Solar Panels In Rhode Island

When properly installed, especially in hurricane-prone areas like Florida, the strict installation regulations ensure that solar panel systems are as safe as the rest of your home and roof. In many circumstances, the added reinforcement actually helps the home and roof fare better in a hurricane than a home without solar panels. Of course, as in any natural disaster, anything can happen and there is no way to guarantee your solar panels won’t sustain damage or be ripped up along with the roof.

In most cases, cleaning your solar panels isn’t really necessary. They get a great rinse off every time it rains. However, if you live in a dry state you may need to clean them from time to time. It’s generally advised that you hire a professional to do this so that you don’t do any unintended damage to your solar panels. However, if you plan to do it yourself, it’s not all that difficult. All you really need is a hose, a good brush, and some patience. Make sure to take your time and gently, but thoroughly scrub the panels until all the dirt and debris is removed.

Solar panels are made from a wide range of materials and chemicals that each contribute to the conversion of solar light into usable electricity. The main component in any solar panel are crystalline silicon wafers. These wafers are semiconductors that are able to generate electricity from sunlight in a process known as the photovoltaic effect.  In addition, solar panels use glass, wires, metal components, and batteries in order to fully convert and store the sunlight as usable energy for your home.

The simple answer is any time they become obstructed by too much debris or grime to work efficiently. How long that takes will depend on your location. If you live near a populated downtown, your panels will get covered in soot faster, but if you live in a rainy place, your panels may stay cleaner longer. As a general rule, it is best to clean and inspect your solar panels every 6 months, but you may find it makes sense to clean them more often and get full efficiency from your clean solar panels.

Solar panels, or solar photovoltaic panels, transform sunlight into usable energy by converting the light into an electric field that then flows into a conductive wire.  The conductive wire flows into the inverter which then transforms the electricity to an alternating current which can then be used to power a property.

You can read our full article about how solar panels work here.

Yes! Properly installed solar panels are much more resilient than people imagine. Just because they’re thin and reflective like glass doesn’t mean they are fragile. In fact, many solar panel owners report extensive damage to the rest of their home, cars, and property, while their solar panel system stays undamaged. The angle and direction the panels are installed facing make the biggest difference regarding their vulnerability during a hail storm, and like the rest of your property they can be insured against hail damage.