Solar panels are an innovative invention. They let us create energy from the sun for our use in the form of heat and electricity. Once you install them, they work effortlessly for decades and are increasingly cheap. Many individuals are replacing traditional sources of electricity with solar panel energy, which benefits the users and the environment. Regardless of their unlimited benefits, sometimes they don't work well enough.
Your solar panel system may not be working correctly because of inverter problems, a broken solar meter, clogged gutters, dirt, and dust. As any of these affect your solar panel system's performance you will start experiencing a low power supply and dim light bulbs. These are the first noticeable signs that your solar panel system may not be working correctly. But you can always return the solar panels in good shape with a little investment.
Considering how solar panels are already cheap to provide electricity and heat, you can expect to spend a few pricey repairs or fixes in case your solar panels are facing any of these:
Inverter problems:
Solar panels capture Direct Current (DC) from the sun; this electric current is not functional in the house. This is where an inverter comes in. Solar panels come with an inverter that helps convert direct electricity to Alternating Current (AC), which is usable at home. Solar panels are long-lasting, but inverters are not as good. In some circumstances, you may even need to buy a new inverter to fix your solar system's performance. Repairing or replacing an inverter should be handled by a trained expert. You should never handle a device that deals with electric currents by yourself.
Defective solar meter:
Your solar panel comes with a meter that measures the overall energy production and consumption of your house so you can keep track of it. But even when solar panels are performing their function, the solar meters may not read the energy production correctly. If your solar meter is not functioning properly, you won’t have the precise readings to calculate your energy savings.
Solar meters are mostly software or hardware-related, making a solar meter issue a technical one. It could be a temporary signal loss for meters that rely on internet connectivity, however, sometimes solar meters fail because the technology used becomes outdated. It’s best to contact an expert to inspect your solar panels and change the solar meter if required.
Clogged gutters:
This may be surprising, but clogged gutters affect more things than you think. Aside from leaky walls and roof damage, they also affect your solar panels. When your drains are clogged, water remains on your roof, collecting. This invites pests and rodents and accumulates rainwater on top of the roof, which affects your solar panel system performance because a moist and damp environment causes solar panels to lose efficiency. Moreover, pests may cause damage to solar panel surfaces.
The solution to this is to get professional gutter cleaning done to unclog your gutters and improve solar panel efficiency through the Best gutter cleaning Sydney. Gutter cleaning in Sydney is affordable and effective.
The weather:
Homeowners tend to forget the effect of the weather on solar panel performance. Since solar panels are powered by the sun, the weather can significantly affect their performance. Solar panels generate the most electricity during the summer season because of the high amount of sunlight and the least electricity during winter due to the low amount of sun rays. The continuous decline or change in the production of electricity can only be the outcome of seasonal changes.
Broken solar panels:
Time and impacts can cause your solar panels to break or crack. Broken solar panels can affect your solar system, and they may not perform properly. Your solar system becomes useless when the component that generates electricity is broken. It is impossible to capture solar energy and convert it to electric current power without a functioning solar panel.
Dirt and dust build-up:
Solar panels are present outside the house where dust and dirt prevail. Solar panels are exposed to them every day, causing a build-up of dirt on the panel surface. The accumulated dirt creates a layer, blocking it from receiving sunlight. Solar panels tend to experience about a 1-2% reduction in efficiency every year, but if you notice a significant decrease in the efficiency of your panels, it may be dust and grime. A dirty panel may produce 25% or less electricity and heat than a clean one.
Since the panel does not receive direct sun rays, it does not generate proper current for the inverter, producing no electricity or heat for the house. If you suspect that your solar panels are collecting dust, you will need to remove the dirt and dust from the surface with the help of professional solar panel cleaning services. Since solar panels are located on top of your rooftop and are delicate, contacting experts is best.
Poor installation:
There may have been a misconnection or mistake during the panel’s installation, which caused the system to malfunction. That’s why, as soon as you install it, your installer should walk you through the workings of your solar panels. It is vital to see if it’s working smoothly before they leave.
Conclusion:
Several situations may cause your solar panels to lose their efficiency. Not functioning properly causes a low power supply. To find solutions for these problems, you must inspect them to know why the system is not working to find a solution or resolve the issue. You should never deal with a solar panel situation by yourself because you could end up making it even more severe due to a lack of experience.
Some other facts, like fixing a damaged and clogged gutter, may be a more costly situation to manage, but you should tend to it ASAP and get a gutter replacement Western Sydney.