SOLAR PANEL MAINTENANCE & REPAIR

Solar panels should be maintained and serviced regularly, we would suggest every 12 to 24 months.  Solar panels generate electricity by converting sunlight into energy. When the surface of the solar panels is covered in dirt, dust, or debris, it can reduce the amount of sunlight that reaches the solar cells, which in turn reduces the amount of energy the panels can produce. By cleaning and maintaining your solar panels, you can ensure they are generating the maximum amount of energy possible.

Solar panels and solar thermal water panels are designed to last for decades, but they can be damaged or wear out over time if they are not maintained properly. By inspecting your solar panels regularly for signs of damage and performing any necessary repairs or cleaning, you can help extend their lifespan and get the most out of your investment.

A Solar panel system is a significant investment, and you want to make sure they are performing optimally for as long as possible. Regular maintenance can help protect your investment by keeping your panels in good condition and ensuring they are producing as much energy as possible.

Maintaining your solar panels can also help ensure they are safe to operate. Damaged or dirty solar panels can pose a safety hazard, especially during severe weather conditions. Regular solar panel cleaning and maintenance can help identify any potential safety issues and prevent accidents from occurring.

Here are a few tips on maintaining your solar panels

• Regular Cleaning: Solar panels need to be cleaned regularly to ensure maximum efficiency. Dust, dirt, bird droppings, and other debris can accumulate on the surface, reducing the amount of sunlight that reaches the solar cells. Cleaning them at least twice a year is recommended, but you may need to clean them more frequently if you live in an area with a lot of dust or pollen.
• Use Soft Brush or Cloth: When cleaning your solar panels, avoid using abrasive materials that can scratch the surface. Instead, use a soft brush or cloth and a mild detergent to gently remove dirt and grime. Avoid using high-pressure water or steam cleaners, which can damage the solar panels.
• Check for Damage: Inspect your solar panels regularly for any signs of damage, such as cracks or chips. Damage to the panels can affect their efficiency and should be repaired as soon as possible.
• Trim Trees and Plants: If trees or plants are blocking the sunlight to your solar panels, they won’t be able to generate as much electricity. Trim back any foliage that is shading your solar panels to ensure they are getting maximum sunlight.
• Hire a Professional: If you are not comfortable cleaning or maintaining your solar panels yourself, consider hiring a professional. They will have the equipment and experience to safely and effectively clean and maintain your solar panels.

Remember, keeping your solar panels clean and well-maintained is essential for their long-term efficiency and lifespan. Please feel free to contact our team and ask about our servicing and maintenance packages. Solares Energies has a team of professional solar panel cleaners and maintenance engineers.

Repair costs will vary, depending on the problem that needs fixing. Most manufacturers will provide a 10-year warranty, but the panels themselves will often last between 20 and 30 years, if maintained correctly, but there are a few things that may need replacing along the way.

The inverter for example usually needs replacing every 10 years.  Generally, a new inverter can cost anywhere in the region of €500€ – €1,500 in Malaga, Spain. Thankfully, if you look after your solar panels, you should only have to pay for this once every decade. One way you can look after your solar panel system is to get it serviced annually.

So, you now know that you need to have your panels serviced annually, but what exactly happens during a servicing? One of our professional solar panel technicians will come to your home or business and inspect your solar panel system. After performing a few visual checks on the panels themselves, the installer should carry out a few tests on the inverters and the meter.

Getting your solar panel system serviced puts your mind at rest, and makes sure that everything is running smoothly and it’s generating as it should. This way, you can rest easy knowing your panels are in great shape and can carry on saving you money on your energy bills.

At Solares Energies, we recommend regular cleaning of your solar panels to ensure they operate at their peak efficiency. The frequency of cleaning largely depends on the local environment. In a relatively clean environment with frequent rainfall, natural precipitation may be sufficient to keep the panels clean. However, if your panels are installed in a dusty area or where bird droppings are a common issue, they may need to be cleaned more frequently, potentially every few months.

Please note that it’s important to use soft water and non-abrasive cleaning materials to avoid damaging the surface of the panels. For safety reasons and to avoid accidental damage, we recommend hiring a professional service for cleaning if your panels are installed on a high or steep roof. Solares Energies provides professional solar panel cleaning services that adhere to all safety standards and ensure the longevity of your system.

