According to a recent report by the Environment Texas Research and Policy Center, solar energy capacity increased in San Antonio by 37% in 2017, resulting in the city now being ranked 6th highest in the United States.
With such an abundance of natural sunlight, it’s no wonder that everyone is jumping on board the solar bandwagon. After all, a solar energy system can dramatically reduce your power bill, lower your personal carbon emissions and offer a greater level of energy independence.
Still, some homeowners may shy away from the idea of solar panels, predicting that they will lead to sky-high maintenance bills in the future. But the fact is, solar panels are, by design, an incredibly low maintenance product, but with the potential to last for decades. This means that your initial investment in solar energy will be paying you back for many years to come, with minimal expenses associated with their ongoing care and maintenance.
Products will generally suffer the most wear and tear at their movable parts. But a typical solar energy system installed on a residential roof has no moving parts; this means that the potential for wear and tear is very minimal. They are designed to be as low maintenance as possible, with the smooth surface of the solar panels angled to allow dirt, debris, rain, and even snow to slide straight off. This is important because any buildup on the solar panels will limit the amount of usable sunlight that can penetrate and be converted into energy. A periodic inspection of the panels can be beneficial to make sure that no buildup is occurring, although any signs of major obstructions should naturally be cleared at the first opportunity.
Since solar panels are such a low maintenance item, it can be tempting for homeowners to ignore them completely, or else attempt to carry out periodic inspections and cleaning on their own. It is important to remember, however, that solar panels are actually a very complicated and delicate piece of equipment. Although the panels are coated with a protective film, it is still possible for them to be scratched or even cracked if not handled by experts. Since inspections and cleaning are only occasionally required, it makes sense for this to be done by trained professionals. They can maneuver safely at heights while inspecting the panels and ensure small problems don’t develop into larger ones; often a minor scratch can be easily repaired long before it turns into a crack.
If you are considering purchasing a home with solar panels already installed, it can be worthwhile arranging for an inspection to ensure they have been properly cared for. While pre-purchase inspections are a great idea for the rest of the building, these inspectors often have little to no experience working with solar panels. For this reason, it’s worth having an expert check out the condition of the solar panels prior to purchase; the little expense up front could save you thousands of dollars later!
