How to maximise your home's solar output
Having residential solar power installed at your home and generating your own renewable electricity can be an exciting thing for a homeowner. You will not only reduce your electricity bills but also do your part for the environment. Like anything else, it can be easy to forget to maintain and look after what we already own, which is why it is essential to schedule regular maintenance checks to maximise your home’s solar output.
If you already have solar or are currently considering solar panels for your home, then you’ll need to carry out a few basic systems checks to maintain the longevity and condition of your solar system. We’ve developed four simple solar health checks to consider when monitoring your home’s solar system output:
Cleaning your solar panels
Solar panels are exposed to various elements like grime, dirt, hard water, droppings, and seasonal changes which all affect the output of your solar panels. We recommend hiring a professionally accredited solar maintenance company that can conduct regular checks every 6–12 months.
If after your clean you notice that your panels aren’t operating at an optimal level, then we recommend that you contact your accredited installer to assess the situation. If you have installed solar with Nectr we can arrange for the installer to check it for you.
Conduct a routine boundary check
In our 7-point home solar preparation checklist, we outlined foliage being a major factor in determining the output of your solar panels. Over time, as the season's change, regrowth on trees and weather patterns can prevent your panels from getting the maximum amount of UV rays that they deserve. We recommend calling a professional arborist to conduct a routine boundary check so that they can assess your home and remove any excess foliage or regrowth.
Make sure your solar inverter is working properly
Your solar system is made up of many different components. A solar inverter is important to monitor because it is the part of your existing home’s solar system that converts the stored energy from sunlight into transferable energy. Another consideration (whilst uncommon) is to have an accredited installer check for signs of weathering or aging to the corresponding DC isolator.
This acts as a failsafe for your inverter and PV panels. The best way to check if your inverter has an error before contacting your installer is to check your systems box. Any error codes or red-light indications will usually appear to detail a fault.
Digitally monitor the output of your home solar panel system
Upon installation of your solar system, an accredited installer will guide you to our corresponding Nectr app so you can monitor the output of your solar system. A cloud-based application will also store your data so you can track, compare, and log your system's output. If you haven’t already installed the Nectr app you can check with your installer about how to do it.
You can visit our link below to chat with one of our solar home experts, or a customer care team member if you have any further questions about your solar system.
