What is maintenance for solar PV?

You are here: Home » Blog » What is maintenance for solar PV?

14th Mar 2024

For anyone looking to slash their energy bills or move to greener energy solutions, residential solar PV is a great addition to your home. Residential solar panelling is often installed on your roof, and converts sunlight into renewable energy capable of powering your home. With the cost of energy bills rising, solar PV offers a cost effective solution that gives you the ability to store energy with battery storage devices like the Tesla Powerwall or sell surplus energy back to the grid. Solar panels installed by The Little Green Energy Company are built to last, and with proper maintenance can provide you with sustainable energy for decades to come.

Why does solar PV need proper maintenance?

Maintenance for your solar PV system goes a long way in increasing its longevity. Solar panelling requires direct access to sunlight, and this means that they are exposed to the elements all year round. Thankfully, solar panels require little maintenance, provided they have been installed correctly. However, if you have experienced a dip in performance, or think something has damaged your panels, taking the time to maintain your panels can help you identify issues quickly and get your solar panels back to maximum energy efficiency in no time. 

What does proper maintenance for solar PV look like? 

There are many different types of maintenance for solar panelling. We have outlined some of them below: 

Inspecting your solar panels for damage

This inspection can include ensuring the wiring of your solar panels is in good condition and that your panelling is functioning properly. The Little Green Energy company offers inspection services to anyone, even if we didn’t install your solar panels!

Cleaning your rooftop panels

Perhaps surprisingly, rain can be rather good for solar panels. For solar panels installed on a tilted roof, for example, rain can be all that’s required to clean them. However, during dry or hot spells, your solar panels need to be manually cleaned as a build-up of dirt, pollen, or dust can cover the panels and prevent them from absorbing sunlight. It’s recommended that you have your solar panels cleaned at least once a year. 

Bird proofing 

Rooftop solar panels can be prime targets for nesting birds looking for somewhere warm and protected to make their nests. By bird proofing your solar panels you can stop birds from perching on them and causing unexpected damage such as dropping debris or else covering up crucial sensors with bird droppings. This bird-proofing includes:

• Anti-bird mesh 
• Anti-roosting spikes 
• Bird blocker 
• Solar skirt

Removing debris

Debris such as twigs and leaves can land on your solar panels at any time and interrupt their access to sunlight. Fixing this issue is simple, and often requires just gently brushing it off. Of course this becomes more tricky for rooftop panels, but a quick blast from a hose can often do the trick. For larger debris, or debris that may have caused significant damage, it’s best to contact a professional. 

Solar panel maintenance is fairly easy to manage but goes a long way to improve their lifespan and efficiency. At The Little Green Energy Company we offer ongoing maintenance for all solar PV systems, even if we did not install your solar panels. For more information on how we can help the upkeep of your solar panels, contact us today.