3 Ways To Maximize The Efficiency Of Your Solar Panels At Home
Solar panels offer a reliable source of energy source that allows you to save money on utility bills.
03/12/2021
Installing solar panels at home can be quite beneficial. First and foremost, using them is helpful to the environment because you reduce your household’s reliance on electricity generated by power plants that use fossil fuels, oil, gas, or coal. These substances are known for being pollutants because they emit carbon monoxide when burned, contributing to global warming.
Solar panels are also a reliable source of energy, allowing you to spare more money on utility bills. They’ll also increase the value of your home and, depending on the state you live in, you could get government incentives for having them.
Steps To Help You Get More From Your Solar Panels
As mentioned earlier, you could enjoy several benefits by fitting solar panels in your home. If you’ve already taken this step or are looking forward to installing solar panels, you may be wondering if it’s possible to get more out of them. In truth, there are different ways to maximize their efficiency, as explained below:
1. Ensure Proper Maintenance Of Your Panels
Taking proper care of any home appliance will keep it working efficiently for longer. In the same way, maintaining home solar panels will ensure that they offer you more years of service. One way to take good care of them is to make sure you clean them regularly. Since the panels have non-porous glass surfaces, washing them is usually easy. All you need is water, a brush with soft bristles or a non-abrasive sponge, and a mild detergent.
It’s advisable to clean your panels at least twice every year. This practice will ensure that dirt or dust doesn’t build up on the surface, which means the panels can absorb as much solar energy as possible. This also means you’ll get the most out of your home’s solar energy source allowing you to get savings on utility bills and more returns on your investment.
2. Buy Solar Batteries For Backup
If you’ve decided to invest in a solar power system, getting backup batteries is highly recommended. These will help you store the excess solar energy collected by your panels. This way, you don’t waste power gathered by the panels during a sunny day. You can use the extra energy at a later time, when the main power source is unavailable or when there’s insufficient sunlight to harness into solar energy during the daytime.
Solar batteries will let you enjoy better energy independence and even better savings on your electricity bill. Besides that, you’ll reduce your home’s contribution to environmental pollution because you’ll end up using less power coming from the grid. As a result, you’ll also be helping to reduce global warming.
There are several types of solar batteries available in today’s market. Therefore, it might be difficult for you to identify an option that best suits your needs, especially if you’re a first-time buyer. To make your selection process easier, consider batteries that are affordable, durable, and have a greater storage capacity. Also, pick batteries that have a higher power rating; those tend to provide more energy so they can power more appliances.
3. Don’t Place The Panels Under A Shade
Solar panels need sunlight to generate electricity. This means that placing them under a shade keeps them from receiving maximum sunlight, reducing their efficiency. It’s important to note that even a minimal amount of cover can be quite a hindrance to your solar panels. Some experts say that if one photovoltaic (PV) cell is obstructed, it can affect the amount of energy the other cells could generate. As a result, this impacts the overall amount of electricity you get from your solar panels.
A good way to prevent shade from reducing your panel’s efficiency is by making you choose a suitable site for your panels when fixing them in your home. This should be an area away from tall buildings, trees, chimneys, or anything else that could block them from receiving the most amount of sunlight throughout the day. If you aren’t sure about the right spot to have your panels, ask for advice from an installer.
Alternatively, have a professional fix the entire system for you. However, you must ensure that the individual you choose is reputable, trained, licensed, properly insured, and has sufficient experience in their field of work. Such an expert knows how best to install a solar power system and position the panels to ensure peak efficiency.
Conclusion
If you’re looking to have solar panels in your home, or you have them already installed, you may be wondering if there are ways to get more value out of them. Fortunately, the answer is ‘yes’. In this article, you’ve learned about some of the steps you could take to maximize the efficiency of your solar panels. These include: ensuring proper maintenance, getting solar batteries for backup, and placing the panels away from shade. By considering these recommendations, you’ll enjoy the full benefits of having a solar power system.