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Solar panels generally operate with very little fuss, providing your home or business with affordable, renewable energy. But wise PV panel owners plan for regular maintenance such as panel cleaning, adjustments and tweaks. Quality solar panel fasteners influence the maintenance requirements and extend the life of your system.
General PV Panel Maintenance Requirements
Your solar panels require cleaning twice a year. Just a simple brush-down and wipe will do, removing excess build up and organic materials that block the sunlight and reduce overall efficiency.
Wiring and panel direction may need to be tweaked. Wires, grounding connectors and other components can become weak over time, especially with large amounts of energy passing through on a daily basis. As a general rule, the average PV panel will last about 30 years, while invertors must be replaced every 12 to 15 years. Wiring and connectors may break down sooner, requiring replacement 5 to 10 years after initial installation.
Adjustments may also need to be done at that time, to ensure that your panels remain secure. This often involves tightening fasteners that have come loose with age and exposure, as well as replacing any damaged solar panel fasteners. Quality fasteners help to reduce the need for adjustments, although regular inspections are still required.
Refurbishments Save Money
Solar panel systems represent a sizeable investment for any family or business. When damaged or worn by time and the weather, even top quality solar panels need to be refurbished and repaired. Solar panel fasteners and adhesives are often the first component to experience difficulties and fail.
Replacing the entire system can be cost prohibitive, while hiring an expert contractor to replace the fasteners and update other vulnerable portions of the project is more reasonable, especially given the amount of energy a good system harvests.
Your solar panel installer will know which components to upgrade as a result of industry innovation. It may be that new solar panel fastener designs have introduced more durable mounting solutions, thereby increasing the value of your system. And aluminum or stainless steel solar panel fasteners can replace older, steel fasteners for added strength. Refurbish your system, including fasteners and all other components, to improve performance and maintain your solar energy system maintenance schedule.