How To Clean And Maintain
Your Solar System

CAUTION: Remember that your system is connected to multiple power sources (the utility grid, solar panels, storage batteries, auxiliary generator). Be safe and get help from a trained technician if needed.

Solar systems do not require much maintenance, but there are some aspects to keep in check to ensure the longevity of your system. The early spring is the best time of the year to do routine inspections, guaranteeing healthy production during the peak months of the year.

Note: If you’re thinking, “but what about my batteries, do they require maintenance too?” You’re correct; batteries require continuous maintenance and supervision – it’s a broad topic that we cover in another article. This article focuses on the solar array and the PV electrical installation.

Pointers To Help You With
The Upkeep Of Your Solar System:

Clean the surface of the modules as things may have collected, such as; dust, pollen, animal droppings, leaves, and debris. It would help if you had a water hose, squeegee, and a brush; no chemicals should be needed. Depending on the environment, consider washing the panels 3-4 times per year.
Tip: do not use salt or snowmelt as they could cause corrosion of the panel frames, racking components, and roof flashings.
Once the modules are clean, look for discoloration, burn marks, significant aging, or broken glass on the solar panels.
Check all the connections in the wiring that run between the solar panels and the point of connection including, roof enclosures, splices, inverter, AC disconnect, 3rd party meters, sub-panels, wiring enclosures, circuit breakers, fuses, and any other electrical component in the system.
Follow the grounding conductor to ensure that it is fastened securely to all lugs and terminals.
Inspect for water damage around the roof penetrations.
Look for signs of corrosion in metal enclosures and hardware.
Trim the overgrown vegetation in the vicinity of the array(s).
Follow conduit runs verifying that they are firmly attached to the roof and walls.
Look under the array; make sure there are no loose wires or animal infestations (sounds bizarre but it happens!).
Tip: monitor your system periodically and hire professional pest control if you have a recurring animal infestation problem.
Inspect the mounting/racking system for corrosion, missing hardware, or loose fasteners.
Lastly, log into your monitoring system periodically and compare your production data from previous years. Look for any anomalies or potential power losses (consider a panel degradation of about 1% per year).
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