We get asked a lot at Voltora Industries whether maintenance is required for solar power systems we install for clients. The answer is yes, there is a level of maintenance and servicing that goes into ensuring your solar system operates at maximum efficiency for as many years as possible.
The good news is that the maintenance is not overly intensive. Your solar power system mostly brings down your energy bill and improves your carbon footprint quietly and steadily in the background. Like most electrical gear though, it needs a bit of care to keep it running at peak performance. It’s not just a ‘set and forget’.
We’re going to walk through what could go wrong and what you can do to prevent that from happening below. Remember if you ever have any questions, you can contact our solar installation team anytime and they’ll be happy to answer them.
Things That Can Go Wrong With Your Solar System
Solar systems are built tough, with the panels designed to withstand being out in the elements year after year. But even if you use quality solar products and a certified solar installer, there are things that can go wrong with your system. These could include:
- Dirty panels: Over time you’ll notice a layer of dirt and grime building up on your solar panels. This is from dust, bird droppings, leaves and even salt if you live near the ocean. Even a thin layer can negatively impact your panels by up to 30%.
- Inverter issues: Your inverter turns solar energy into usable electricity. A problem with your inverter will shut down your whole system.
- Wiring wear and tear: Wiring and its connections can get loose or corrode over time. This is a safety risk and can have an impact on performance.
- Shade: Trees growing or structures going up can throw new patches of shade onto your solar panels. Your panels work best when there is no shade on them.
- Damage to the solar panels: Hail is often a culprit here, as are falling branches and animal activity.
How to Keep Your Solar System in Good Health
Looking after your solar system isn’t hard. A few simple habits can help you avoid bigger issues down the line. Here’s what we recommend.
Monitor Its Output
Your solar system’s performance shouldn’t be a mystery. Most inverters or monitoring apps give you real-time data on how much power you’re generating. We’d recommend getting a feel for that data by checking it regularly.
When you do that, you’ll know what sort of figures to expect on sunny days and cloudy days and the days inbetween. When the numbers are off, you’ll be able to recognise that something is up with your system and get the professional electricians in to assist.
It might be dirty panels, or it could be an inverter fault. Whatever the issue, nipping it in the bud will get your system back to full efficiency and save you on those power bills.
Clean Your Solar Panels
A thorough clean of your solar panels should occur every two years, according to the Clean Energy Council. If you’re out on a dusty farm or live close to the coast, you may need to do it more often. The grime builds up slowly, so you may not even notice it. But it has a big impact on energy output.
We’d recommend getting professionals to clean your solar panels. For a start, you don’t want to put yourself at risk by climbing on your roof. Secondly, they’ll do it in a way that avoids damage to your system. The job will be done properly, and your system will be in good hands.
Regular Servicing
The Clean Energy Council also recommends a professional service every two years. At Voltora, we carry out full inspections that cover:
- The condition of your solar panels
- How securely they’re mounted
- The performance of your inverter
- The condition of your cables, wiring and isolators
- Whether your system is producing the energy it should be
Our qualified solar technicians will give you a detailed report outlining any issues and what we recommend to deal with them.
Reduce Shade Around Solar Panels
When we install a solar power system, the panels are positioned to get maximum sunlight at all times. This can change over time as trees grow or maybe surrounding structures get built. If your solar system isn’t getting full sunlight during the day, its efficiency will be reduced significantly.
If its foliage causing the shade, then simply trimming it back will help. A new structure casting shade over your panels might need a reconfiguration of the setup to recoup that lost efficiency. Give us a call if this is the case and we’ll see what can be done about it!
Contact Voltora for Your Solar Panel Servicing
The Voltora Industries solar experts are here to help you get the most out of your system, year after year. We want it to be running at its best so you can keep enjoying those low power bills!
If it’s been a couple of years since your last solar service, book one in with our team today. We’ll make sure everything is working the way it should. If it isn’t, we’ll get it back to prime condition.
Get in touch today and let’s give your solar power system the care it deserves.
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