How to Maintain Your Commercial Solar Panels

Maintaining your solar panel system is key to seeing its full benefits. Proper solar panel maintenance ensures optimal performance, extends your system’s lifespan and protects your return on investment in the longer term. This comprehensive walkthrough from East Yorkshire Solar will guide you on how to take care of your commercial solar panels effectively, and why you should choose us for all your maintenance needs.

Why Maintenance Matters

Solar panels are designed to be durable and require minimal upkeep, but neglecting maintenance can lead to performance issues. Dust, grime and weather exposure can reduce their efficiency, whilst undetected technical problems might result in costly repairs. A well-maintained system not only generates more energy but also contributes to your business’s financial and environmental goals, as you’ll see below.

Keep Your Panels Clean

One of the first things you’ll want to keep on top of is the cleanliness of your solar panels, because clean panels generate more energy.

When and How to Clean Solar Panels

Seasonal Cleaning: Schedule at least two thorough cleanings per year – once in spring to clear away winter grime and again in autumn to remove fallen leaves and other debris.
Monitor Local Conditions: If your business is near industrial areas, heavy traffic or where there are large numbers of birds, additional cleaning may be required.
Check Performance Metrics: A sudden drop in energy output often signals the need for cleaning.

Why Professional Cleaning is Important

Whilst ongoing checks and DIY cleaning may save money, hiring professionals ensures a safer, more thorough clean. At East Yorkshire Solar, we use specialised tools and methods to access hard-to-reach panels and maintain their quality, so this is worth bearing in mind.

Conduct Regular Visual Inspections

Regular inspections can help spot potential issues before they escalate into costly repairs. Make it a habit to visually inspect your solar panel system every quarter. At East Yorkshire Solar, we offer comprehensive services, but there are regular visual inspections you can carry out to maintain your solar panels.

What to Look For

Panel Damage: Cracks, chips or discolouration caused by storms, hail or debris can affect efficiency.
Mounting System Integrity: Check for loose fittings, corrosion or signs of structural stress.
Wiring Issues: Look for frayed or disconnected wires, often caused by rodents or weather exposure.
Shading: Overgrown trees, new construction or even seasonal shading can reduce sunlight exposure.

Monitor Performance with Technology

At East Yorkshire Solar, our solar systems come equipped with monitoring software that tracks energy production in real time. Regularly reviewing this data can reveal performance anomalies for your commercial panels.

What & How We Monitor

Energy Output Trends: Compare daily and seasonal outputs to spot irregularities.
System Efficiency: Measure the efficiency ratio to ensure your system is performing optimally.
Error Alerts: Pay attention to fault notifications and address them promptly.
Specialised Apps: Use manufacturer-provided apps or web portals for detailed insights. At East Yorkshire Solar, we will run through this with you when we first install your solar panels.
Comprehensive Services: We carry out comprehensive services to maintain the upkeep of your commercial solar panels. Our expert team is well-equipped to provide necessary repairs and maintenance to keep your solar system performing at its optimal level.

Schedule Professional Maintenance with East Yorkshire Solar

While regular cleaning and monitoring can be handled in-house, professional maintenance ensures your system’s longevity. Qualified technicians can perform in-depth assessments and fix issues that may not be visible during casual inspections. At East Yorkshire Solar, we provide comprehensive operations and maintenance services for both domestic solar panels and commercial solar panels.

Annual Maintenance Checklist

Thermal Imaging: Detect hot spots or faulty cells in your panels.
Electrical Testing: Verify the safety and functionality of your system’s wiring and connections.
Inverter Check: Inspect the inverter for wear, tear or other malfunctions.
Structural Assessment: Ensure that mounting systems and brackets are secure and corrosion-free.

At East Yorkshire Solar, we have MCS-certified technicians (Microgeneration Certification Scheme) who are familiar with commercial-scale installations. MCS certification is a UK-based quality assurance scheme that ensures solar panels and other renewable energy systems meet specific standards. Find out more about what this means for you in our blog, ‘Illuminating the Path to a Greener Tomorrow’.

Troubleshooting, Repairs and Warranties

Even with regular maintenance, issues can still arise for your solar panels. Being proactive in troubleshooting and repairing these can save you time and money.

Common Problems and Solutions

Panel Degradation: Over time, panels may lose their efficiency. Replace panels when their output drops significantly but ensure this is covered by warranty if within the expected lifespan. All our panels come with a 25-year warranty.
Inverter Failures: Inverters typically last 10-15 years. If it fails, you can have it replaced promptly by one of our qualified electricians.
Pest Damage: At East Yorkshire Solar, we install protective mesh or barriers to prevent rodents or birds from nesting near wiring, giving you peace of mind that pests will not interfere with your solar panels.
Shading Challenges: Prune nearby trees or reposition panels where possible to prevent heavy winds and rain causing overhanging tree branches to fall on your solar panels.

Maximising Warranty Benefits

Most commercial solar panels come with warranties ranging from 10-25 years, with all East Yorkshire Solar’s commercial solar panels coming with a minimum 12-year warranty.
Keep detailed records of all maintenance and repairs, as failure to do so could void the warranty.

Additional Tips for Maintaining Your Commercial Solar Panels

Weather Adaptation: The UK’s weather can be unpredictable. While rain often helps clean panels naturally, storms and heavy winds can cause physical damage. Inspect your system after extreme weather events.
Government Incentives: Take advantage of UK government schemes like the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG), which rewards businesses for exporting surplus solar energy back to the grid.
Energy Storage: Pair your solar panels with a battery storage system to maximise energy efficiency and reduce reliance on the grid.

By maintaining your commercial solar panels, you’re not only safeguarding a significant investment but also ensuring your business continues to benefit from clean, renewable energy. Even with ongoing maintenance, solar panels can still be damaged. At East Yorkshire Solar, we offer repairs and replacement services for damaged solar panels, where our expert team can help to get your panels back in working order.

Make solar panel maintenance a priority today and contact East Yorkshire Solar to learn more about our services, or how we can help you maintain your commercial solar panels.

Further Support

We are here to help, so please do not hesitate to contact our team of experts today for further guidance and advice. 

Email: info@eastyorkshiresolar.co.uk 
Telephone: 01482 230 422 