Understanding the solar panel repair process

Solar panels are a great way to save money on your energy bill, as well as helping the environment. However, like any part of your home, they will need to be repaired or replaced at some point in the future.

If you find yourself with a solar system that you believe needs repairs, our solar panel repairs in Brisbane can help, but it’s important to understand your system first. We put together this helpful guide so you can understand the ins and outs of solar panel repair.

Let’s get started.

The most common problems with Solar Panels

While solar energy is a great way to save money on electricity, solar panels do have their problems just like any other part of a home. Here are the main solar panel issues:

Aging Solar Panels

If solar panels are 10 years old or older, they may not work well. Solar cells can break which causes the panels to produce less energy than they could before.

This can also lead to damaged or worn wires. Solar panels contain lots of wiring as it’s are vital for their function. If solar cell wires break, the solar cells won’t work as well or at all.

Weather Damage

In a previous article, we explain that storms can do a lot of damage to solar panels, especially in South East Queensland through our summer storm months.

For those who live near coastlines, salt water corrosion can be incredibly harmful to the metal framing of your panels. The damage from corrosion can cause holes or breaks in the metal, damaging the integrity of your solar panel installation.

How to prevent Solar Panel Damage

Over time, solar panel damage can come from a variety of sources. Here are some tips to prevent problems:

Perform Regular Maintenance

You can prevent problems from arising by regularly having your solar panels serviced and cleaned. Establish a solar maintenance plan with your solar supplier or repair experts so that your panels are maintained at least once a year. You can get this process started by calling our Solarfix experts today on 0497 524 407.

Part of this maintenance would be regular checks of your wiring, cleaning of your panels, inspecting for damaged cells or breaks in the panel glasses, as well as a thorough inspection of your inverter. This will help you find any problems early before they get bigger. You should also check nearby trees or plants to make sure they aren’t enveloping solar cells.

How do you know when it’s time for a Solar Panel Repair?

Here are a few signs that it’s time for solar panel repair:

Your power bills are costing you more than they did before

Solar panels lose their efficiency over time, which results in your solar system not producing as much energy as it used to which will make your power bills larger than they should be. It is a good idea to repair your panels when you start noticing a dip. Doing this maintenance will prevent you from having to do a full replacement for a bit longer.

You’re getting errors on your Inverter

If your inverter isn’t working properly, then electricity cannot flow in the right way. This can cause errors, but it can also be dangerous. It might make your solar cell overheat and could lead to a fire on your roof.

Here are some clear indicators that something is needs to be repaired or replacement:

• cracks within cells,
• damage to wiring,
• red or orange lights on your inverter
• buzzing or cracking noises.

Solar Panel Repair Process

If only a few cells break, the fix is quick and easy. But if the wiring has melted or frayed, it could take more time and cost you more.

It may be cheaper in the long run if you fix damaged wires immediately rather than later on down the line. The solar repair process varies depending on the solar panel equipment and the type of damage. A professional inspection of your solar cells, wiring, and panels will help determine the right repairs needed. You can contact our friendly experts today to help you.

But here are some examples.

Repairing the wiring

Professionals check all the wires and connections to make sure they are properly wired. Professionals connect solar cells in series, so our solar panel repair technician needs to make sure that they are all wired together. If this is not done properly, it can cause your solar cells to fail.

Faulty or damaged wiring on solar panels is a common solar system issue but you can prevent this with regular solar panel maintenance.

Replace Solar Panels

If your solar panel repair technician find solar panels that are beyond repair, they will recommend a panel replacement. In this case, you would need to buy new panels to get your solar system running again. In any scenario, it is always best to leave repairs to a professional instead of trying to fix solar panels yourself.