How to clean and maintain your residential solar system 

You bought solar panels for your home, but how do you keep them clean? 

Better yet, how often should you inspect your system? 

Aside from the cost of solar panels, these are two of the most commonly asked questions asked by homeowners who are curious or who just went solar.

Even though modern solar panels are built to be tough, solar system owners should know how to inspect and perform basic cleaning and maintenance on their system. By periodically checking on your solar system, you will be able to see if anything is amiss long before it becomes a problem. You will also help keep your solar panel system operating at peak efficiency while extending its overall productive lifespan. 

This is an important and overlooked aspect of owning your own solar panels, which is why we decided to put together this updated 2018 guide to cleaning and maintenance. 
 

Solar panels have no moving parts

The great news is that solar panels are really durable, and because they have no moving parts, they require very little maintenance. If the worry over maintenance keeps you from joining the solar revolution, then worry no more, because solar panels are made to take life and the weather head-on. You won’t have to climb on your roof every weekend to keep the panels in tip-top shape.

Nevertheless, as a general rule, you should perform a few simple cleaning tasks and performance checks a couple of times per year. Only do this if you own your solar panel system. If you lease your solar panels from a third-party, all maintenance and repairs are the solar company’s responsibility, not yours.
 

Those solar panels are made to stay fairly clean

Since there are no moving parts in solar panels, the rain should naturally clean the panels enough. If you live in an area that doesn’t receive a lot of rain, or it becomes dusty in the dryer months you may need to brush off debris and dirt a few times a year to avoid a dip in production. If you neglect your system and it gets covered in dirt, it can definitely degrade performance as much as 20 percent. Water vapor and droplets let sunlight through. Dirt is just a bunch of really little rocks and sand. If enough dirt covers your panels, the sun can’t get through as well.

Other than dust storms, you shouldn’t be worried about different weather scenarios when it comes to keeping your panels working in great shape. If you are concerned about the effect of snow or other weather conditions on your panels see the article about how solar panels are durable and take what nature throws at them. If you live in an area that has frequent dust storms, you are probably checking the panels after storms anyway, so just keep it up.

If you have neglected cleaning your solar panels for quite a while, you may want to clean the glass surface with a damp sponge or cloth. Solar panels are waterproof, so water or mild detergent can safely be used whenever necessary. Try to avoid strong solvents or abrasive detergents as they may damage the panels and void your warranty. 

If your panels are mounted in a place that is difficult to access, it may be better to hire a professional cleaning service. Ask your solar installer to recommend someone local to help you. They are in most areas, and if not, your installer will most likely be able to clean and perform maintenance on the solar system. Since we are in the Sacramento area, here is a solar cleaning service nearby in Roseville. They are called Advanced Solar Cleaning Specialists, and they are highly rated. 
 

How to clean power inverters and wiring

If you use a string inverter then it is a lot easier to check and make sure it is working properly. If you have a solar system where the panels are not all connected on a string, it can be more difficult to check and maintain microinverters that are mounted below each solar panel. Wiring should also be checked for any corrosion, cracking, or breaking. If any evidence of deterioration is found, the installer of the system should be contacted immediately. Installers are trained to handle these problems, and anything that converts electricity from DC to AC current should always be left to professionals. The last thing you want to do is electrocute yourself or damage your solar system. 
 

If you have a battery, how do you keep that clean?

If you rely on a battery for the backup power you will need to periodically inspect the battery to make sure it remains functional. Even so-called “maintenance-free” batteries require regular inspections of the case, terminal connections, voltage, and wiring a couple times a year. Just make sure everything is fairly clean and there is no corrosion.

The bottom line is a clean solar system performs better. Basic upkeep of a solar system will keep you on top of any problems. We do not suggest fixing any of it yourself, but if you do see something wrong or weird during inspections, then please call the installation company that built the system.
 

What if you need emergency maintenance for your solar panels

Today, all solar panel manufacturers provide warranties that guarantee coverage in situations that result in unforeseen damage, such as hail, falling tree branches, or system malfunction. Usually, solar panel warranties last 25 years, inverter warranties last at least 10 years and many of them are growing to 25-year guarantees. All those warranties and guarantees cover the cost of repair and replacement. Remember that regular preventative checks can help you address any issues with your solar panel system before they become real problems.

Solar panels and surrounding system are all made to take the weather and keep working. With a little checking and maintenance, your system will keep running for years to come.  

If you want to take the leap and see how joining the solar revolution can help you, please visit the HahaSmart  Price Checker Tool yourself. You can see how much solar would cost in your area, and we can also help find local installers that can help you with every step. Enter your information and stop paying the utility your hard earned money.

For information relating to going solar don’t forget to visit our solar blog section for more handy guides and articles.