Summary
Solar panel maintenance in Sherman Oaks, CA keeps your system efficient and extends its lifespan. Learn about routine care and professional services.
Key takeaways:
- Solar panel maintenance is crucial for preserving the health and performance of your system.
- In Sherman Oaks, high temperatures are a concern because they can cause thermal stress on solar panels and electrical components to overheat.
- Keep up with routine solar maintenance with monthly solar panel cleaning and a yearly or bi-annual inspection from a professional.
- With over 20 years of experience in the solar industry, Solar Service Professionals is here to preserve your solar system’s energy efficiency.
When you bought your solar panels, your installer likely calculated a payback period of seven to 12 years with you.
To shorten this payback period as much as possible, you need to keep your panels producing at peak efficiency, which means staying on top of maintenance.
Solar maintenance doesn’t have to be complicated. All you need to do is follow a few simple DIY steps and schedule professional maintenance once in a while. If you’re in the Sherman Oaks area, we have a few recommendations for you.
What’s Solar System Degradation?
If you’ve had your solar panels for a while, you’ve noticed they’re not producing as much electricity as they used to. A slight dip in production is normal, but some factors can accelerate what solar industry pros refer to as system degradation:
- Solar panel cells use polymers and adhesives that are sensitive to heat and UV exposure. Because of the hot SoCal weather, these materials can weaken and cause the layers forming the solar cells to delaminate.
- Temperatures rising during the day and dropping at night cause components to expand and retract, which is unfortunately the perfect recipe for cracks and hotspots to appear.
- From frayed wires to loose connections, electrical components also suffer from thermal stress during hot SoCal summers.
- The frame that supports your panel can also extend and retract with temperature changes, and animals looking for a way to escape the heat will often nest under it and damage the panels.
As long as you bought quality solar panels, efficiency shouldn’t drop by more than 1% a year. Anything more can indicate issues linked to thermal stress, outdated electric components, or excessive degradation.
Solar Maintenance in Sherman Oaks, CA
Sherman Oaks and the greater LA area are perfect for solar energy systems. Sun exposure is excellent throughout the entire year, and the dry climate limits corrosion on the panels and frames.
However, bright and sunny year-round weather also means a high UV index and some temperature spikes that can exceed 95°F in the summer, which leads to much higher surface temperatures on your panels.
Ideally, you invested in solar panels with a high temperature coefficient to account for the Sherman Oaks weather, but you should still schedule regular inspections to monitor for issues that are specific to the area:
- Solar materials expanding and retracting can cause microcracks to appear.
- Hot spots and loose electrical connections are another common concern.
- In the summer, having a pro do some temperature checks can help catch overheating issues with electrical components, including the junction box or the inverter.
- Because the weather tends to be dry, dust and debris can build up fast on your panels and require frequent cleaning.
Why Regular Solar Maintenance Matters
Routine maintenance helps you catch issues early, turning what could become a major solar panel repair into a simple fix.
You’re also addressing issues before they affect your system’s ability to produce energy and extend your panels’ lifespan, which helps you get more out of your panels.
DIY Vs. Professional Solar Maintenance
There are some simple solar maintenance tasks you can do yourself as part of a routine. These include:
- Keeping an eye on energy production, and comparing it to how your panels did during the same season last year.
- Using a soft brush and garden hose to clean your panels once a month. Make sure you turn your solar panel system off and wait until the early morning or late evening to avoid creating a temperature shock.
These DIY tasks will protect basic performance for your panels, but there are more complex maintenance needs that only a professional can address. You should schedule professional maintenance once or twice a year based on your system’s age:
- A solar technician can use specialized equipment to test your system’s electrical components. This makes your solar energy system safer and preserves its efficiency.
- As your system ages, you’ll likely need to replace some of these electrical components.
- A professional can also perform a thorough solar panel inspection and fix issues like delamination, microcracks and damaged panel seals.
- If a panel shows extensive signs of damage, your solar maintenance tech can replace it.
- For rooftop panels that are hard to access, a professional can take care of solar panel cleaning.
Extend the Life of Your Solar System With Solar Service Professionals
With over two decades of experience in the solar industry, Solar Service Professionals is here to help you achieve and maintain energy independence.
We can fix bad solar installations, take care of routine maintenance and fix any performance issues. Our goal is to make sure you get what you paid for with your solar system and keep your solar panels producing as much electricity as possible.
Contact us today to learn more about our solar maintenance services in the Sherman Oaks area.
FAQ
What can cause decreased performance from your solar panels?
A slight drop in energy production over the years is normal, but issues like dirty panels, loose electrical connections, or damaged solar cells can cause your panels to produce less electricity.
Does your solar panel warranty cover maintenance?
Most solar panel warranties don’t cover maintenance, and you’ll have to get a maintenance plan from your original installer or another solar company to preserve your panels’ peak performance.
How often should you maintain solar panels?
Ideally, you should clean your panels monthly and have a professional perform a thorough inspection once or twice a year.
What are the signs my solar panels need attention?
If you notice your system is producing less energy than usual, call a solar pro. Signs of corrosion, discoloration, and visible damage to the panels or electrical components also warrant a call to a solar tech.
