What to Do After Your Solar Panels are Installed

Your panels have been installed on your roof and you have officially gone solar and taken the first, huge leap towards green energy and saving huge on your power bills. Check out your beautiful panels and admire the singing inverter. Okay, now what? Just go inside and let the solar system do all the work? Well, not quite. Keep reading to learn some tips on what happens next.

Monitor Your Inverter

Most modern solar inverters will allow you to observe your energy production on an online portal, as long as you have Internet access. This means that as soon as unexpected changes occur, (though hopefully, they won't) you’ll notice. Some of these online monitoring systems also include detailed breakdowns of exactly how much energy you are consuming versus how much the system itself is generating. This is a great way of making sure you are using your energy system in the most effective way possible.

Cleaning Your Panels

If you have tiled panels, a good rainstorm will be able to help you with a lot of the cleaning required. However, during the dry summer months, you may need to clean them more frequently, as things like bird droppings, leaves, and dirt can start to fill up around the panels and reduce your energy production. You’ll probably want to do quick cleaning twice a year by just putting a squeegee on an extending handle and use soap and water to wash it down. However, you’ll also want to hire a professional cleaner once every one or two years to deep clean your panels.

If you don’t like the idea of having a professional do the deep cleaning for you, you should be well aware of everything that goes into cleaning a panel. And remember: safety first!

When cleaning your panel, the first thing you’ll need to do is shut off your inverter (you’ll first need to power off the main solar supply switch, and then shut off the DC Isolator(s), which you can locate adjacent to the panels).

The next thing you’ll do is bring out a ladder and make sure it is completely secure. You’ll also want to invest in a harness to ensure complete safety, especially if your roof is up high. The roof is going to get wet, and it would be really easy for you to slip and fall. Make sure not to step on the panels, as this could cause micro-cracks, which would result in the malfunction of your panels.

Use a hose to water the panels down gently with water, and then use a soft bristle broom to clean off any dirt, feces, leaves, and other waste that has piled up. Do not use any chemicals, just water, and the brush. Using chemicals could easily cause the anti-reflective coating to come off. Never touch the cables beneath the panels, as you could injure yourself. Instead, take a photo and send it to your solar company to have it repaired. Remember, there is always a risk of electrocution. This wouldn’t be enough to kill you, but you could easily fall from the shock. This is another reason why wearing a harness is so important. And why it’s recommended to hire a professional to do it.

Keep Track of Everything Around the Panels

While a thorough inspection is done before installing the panels, such as looking out for where trees are located and working around them, the future cannot be predicted, and new trees may sprout right next door. If you start to notice any trees sprouting up, you should immediately consult your solar installer and figure out a way to either avoid or deal with solar shading, which could cause serious issues in the future.

Want more tips and tricks for going solar? Check out the HahaSmart blog!

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