allow you to monitor your usage, but you can always get your own by paying a small fee. If you’re spending $300 a year to have someone clean your panels twice a year and $200 for an annual maintenance inspection, those annual costs should be considered while you’re figuring out your break-even point for getting solar panels.

What You Need to Know About Solar Panel Warranties

The warranty from your solar panel company is a promise to fix or replace your solar panels if they don’t work properly or have any defects. Manufacturer warranties will usually cover solar inverters, solar batteries, as well as any defects related to workmanship or materials. Installers will also offer warranties, which typically cover any damage or defects during the installation of your home’s solar panel system. They may also offer a production, performance, or power output warranty (which guarantees that your solar panels will produce a certain amount of their original energy (also called “output”) over a certain period.

If you’re looking for one of the best places to get solar power in Corpus Christi, be sure to reach out to Solar Power Integrator.