Solar panels are a fairly significant investment, so keeping them in good condition is a priority. As experts in solar panel repairs, we thought it would be a good idea to make a list of the top things that are likely to damage them.
Overhanging Trees
Trees that lean over your solar panels can drop twigs, leaves, dirt and other pollutants onto your solar panels. Over time, this can lead to scratches, which will affect your solar panel’s ability to absorb sunlight. Larger pieces like branches, conkers or acorns could even cause cracks and breakage. This is bad news for your panels, and you’ll need to seek repairs immediately if this happens.
If you have a tree that overhangs your panels, it’s well worth seeing if you can prune it back regularly to prevent debris from causing damage.
Poor Weather Conditions
There isn’t much you can do to protect your panels from freak weather conditions, but it’s good to have an awareness of it. Hail can cause a lot of damage, so you’ll need to inspect for any damage after a hail storm. If it’s managed to damage any part of a panel, it could have a huge impact. Unfortunately, when one part of the panel is broken, even only a small part, it will perform as if the whole panel is damaged.
As well as hail, rain can also cause damage. Although your solar panels will be designed to be waterproof, the seals do deteriorate over time. You need to get them resealed every so often, otherwise water can seep in. Once this starts to happen, you’ll need solar panel repairs.
Lack Of Maintenance
Over time, dust builds up on your solar panels. They need to be cleaned every so often to remove this build-up. Don’t be fooled into thinking that rainwater will wash this away. Rain will actually leave deposits on your solar panels as it evaporates. This residue can impact the performance of your system, so it’s a good idea to schedule cleaning a couple of times per year. You can do this yourself with the right equipment, making sure to use soft cloths so that you don’t scratch the panels.
For Solar Panel Repairs, Choose Devon & Cornwall Electrical Ltd
If you need repairs or maintenance on your solar panels, give us a call today. A member of our friendly team would be happy to help.
