Solar Panel Repairs: What to Do When Disaster Strikes

What can damage solar panels?

According to experts, solar panels are primarily damaged by inclement weather. You must install solar panels in open areas such as roofs of houses, open grounds, or even the backyard of a home. This exposes the panels to natural elements such as strong winds, rain, and hailstorms. This is primarily why you must hire experts to install the panels. You must fix the panels firmly on the house’s roof or the ground. This will prevent the board from flying off from the base when there are strong winds.

However, despite your best efforts, the solar panels might be damaged due to bad weather conditions. For instance, during tornadoes and hurricanes, wind speeds can reach from 40mph to 360 mph and 74 mph to over 155mph, respectively. In such a scenario, a section of the solar panels can break, get warped, or even fly off your home’s roof. Similarly, in cyclonic weather, you will get constant rainfall, which can damage the circuit of the solar panels. In such a scenario, you will need experts who will evaluate the damage that inclement weather conditions have inflicted on the solar panels, and you can then consider repairing these.

Hailstorms can also be dangerous to solar panels. According to experts, if the hailstones are enormous and hit the solar panels at a significant momentum, they can crack the surface of the glass panel. In such a scenario, you will have no option but to change the entire solar panels. The photovoltaic cells that generate electricity are fixed below the glass surface. The photovoltaic cells will not survive the impact if the glass surface is wholly damaged. As all these cells are interconnected, you must replace the panels, which requires significant expertise. Hence, you must hire experts when you return the solar panels damaged by a hailstorm.

The other common reason behind damaged solar panels is vandalism. This is often done by animals such as critters that can climb up to the roof and chew at the cables connected to the solar panels. This can disrupt the electric supply and loosen the solar panels. Criminals sometimes vandalize solar panels, but this occurs only in remote areas where you have stretches of solar panels.

These panels are sometimes damaged by disruptive individuals who want to disturb the electric supply line. If they break the glass of the solar panels, it can cause irreparable damage to the entire electric supply process. In such a scenario, you must hire experts offering Solar Panel Repair near Brent, FL, to evaluate the damage and suggest suitable repairs. Thus, when solar panels you have installed in your home office, or if your community has established an open space, get damaged due to weather or vandalism, it is best to hire experts and repair the damage at the earliest.

What do experts do to ensure that the damage done to the solar panels is repaired?

The ability of solar panels to generate green electricity has made it one of the most sought-after sources of sustainable energy. Moreover, after the installation is completed, you will find that the maintenance and management of the solar panels are comparatively less expensive. Once you connect the solar panels to a central electrical converter, you can use the electricity generated from the panels to power the electrical appliances in your home. Some of the ways that experts will ensure that the damage that the solar panels have suffered is repaired quickly are as follows:

• Check the panels for cracks and breaks: The first thing you will find damaged due to hail storms, tornadoes, and hurricanes is the solar panels’ glass surface. According to experts offering Solar Panel Repair near Ferry Pass, FL, the first step in the repair process is to check the boards for the extent of damage. This is essential because it is wrong to assume that you can reattach the broken parts of the solar panels. The photovoltaic cells in the solar panels remain firmly attached to the panel base. Moreover, the cells are sealed beneath the glass surface of the panel. Hence, if a part of the solar panel is damaged or broken, the entire circuitry gets damaged. In such a scenario, you will find that reattaching or fixing the damaged part will not fix the problem. You need to check the panels even for micro-cracks. These cracks can also cause permanent damage to the panels. Here, you change the entire panel. Thus, when you hire experts, they will evaluate the condition of the panels and replace the damaged ones.
• Checking the wiring of the solar panels: The next step in evaluating and repairing solar panels is to check the wiring connecting the panels to the converter. The wirings are often damaged due to exposure to natural elements. Sometimes, animals can chew the wires and cause permanent damage. The sudden temperature change can damage the cables if the solar panels are exposed to hailstorms. Inclement weather can damage the panels and the wiring, so you must add suitable safeguards to protect these from the natural elements. However, these will get damaged in the long run, and experts will identify the damage during regular inspections. In such a scenario, you must discuss with the experts the best solution. In most cases, they will remove the damaged wiring and replace it with new wires. This will increase the durability of the solar panel system.

