Many homeowners invest in solar panels for cost savings and environmental benefits. While solar power enhances the quality of life, it also demands vigilant maintenance.
Let’s explore the three typical causes of damage to solar panels.
Common Causes of Solar Panel Damage
Weather-related Damage
Solar panels can be vulnerable to extreme weather conditions. Protective covers are essential, especially against hailstorms.
These covers allow easy access to panels for repairs without needing to dismantle the entire setup.
Water Exposure
In flood-prone areas, solar panels risk water damage, especially if their seals are old or worn. It’s vital to replace compromised seals promptly.
Ground-level solar panels can benefit from retaining walls, which prevent rainwater from damaging them.
Debris Impact
Debris, like fallen tree branches, can scratch the solar panels, affecting their efficiency.
To prevent this, it’s advisable to install panels away from trees and regularly clean them.
Using a microfiber cloth and a garden hose, cleaning them once a season or more often if there are trees close by, is recommended.
Other Potential Causes of Solar Panel Damage
When to Check Solar Panels for Damage?
Regularly inspecting your solar panels, ideally once a month, ensures they’re in top condition. If you’re considering additional outdoor installations, like a solar panel pergola, be vigilant for signs of damage such as:
- Burn marks
- Wiring problems
- Inverter problems
- Glass casing cracks
Routine maintenance checks are pivotal to maintaining panel efficiency.
If you spot any damage, it’s often repairable.
Stay proactive with your solar panel’s maintenance and seek expert advice when needed.
Learn more about solar panel problems and solutions.
Can You Fix a Solar Panel If It Is Damaged?
Regular upkeep and small repairs are essential to ensure a solar panel system works correctly.
However, there are problems that can’t be fixed and will require replacing parts of the system.
For example, a damaged solar panel might still operate, but its efficiency will be reduced from its original state. If a panel is severely broken, it must be entirely replaced.
Moreover, solar inverters, which don’t last as long as solar panels, will also need to be fully replaced at some point to maintain the system’s efficiency.
