5 Tips for New Solar Panel Owners

Introduction

The past decade has seen solar panels gain a lot of traction around the world, especially here in the UK. Cities like Yorkshire and Humberside pride themselves on their growing solar panel scenes.

That said, owning a solar panel can be tough. The initial installation can be done by a professional, but owning solar panels requires you to care for them and keep them secure. But how? Well, there are a few things you should know before investing in a new set of solar panels. These tips will help you become a responsible solar panel owner should you ever decide to invest in them.

5 Tips for Solar Panel Owners

1. Regularly Clean Your Solar Panels

Solar panels require regular maintenance and cleaning. The longer you go without cleaning your solar panels, the less effective they will be as residue starts building up on the panel.

According to solarchoice.net, you should clean your solar panels once every 6 months at a minimum. Any less than that and your panels will begin losing their effectiveness.

2. Pay Close Attention to the Security of Your Solar Panels

When you think about solar panels, you probably don’t think about cybersecurity. Why would you? Hackers aren’t looking for vulnerable solar panels, right?

As it turns out, they are. If hackers gain access to your network or panel, they could mess with the inverter and cause an overload, destroying your panel and potentially your house. To make sure this doesn’t happen, lock down your network with a strong password and install a VPN to encrypt your network.

Then there’s the physical security aspect of owning solar panels as well. Locking down your solar panels with steel bolts and hooking up an alarm system to your panels will make sure your panels aren’t stolen or vandalized

3. Ensure Your Roof’s Structural Integrity

Before you order a set of solar panels and begin the process of hooking them up to your house’s electrical system, confirm whether or not your roof can handle the stress and weight of solar panels.

Fortunately, most modern houses can. However, there are some exceptions. Certain panels will struggle to hold up solar panels. If you are unsure if your roof can support a set of solar panels, hire an inspector to examine your roof and give you a straight answer.

4. Look for Available Grants and Subsidiaries

The Solar Trade Association reported in a 2019 study that over 800,000 homes own solar panels. Why so many homes? Well, the UK government used to hand out government grants for solar panel owners.

Unfortunately, the UK government has ended the programs that allowed solar panel owners to receive grants. However, if you’re a council tenant, you may be able to get your hands on a free solar panel.

5. Install Your Solar Panels in the Right Place

After you’ve determined the strength of your roof, researched possible grants, and set up proper security on your network, it’s time to install your solar panels. When you install your solar panels, you need to do so in an area of your roof that will receive the most direct sunlight.

Maximizing the amount of sunlight your solar panels receive is a major part of owning them, and moving solar panels can be a hassle. Make sure you do it right the first time to avoid headaches in the future.

Conclusion

Owning a solar panel system requires more than the initial setup. It requires continued effort and maintenance—solar panels are a responsibility. With these tips, you’ll be well on your way to becoming a responsible solar panel owner (and you’ll save some money in the process)!