Solar energy has been on the rise lately. On average, Australia receives 58 million petajoules of sun radiation per year, 10,000 times more than the total energy consumption of the country. In 2017, solar energy comprised 8% of the total renewable energy generation worldwide.
The cost of buying solar panels has been lower in the past few years, but they are still not cheap. A 5KW system should cost around $2500; this can last a long time with regular maintenance and solar panel cleaning. However, if you choose the right electric provider, such as New Power, you can see immediate savings on your monthly bill. Many people prefer to do it themselves to save on costs, but sometimes it is more prudent to hire professionals, especially if they do not have the time to do it themselves.
Cleaning the Solar Panels
Cleaning your system involves hard work and hazard. There is always a chance of falling off the roof and injuring yourself while doing it. Most panels are installed on the roof because it is where they can get the most sunlight. You are not allowed to step on them, so as not to risk damaging the solar cells. Therefore, the way to clean them is by either using a pressure washer or a long-handled mop. Whichever method you use, there is still a considerable risk of falling.
Solar hot water systems are usually included when you have a solar panel. It provides your house with hot water, at the same time as generating power. Sometimes, lichen growth can prevent the sun from heating the water. The only way to remove this is by scraping them manually and scrubbing them off with deionised water. There is no other way to go around it if you want to continue getting hot water.
Making Them Bird and Animal Proof
The leading reasons for cleaning your panels are birds. Bird droppings cause your solar panels to be less efficient in generating energy. In addition to this, bird droppings gather in your gutters, making them rust much easily. It is also very likely for birds to build their nests under the panels, thus attracting insects and other vermin as well. Therefore, it is important to protect the areas under and around the panels from birds and other animals.
Inspecting Them for Heat Damage
Over time, solar panels become less efficient – producing less electricity. It is a little simpler to find out when they are producing less electricity than determining which part of the panels are affected. One way to find that out is by using thermal imaging cameras. Thermal imaging can detect problem areas in the panels before they become serious system failures. This kind of inspection does not require the system to be shut down, so there will be no interruption in your daily activities. Of course, not everyone has one in their homes. It is better to hire professionals for this.
Many people consider solar panel cleaning as an added expense; this is not true. Taking care of your equipment, especially electronic equipment, can save you thousands of dollars in new purchase costs. It is more economical to find out a problem early and fix it instead of buying a whole new set of solar panels. It is better to know the problem sooner than later. That way, you still have time to prepare money for the possible expenses. Spending $100 on repairs is more acceptable than $2500 for a whole new set of solar panels.
Author Bio: Alice Churchill is a copywriter and content strategist. She helps businesses stop playing around with content marketing and start seeing the tangible ROI. She loves writing as much as she loves the cake.