In the design and construction of solar panels, the industry took into account maintenance factors. The very construction of the panels typically means there is little to no maintenance required for a given solar array; along with this, our panels come with a 25 year warranty. Not only are they durable and built to last, the panels themselves are designed in such a way as to give you peace of mind along with efficiency.
Below are three major questions we, as designers, are asked about maintaining solar panels once they have been installed.
How is a solar panel low-maintenance?
In our Albertan climate, it can be hard to imagine that a solar panel would be hardy enough to withstand our fluctuating temperatures and weather patterns. The fact of the matter is, the secret is in the material construction. The dark hued glass surface not only offers a surface area that absorbs the suns energy, but also its heat. With such a great surface area, the heating up of a panel takes minimal time, meaning water evaporation and snow melt takes care of itself.
The design of the glass surface along with the necessary angle required in any array construction on a rooftop means that hail damage is very rarely seen. In most designs, we construct the array on a south or west facing rooftop. With hail only coming from the north side, direct hits are near impossible on your panels.
What about dust and debris on my panels?
Between our dry summer climate and the amount of construction in Alberta, it is no wonder that dust and debris are concerns for our clients. Any major debris that does fall on your panels should always be removed to ensure that your panels operate at peak efficiency; but what about dust? Typically, rainfall will do the hard work for you and was off any accumulated dust. For obvious safety reasons, it is never recommended that you attempt to clean your solar panels; but if you do, it is only necessary three to four times a year. And it’s as easy as hooking up your garden hose and showering your roof!
What about the parts of the solar panels and system?
With no moving parts, our solar panels and the arrays we build rarely require replacement or maintenance. And with a 25 year warranty, you don’t need to worry about it! When we design your array, the inverter and wiring is contained beneath the panels themselves, and we even install a border to keep any inquisitive critters from chewing the wires.
When we design and install your solar array, we do so keeping in mind that Alberta weather doesn’t always cooperate. But with a qualified team and the right know-how, we won’t be leaving you with any reason to worry about maintaining or replacing your array. We do it the right way, and give you the right knowledge, the first time around.