Before you install solar panels on your home, asking the right questions can help keep your solar panels efficient. Learning about proper care, lifespan, and efficiency of solar panels will help protect your home. Sierra Vista Maintenance wants to protect your investment in your solar panels and keep them working properly by providing you all the information homeowners need. Here are some common solar panel questions and our answers to them. 

1- How often should I clean my solar panels?

Cleaning solar panels helps them to work properly and work for longer. For most solar panels, cleaning them twice a year is sufficient. If you have the budget, you can clean them quarterly or around each season. 

2- Is cleaning my solar panels even necessary?

Cleaning is necessary to keep the efficiency of your solar panels. This is a big one on our list of solar panel questions because homeowners may assume that solar panels are built for the elements. While panels can withstand snow, rain, wind, and other weather elements, dust and dirt can build up and create a film on the panels. 

Cleaning solar panels helps them to receive the most sunlight which brings the best energy efficiency for your home. Cleaning them also helps protect them from mold growth or other deterioration and scratching. There are multiple benefits to cleaning your panels, especially when you have a professional at Sierra Vista Maintenance perform the service. 

3- Will your cleaning method scratch my solar panels?

Sierra Vista Maintenance uses specific brushes to clean solar panels. Our soft bristled brushes and purified water are used to provide a scratch and streak-free clean. Hiring a professional solar panel cleaning crew will give you the best possible cleaning. Working with our company improves the efficiency of your panels while leaving them looking brand new. 

4- Does cleaning my solar panels make them more efficient?

Solar panels are mainly installed to increase efficiency, so it is typical to have solar panel questions about how cleaning them can improve their efficiency. When your solar panels are cleaned properly, the efficiency of your panels can increase by 25-40%. Sierra Vista Maintenance works to improve the look and efficiency of your home and solar panels. Proper cleaning means the solar panels can receive the maximum amount of sunlight possible. 

5- What solar panels are best?

In 2022, there are multiple options for solar panel brands and designs. With the market saturated with many solar panel options, the best thing to keep in mind when purchasing is ones that fit your budget, and panels that deliver the energy they promise. Companies will normally install solar panels on your roof, so ask about their installation process and know what material your roof is made of to install them correctly. 

6- Are solar panels recyclable?

Solar panels are recyclable and are usually separated part by part and can involve removing the frame and junction box from the panels so that the glass and silicon can be reused. Before you recycle your solar panels, research recycling plants in your area and ask questions about if they take the panels and if they properly reuse them. 

7- Can solar panels help the energy crisis? 

While solar panels may not solve the energy crisis, they can help businesses and homes run completely on solar light. With renewable energy, solar panels can help larger buildings create fewer greenhouse gasses and help the environment. 

Using solar energy can not only help the environment around you but it can save you money on your energy bills. 

Work With Sierra Vista Maintenance

Sierra Vista Maintenance offers many quality cleaning services for your home. Homes in California need to look presentable and clean to fit the atmosphere of your neighborhood. With pressure washing, solar panel cleaning, gutter cleaning, driveway cleaning, and more, our team can bring the curb appeal of your home back.

Our team is here to answer your solar panel questions or other home cleaning questions that may arise. Our skilled cleaners work to protect your home and your investment with top-of-the-line cleaning products and efficient methods. Let us help improve the exterior of your home with non-toxic cleaning solutions and gentle cleaning.

Adding solar panels to your roof can be a cost-effective investment for your home. Adding something to your existing structure comes with the unknown and questions. Will your solar panels be sustainable? Will they cause damage to your roof? Knowing whether or not solar panels cause damage to your roof depends on a few factors. Sierra Vista Maintenance has collected some information on solar panel damage and what you should know before you install them.

Proper Solar Panel Installation

When homes experience damage from solar panels it is most likely from improper installation. Installing solar panels correctly should not cause holes or leaks in your roof even though solar panels have to be drilled and screwed into your roof. Before you consider solar panels, think if the company you are working for will have a high-quality installation process.

The best way to avoid having solar panels cause damage to your roof is to pick a company that knows the proper methods. Sierra Vista Maintenance is the lead solar panel cleaning company in California. We help to protect your investment in solar panels and prevent damage to your roof. Our cleaners know how to keep your panels from streaks and scratches or damaging your roofing material. 

Panels Offer Protection

Contrary to popular belief, the myth that solar panels cause damage to your roof is more than false. Solar panels help to protect your home and roof. Solar panels help to block the roof from being directly exposed to weather, which helps your roofing material avoid wearing out sooner. 

Solar panels also suck in the sunlight, which can cause traditional roofing materials to become hot and fade. This not only helps the roof to last longer but helps your home stay cooler. In the winter months, solar panels can help your home to stay warmer and dryer by keeping the energy flowing and protecting your roof from more leaks. 

What About The Roof Warranty?

Solar panels cause damage to your roof when they are done incorrectly, which often voids the warranty of your roof. If your panels are installed correctly, they shouldn’t have an impact on your warranty, but you should still do some research about what your warranty includes so as not to void it. Most warranties cover the materials and the installer. Panels should not affect this area of the warranty because the original material is still intact and installation if done correctly, does not require your roof installer to make repairs. 

If you are installing a new roof, you can search for a company that can install your roofing material and solar panels at the same time. Doing this combination installation can eliminate the worry that solar panels cause damage to your roof. 

Trust Sierra Vista Maintenance With Your Solar Panels

Sierra Vista Maintenance works to keep your roof and solar panels clean and in perfect working order. Solar panels cause damage to your roof when they are not properly cleaned or maintained. With dust, dirt, and bacteria buildup, solar panels can be more of a hindrance than a help. Dirty solar panels can’t provide the efficiency you need in your home, leading to higher energy costs. 

Solar panel cleaning is recommended twice a year to maintain its efficiency. Our team can speak with you about monthly or quarterly maintenance so that weather or wear is not a factor that affects your solar energy. Sierra Vista Maintenance wants to keep your California home sparkling and in the best working condition possible. In order to prevent damage to your roof, cleaning and pressure washing can improve the life of your roof. Contact us today to get a free estimate or schedule one of our many cleaning services.