Solar energy is becoming more popular and accessible for residential homes. As many homeowners install solar panels and start taking advantage of solar energy, it becomes more important that they understand how to care for these systems properly. So whether you have your first panels or are curious if solar energy is right for you, you may want some helpful information on the subject. Here’s a handy maintenance checklist for your solar panels to see if you’re up for the task.

Clearing Debris

Solar panels are sturdy, durable, and capable of withstanding lots of damage, but they weaken when objects and debris obstruct them. Depending on the location of your panels, you may experience different types of obstructions, but the most common are loose sticks and leaves from trees. It’s a good idea to get up to your system and clear these objects away. It may also be worth examining the source of these things. You could trim nearby trees that are blocking the light and dropping debris.

Cleaning the Panels

One of the benefits of solar panels is they’re typically out of reach, so they don’t face many direct hazards. The most common concerns are dirt, rain deposits, and some unwelcome presents from passing birds. Fortunately, your solar panels’ glass panes are easy to clean with window cleaner and warm water. Any sort of dirt buildup on your panel may result in them collecting less power, but it’s a good idea to wash them a few times a year.

Biannual Inspection

A vital piece of maintenance on your solar panel checklist is to ensure you get optimum power. The expected output will vary depending on your system, but when you know what you should be getting, it’s easy to check twice a year if you’re getting enough juice. If you aren’t, you may need to examine potential causes like an overabundance of shade or weather conditions affecting your solar panel system. It may be a good idea to consult a licensed technician to check if any underlying problems prevent you from getting the most power.