We’ve talked in the past
about how important it is for your solar panels to work at the peak of
efficiency, and we’ve talked about what you can do to make sure your panels
work like they should. However, there are some things you can’t control when it
comes to the efficiency of your solar panels, the major issue being weather.
And we don’t just mean
cloudy v. sunny days. There are plenty of other climate factors that people
experience, and it’s important to know that these things can alter the
performance of your panels.
Smog/Dense Air
If the air near your home is
dense, your panels won’t be able to work as efficiently as they were made to.
Light scatters in dense air, which means less of it reaches your panels to
convert to energy. This goes the same for smog. Smog is caused from pollution
in the air, and all that dirt and dust will definitely block the sun from
reaching your home. To check if you live in an area with dense air, see how
blue the sky is on a clear day. Dense air will cause the sky to look more white
than blue.
Fog
If you live in an area that
is notorious for being foggy in the morning, you might think solar panels can’t
be in the picture for you. Not the case, actually, just take this tip to ensure
your panels can soak up some sun. Position your solar panels a little more to
the West; this will optimize the output and still be in the right place for
when the fog clears and the sun comes out!
Temperature
Believe it or not, heat is
not the magical ingredient for solar panels. In fact, if you live in an
incredibly hot part of the country (like Phoenix), it’s possible that heat can
sometimes damage photovoltaic solar panels. The semi-conductors in PV panels
actually work at their best when it’s cool and clear out.
Snow
Hardly a surprise here, but
if you live in an area where it snows, make sure you install your panels with winter
weather in mind. There might be a spot on your roof where snow doesn’t gather
as heavily, or melts quickly due to a heater/chimney near by. When it does
eventually snow, just make sure you use an extension on a soft brush and wipe
the ice off the panels.
Wind
This last type of weather
could come as a bit of surprise. You may not think that wind can cause much
harm to heavy glass panels that are attached to your roof, but it’s been known
to do damage. If you live in an area with strong winds, it’s a good idea to
ensure that your panels are installed using heavy-duty and extra strong mounts.
Solar panels are all about saving money, but you’ll be shelling out more than a
few dollars if you have to repair damaged panels, or worse, have them replaced.
None of the climate factors
are reasons NOT to get solar panels for your home. We do, however, recommend
you keep factors like these in mind when deciding the placement of your panels.