Thus, when you hire experts, they will check the solar panels you have installed for two types of damage. If the panels are damaged due to strong winds, heavy rains, or hailstorms, you cannot do much to save the panels. In such a scenario, you must replace the damaged panels with new ones. The second thing that the experts will check is the wiring and the fixtures. If the panels are not fixed firmly onto the roof or ground, the chances of these panels flying off from the fixture increase. Strong gusts of wind during hail storms and tornadoes can permanently damage the panels.

If a section of the solar panels gets warped during a natural disaster, you must change the entire section. A row of warped solar panels means that the wiring associated with the panels is also damaged. Hence, it would help if you altered all the panels. This will include reinstalling the solar panels and rewiring all the panels. To ensure that it is done perfectly, you will need experts so that the panels can withstand further damage.

What should you do to maintain the solar panels?

If a natural disaster damages the solar panels that you have installed, you must replace them immediately. However, there are certain factors that you must remember about maintaining the panels. For example, it is essential to keep the surface of the solar panels clean. You can easily do it by spraying water on the surface. If you are concerned about the water running off the panels’ surface and short-circuiting the wires, you should hire experts to clean the surface.

Sometimes, homeowners make the mistake of thinking they must replace the solar panels after a natural disaster. But sometimes, simply cleaning the surface can also solve the problem. If debris is gathered on the surface of the solar panels, you must clean this carefully. After the hurricane, you must hire experts to check the surface and remove the debris. Not being careful about removing the debris can scratch the panel’s surface and damage it further. Thus, here, too, you need experts to clean the surface of the solar panels, remove any debris adhering to the wirings and ensure that the panels are in working condition.

You must check for a few things when it comes to regular maintenance. The glass panel on the photovoltaic cells of a solar panel must be free of dirt and grime. If too much dust or dirt has gathered on the surface, it will affect the ability of the panels to reflect sunlight and generate electricity. If you have fixed the panels on the roof of your house, you can check if there is too much dirt, grime, or even dead leaves on the panel.

You can either remove these or hire experts to do it for you. Repairing or replacing solar panels can be quite expensive; hence, you should opt for a regular maintenance service to avoid such expenses. Sometimes, even cleaning the surface of the solar panels with biodegradable soap is sufficient to restore the panel’s ability to produce electricity. You should avoid using harsh chemicals or abrasive materials to clean the surface of the solar panels, as that can damage the panels permanently. You can opt for a weekly or monthly cleaning service to ensure your solar panels function perfectly.

What services can you expect from Solar Panel Repair near Ferry Pass, FL?

Suppose you want to change or repair the solar panels you have installed. In that case, you must contact Service Electric USA, one of the best companies offering Solar Panel Repair near Pensacola, FL. When you hire our services, the first benefit that you will get is that our experts will provide you with complete maintenance support. As mentioned earlier, solar panels require regular maintenance, which, as a homeowner, you will need to learn how to do best. With the help of our experts, you can ensure that the solar panels are well-maintained.

The other important service you will need in case the weather damages the solar panels is the removal and reinstallation of the panels. When you find that the solar panels are damaged beyond repair, you need the help of experts to replace them. You will also need the help of experts to identify if there are any microcracks in the solar panels. You will find it challenging to locate the cracks with the naked eye. Only experts with their specialized equipment can determine the damages. Our experts will respond to your calls immediately.

How will you know that the solar panels are damaged?

If you have installed solar panels on the roof of your house, it is difficult for you to climb and check the physical condition of the panels. However, you will find that specific indications will give you an idea of whether the panels are functioning optimally. Some of these are as follows:

• If you find a sudden surge in the electricity bill, you should check the functioning of the solar panels.
• It is also essential to identify whether the inverter is functioning correctly. If the inverter malfunctions, the appliances connected to green electricity will not function.
• If you find that there is less output of electricity in the Ampere scale, it is an indication that the solar panels are not functioning optimally.

Thus, you must also check the solar panels’ output and electricity production levels to evaluate whether the system is functioning optimally.