Solar System Repair & Maintenance | Flatiron Solar
Repair and MaintenanceMaintenance of a Solar Hot Water System. Maintenance will keep your system harvesting the greatest amount of energy from the sun for many years. Often Flatiron Solar is servicing system from the late 70’s and early 80’s, the Jimmy Carter era of 60% tax breaks. These systems are 30 years old and still working.
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As with any mechanical system, periodic maintenance prevents damage to the system or the mechanical room. A solar system has water storage the same at a hot water heater which needs periodic replacement. Additionally the fluid transferring heat in the solar panels is typically antifreeze (propylene glycol), water, oil, or silicone, which periodically needs replacing, similar to an automobile’s antifreeze.
Flatiron Solar will test the level of freeze protection and replace it if necessary. A visual inspection of the solar panels is critical to watch for leaks due to the hot and cold temperature cycles a panel will endure. Sometimes a joint where the constant expansion and contraction of the copper creates a hairline crack which will leak and reduce the performance of the system or cause the system to stop working. You’ve invested in a system and it’s worth protecting that investment to fulfill the expectation of years of reducing your energy costs in your home.
Flatiron Solar will test the level of freeze protection and replace it if necessary. A visual inspection of the solar panels is critical to watch for leaks due to the hot and cold temperature cycles a panel will endure. Sometimes a joint where the constant expansion and contraction of the copper creates a hairline crack which will leak and reduce the performance of the system or cause the system to stop working. You’ve invested in a system and it’s worth protecting that investment to fulfill the expectation of years of reducing your energy costs in your home.
Maintenance of a Solar Electric System
Maintenance is minimal and can be performed by the homeowner. A visual inspection every so often to ensure the system is clean and working. Flatiron Solar will perform a more technical and thorough inspection:
- Perform a production verification test, record results
- Getting on the roof to inspect closely
- Cleaning soil buildup
- Cleaning any debris collecting under the array
- Removal of energy robbing snow on the panels
- Inspection for pests such as squirrels or birds
- Battery testing, maintenance, water top off
- Diagnostic and service for any failures
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Power Monitoring
The monitoring of the performance of your solar system is my favorite and the most fun for the homeowner. Well, maybe second to getting your electric bill and seeing that the utility company owes you money. This is the modern equivalent of watching your meter spin backwards if you’ve heard that expression before. The amount of energy being harvested from the sun can be watched at any time from anyplace there is access to the internet. Monitoring is included with every system Flatiron Solar installs. It is the dashboard or the part where the client can interact with the solar system. It also, has a side benefit of showing you how much electricity you’re using, turn on the microwave and see a spike on the graph in your usage. Monitoring is accomplished by installing current sensors in your main breaker panel. Look online to see how much electricity you generated today, or how much power you’re using when nobody’s home.