The maintenance cost for solar panels is typically quite low as the systems have no moving parts and are thus less prone to wear and tear. The primary maintenance expense is generally cleaning the panels, which can vary depending on frequency, panel accessibility, and whether you choose to use a professional service. At Solares Energies, we offer cost-effective maintenance packages that include regular cleaning and system inspections to ensure your panels remain in top condition.

In addition, there may be occasional costs for parts replacements, such as the inverter, which typically needs to be replaced after 10-15 years. However, these costs are usually outweighed by the savings on your electricity bill and the potential increase in your property’s value. We advise setting aside a small annual budget for potential maintenance costs, but generally, you can expect the running costs of a solar panel system to be minimal.

Ensuring the longevity of your solar panels involves regular maintenance and professional inspections. Keeping the panels clean, as mentioned earlier, allows them to operate at their peak efficiency, which can prolong their life. At Solares Energies, we recommend that panels be cleaned at least once a year, although the exact frequency will depend on local conditions.

Also crucial is professional servicing to check the condition of the panels, wiring, mounting equipment, and inverter. Regular servicing can catch potential issues before they become major problems. We suggest having your system professionally inspected at least once every few years. Additionally, ensuring that your panels are properly installed with the correct orientation and tilt, and are free from shading, will also maximise their output and prolong their life.

Common signs that your solar panels may need repair include a significant drop in power output, physical damage to the panels such as cracks or discolouration, or the inverter showing error messages or not lighting up. The performance of your solar panels can be monitored either through the inverter display or a dedicated monitoring system. At Solares Energies, we offer advanced monitoring solutions that allow you to track the performance of your system in real-time and quickly identify any potential issues.

It’s important to remember that solar panel issues can sometimes be difficult to diagnose without professional expertise, particularly if they involve electrical components or connections. Therefore, if you notice any unusual changes in your system’s performance or physical condition, we recommend scheduling a service appointment with our qualified technicians.

A professional solar panel inspection, like the ones conducted by Solares Energies, usually involves several steps. Our technicians start by visually inspecting the panels for any physical damage or debris. They will then check the mounting structure and wiring for any signs of wear or corrosion. The inverter and other electrical components are also checked for proper operation and any error codes.

In addition, our technicians will verify the system’s performance, comparing the current output to the expected output based on the system’s specifications and current weather conditions. They will also inspect the safety components, such as circuit breakers and disconnect switches, to ensure they are functioning correctly. After the inspection, you will receive a detailed report outlining our findings and any recommended repairs or maintenance tasks.

While most maintenance tasks for solar panels require professional skills and safety training, there are a few things you can do to help maintain your system. Regularly monitoring your system’s performance through the inverter display or a monitoring app can help identify any sudden drops in output that might signal an issue. Visual inspections for physical damage or debris on the panels can also be done, provided this can be done safely from the ground.

However, any cleaning of the panels, especially if they are roof-mounted, or repairs should be done by a professional service like Solares Energies. This is due to the risks associated with working at heights and dealing with high-voltage electrical equipment. We recommend scheduling regular professional inspections to ensure your system is in good condition and operating at peak efficiency.

Several factors can cause a drop in solar panel performance. One of the most common is shading on the panels, which could be caused by tree growth, new constructions, or debris like leaves or bird droppings. Physical damage to the panels, such as cracks or discolouration, can also reduce their output.

Issues with the system’s electrical components, such as the inverter or wiring, can also affect performance. Even something as simple as a loose connection can result in a significant loss of output. At Solares Energies, we suggest regular professional inspections to detect and address any potential issues before they significantly impact your system’s performance.

We recommend having your solar panel system professionally serviced at least once every 2-3 years. This servicing includes a thorough inspection of the panels, mounting equipment, and electrical components, as well as cleaning of the panels if necessary. Regular servicing can help identify and fix any potential issues before they become more serious and expensive to repair.

However, if you notice any significant changes in your system’s performance or physical condition, you should schedule a service appointment immediately. With Solares Energies, we offer flexible servicing plans tailored to your needs and system specifics, ensuring your solar investment is well-protected and performs optimally.

