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How to Protect Your Solar Panels From Environmental Damage

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Dmitriy Bobriakov
How to Protect Your Solar Panels From Environmental Damage

An installation of solar panels will require a significant investment. For some homeowners, this may mean they are hesitant when it comes to getting solar panels installed because the panels are installed outdoors and therefore are exposed to weather ailments.


A homeowner can protect his or her solar panel installation in several ways. With the help of preventative methods, you can ensure that your solar panel installation will last as long as possible and keep producing solar power.


How to protect your solar power system from pests



Rooftops are often occupied by birds, as you can probably see if you watch them. Birds, mice, and squirrels seem to find the solar panels more appealing since the panels make it easier to access. These creatures are not only unwelcome guests, but they can also cause damage to the solar panel installation. Birds can damage solar power systems by gnawing on wires, building nests, and leaving droppings, all of which interfere with solar power production.


The good news is that you can easily prevent pests from nesting in your solar panels. To prevent pests from nesting under your solar panel installation and ruining your system, thoroughly clean the area under the solar panel installation to remove the pests, repair any damage that may exist, and install pest guards to deter vermin.

If the animals nest under the solar panel installation just once, it is likely that they will do so again. Thus, it is always a good idea to use pest guards after cleaning the solar panel installation.


Keeping your solar panels safe from falling debris



In whichever part of the world you live in, there will likely be falling debris such as twigs, leaves, and dirt that will cause micro-scratches on your solar panels.


Scratched solar panels can dramatically decrease the efficiency of solar panels because scratches prevent sunlight from reaching the solar cells, decreasing the amount of solar energy they can absorb.


The heavier the debris such as full branches or acorns may completely break the solar panels.


Making sure that there are no trees or shrubs that will be directly above or near the trees would be the logical solution. It is possible, however, that trees may already be growing on your existing roof if you chose to install solar panels there surrounding your home, and you probably aren’t going to want to remove them because of all of the benefits.


Maintaining your trees by trimming them will prevent you from choosing between solar panels and trees.

The efficiency of solar panels decreases dramatically if debris accumulates, but you can easily avoid this. If you want to get rid of the debris that is building up on your solar power system you should clean the solar panels regularly. You can clean them using a microfiber cloth and your garden hose. You won’t have to do it very often, once a season should be enough.


Add Your Solar Panels to Your Insurance Policy



Homeowners need to learn how to protect their How to Protect Your Solar Panel Installation​​​​​​​ from hail and other weather conditions. First, you are going to want to inform your insurance provider.


The company will take a look at your premiums to cover the extra risk. In the case of theft, or damages, you aren’t going to suffer a financial loss.


Most of today’s solar panel companies are going to perform a hail test on their solar panels. The solar panels can withstand 50 mph winds accompanied by quarter-sized hail. But, the larger hail and winds may cause damage, which is where the solar power system insurance comes into play.


Clean Your Solar Panels



As we have previously discussed, if you want to make sure that the debris isn’t going to affect your solar panel efficiency, you should clean your solar panel installation. If you are going to decide that you need to clean your solar panel installation, there are two main ways that you can go about doing so, you can either hire a professional to do it, or you can clean the solar panels yourself.


A lot of solar companies are going to offer cleaning solar power system services, and most solar companies are going to suggest you get the solar panels cleaned every so often when they first come install the solar panels.

When it comes down to it, what you get back cost-wise in your energy bill, it will not surpass the amount that you will need to fork out to the solar companies to perform the work. 


Most of the solar companies are going to charge quite a bit to clean the solar panels. But, you are perfectly able to clean the solar panels yourself, and you will most likely have everything you need to clean the solar panel installation at home. In most cases, all you are going to need is a hose, and maybe a little bit of soap, then you will be good to go.


This could be helpful in drought-prone areas, because if you are doing what would normally be done by the rain.


There will be certain ways that you can determine if your solar panels need to be cleaned. One is going to be a physical inspection of the solar panels for any debris, dirt, animal droppings, etc.


The other is going to be using a solar power monitoring system that will alert you if the performance of your solar panels drops. This is going to alert you if any maintenance needs for your solar power system, regardless if its a mechanical, electrical, or cleanliness need.


End Words:

Solwiser, is a site all about a wide range of science topics, such as solar energy and its place for modern life.

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