Maintenance

Q. Does my solar energy system require any maintenance?

A. No. Solar electric systems are virtually maintenance free.

Q. Should I clean the panels?

A. New England rain does a good job keeping your panels clear of pollen and dust. Pollen has a drastic visual effect, but a small effect on production. (Read our blog article analyzing pollen’s impact if you want to know more.)

If you really want to hose down your panels, it should be OK as long as it’s done safely for you and your system.

• Do NOT spray cold water on your panels when the panels are warm. Like any glass, panel glass can crack if subjected to sudden, extreme temperature changes.
• Do NOT use a pressure washer on the panels.

Over the years – 7 to 10 most likely – the rain washing your panels may leave a very fine line of residue at the bottom of the panels. This is called the “soiling process”. Eventually, this may accumulate to more than ½” and interfere with solar production. If you notice a production drop and think soiling is the culprit, you can attempt to hose the panels clean yourself, provided it can be done safely. If not, please contact us to do the work at a reasonable charge.

Also, any large obstructions (branches, leaves) should be removed from your panels. Contact us if you are not sure how that should be handled. Safety is the foremost concern.