The impact of a single damaged panel on the overall system performance depends on how your system is wired. If your panels are wired in series and one panel is damaged, it can affect the output of the entire string, much like how one bad bulb in a string of Christmas lights can make the whole string go out. If your panels are wired in parallel, a single damaged panel will typically only affect its own performance.

However, modern solar systems often include power optimisers or micro inverters, which isolate the performance of individual panels. With these technologies, a single damaged panel won’t affect the rest of the system. At Solares Energies, we design solar systems with performance and reliability in mind, using the latest technologies to ensure you get the most from your investment.

The inverter is a key component of your solar panel system, converting the direct current (DC) generated by the panels into alternating current (AC) that can be used in your home or fed back into the grid. Servicing the inverter involves several steps. Firstly, our technicians at Solares Energies will perform a visual inspection to check for any obvious signs of damage or wear. They will also listen for any unusual sounds, such as bussing or humming, that could indicate an issue.

Secondly, we will check the inverter’s display or monitoring system for any error codes or warnings. These can provide valuable information about potential issues with the inverter or the solar panel system as a whole. We will also compare the output of the system to the inverter’s readings to ensure they match and that the inverter is accurately reporting the system’s performance.

Finally, we’ll verify that all electrical connections are secure and that the inverter’s settings are correct for your particular system and location. If any issues are found during servicing, our technicians will discuss them with you and suggest the most effective and economical solutions.

Absolutely! When you purchase a solar panel system from Solares Energies, it comes with several warranties that cover various aspects of the system. Most solar panels come with a performance warranty that guarantees they will produce at least a certain percentage of their rated output for a specified number of years, typically 25 years. There’s also usually a product warranty that covers any defects in the materials or workmanship, often for about 10 years.

The inverter and other system components also typically come with their own product warranties, usually for around 5-10 years. In addition, at Solares Energies, we offer our own installation warranty that covers any issues related to the installation workmanship. These warranties provide peace of mind that any repairs needed due to a defect or underperformance will be covered, minimising your potential out-of-pocket costs.

Solar panel maintenance and repairs involve working with high-voltage electricity and potentially at height, so various safety precautions should be taken. First and foremost, it’s recommended that maintenance and repairs be carried out by a professional service provider like Solares Energies. Our technicians have the necessary training and equipment to perform these tasks safely and effectively.

If you’re doing a simple visual inspection from the ground, ensure you stay a safe distance away from the system and never try to touch or adjust the panels yourself. If cleaning is necessary, and the panels are easily and safely accessible, use a soft brush and gentle detergent. Do not use abrasive materials that could scratch the panels, and avoid cleaning during the hottest part of the day when sudden temperature changes could damage the panels.

Always remember, electricity generated by solar panels cannot be turned off as long as they are exposed to light. Even a small solar panel can produce a dangerous shock if handled improperly. Therefore, any work that involves the electrical components of a solar panel system should always be left to the professionals.

Monitoring the performance of your solar panels is essential to ensure they are working at their maximum efficiency. Most solar panel systems come with an inverter that has a digital display, showing the amount of electricity being generated. Many inverters also have online monitoring systems that allow you to track your system’s output over time and identify any sudden drops in performance.

At Solares Energies, we offer advanced monitoring solutions that not only provide real-time performance data but also use predictive analytics to identify potential issues before they significantly impact your system’s output. This ensures your system continues to operate at its maximum efficiency and any necessary maintenance or repairs can be scheduled promptly.

Solar panels are designed to withstand a wide range of weather conditions, including strong winds, heavy rain, and hail. They are made from durable materials and are tested to ensure they can stand up to extreme weather. However, if you live in an area prone to particularly severe weather, such as hurricanes or large hail, there are additional steps you can take to protect your panels.

Firstly, the mounting system can be reinforced to provide additional stability. Secondly, protective covers can be installed over the panels, although these will need to be removed when the weather is clear to allow the panels to generate electricity. Regular inspections, especially after severe weather, can also help identify any damage early and ensure it is repaired promptly.

At Solares Energies, we take local weather conditions into account when designing and installing our solar panel systems, using robust mounting systems and high-quality panels to ensure your system can withstand the local climate.