Winter care for solar photovoltaic panels

Winter is coming, and that typically means snow for residents of New Jersey and Pennsylvania. It also means shorter days, which can decrease solar production because of less sunlight exposure. Don’t let snow build up and further hinder the production of your solar photovoltaic panels.

To remove snow from your solar photovoltaic panels easily, use a long, soft-edged tool to reach up onto the roof. Be sure the tool you use is not metal or another hard material which might hurt the panels For example, these sorts of tools would work perfectly and not cause damage to your panels:

• Brooms with soft bristles
• Squeegees

Snow isn't a danger to your solar panels. In fact, if you leave it alone, the sunlight we do get will melt it right off. If you find that the snow isn't moving off the panels on a sunny day, you can clear a small portion of the panel to allow sunlight to be absorbed to start generating power which will then cause the snow to loosen.

Removing a small portion of snow from the bottom of the solar photovoltaic panels will allow sunlight and gravity to do the rest of the work for you. Once the panels begin to warm up, the snow should slide right off. You may want to use that tool to clear any snow buildup from your gutters or equipment and walkways on the ground below.

If you have questions about winter care for your home’s solar photovoltaic panels, give us a call! The experts at Smith Sustainable Design are happy to advise you on the proper way to clear snow and keep your panels safe all winter long.