Keeping Rooftop Solar in Good Shape Year-Round

What routine care do panels need?

Rain and snowmelt keep many roofs clean enough. Where dust, pollen, bird droppings or farm and road residue stick, a dirty film can trim output by a few percent, with heavier soiling costing more. Rinsing with plain water from the ground, in the cool of the morning, is usually enough. Use no pressure washer, abrasive pad or harsh cleaner, which can scratch the glass and its coating and may breach the warranty. Check the maker's instructions.

Do not climb on the roof or use a ladder at the roof edge to clean. If it needs doing, hire a cleaner who works from fall-arrest equipment, or use a long soft-bristled pole from the ground.

What should you inspect each year?

A seasonal look from the ground, with binoculars if needed, catches most problems.

• Cracked glass, discolouration, or hot-spot burn marks on panels.
• Loose or sagging wiring, and damage from squirrels or birds nesting under the array.
• Debris, leaves or new tree growth shading the panels.
• Corrosion or loose hardware visible on racking.
• Error messages on the inverter display.

A professional inspection every few years, or after a severe storm, can test connections and torque on fasteners. Ask the installer what a service visit covers and its price before you book.

Keep a short log. Write the date of each check, anything you saw, and the production figure on a clear day. If a problem appears later, the log shows when it began. It also gives an installer or insurer a clear timeline, which helps when deciding whether a fault is covered. A few minutes twice a year is enough, and the habit costs nothing.

What does each Canadian season bring?

In spring, check for winter damage and rinse off grit. In summer, watch for shade from fast tree growth and for dust, particularly in dry prairie conditions. In fall, clear leaves and see whether a gutter or vent change has altered shade patterns. In winter, resist the urge to clear snow aggressively: most panels shed it as the sun warms them, and scraping risks scratching the glass. Our snow removal guide goes through the safe options, and winter performance shows what loss to expect.

Hail is the main structural hazard in parts of Alberta. Panels are tested to withstand hail of a given size, but severe storms can still crack them. Photograph any damage and speak to your insurer, as covered in solar and home insurance.

Pets and wildlife add a small extra. Birds nesting under raised panels can chew wiring and leave droppings, and mesh guards installed by a professional keep them out. Check for new nests in spring, before eggs are laid, since removal later may be restricted. Tidy wiring and a clear gap under the array also reduce the fire risk from dry debris.

How do you know something is wrong?

Data tells you before your eyes do. A fall in output against previous clear days, or one panel lagging the rest, points to a problem. The checks in solar system monitoring will show you what to track. If the inverter shows a fault code, note the code, switch nothing off unless instructed, and call the installer, who may be bound by a workmanship warranty described in the warranty guide.

Does the same apply to solar heating collectors?

Partly. Flat-plate thermal collectors also benefit from a clear glass surface and a check of the plumbing, pumps and glycol or fluid condition. The 800 collectors on the garage roofs at the Drake Landing Solar Community, described in the solar collection page, were part of a system with continuous monitoring. Whether your system makes heat or electricity, the best maintenance habit is a watched record and a prompt response when it drifts.

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