Whether 2024-2025 is going to be your first winter with solar panels, or maybe after the long summer it just feels like forever since you had to think about the cold, it’s time to prepare. Your solar home is going to be 100% ready to face whatever Jack Frost dishes out with a few of these hot tips!
Low Temperatures and Your Energy Storage
First a tip for energy storage owners: Your solar and battery system is a winning combination, offering backup power in an electric outage, and even extending the time you can directly use your own solar energy outside of daylight hours. (Though, thanks to net energy metering, you can virtually run on solar all 24 hours, by sending your surplus solar to the utility at the height of the day while receiving credit back, and spending that account credit all night when you’re taking grid energy.) But how will it fare in winter?
A home battery isn’t quite like a water heater that you can insulate or a pipe that you leave dripping to improve its operation or protect it from damage by freezing temperatures. Your installer will have considered the temperature range for your battery before moving forward with the project, whether it’s suited for outdoor or indoor use (some batteries can even keep themselves warm when their environment gets cold). If cold sensitivity is a factor for your energy storage system, avoid leaving exterior doors or windows open where your battery is located. Take steps to keep your heating running at a minimum level even if you travel away from home for the sake of your battery, and keep an eye out for any specific instructions from your installer in case of a true Arctic Blast.
Bonus energy storage tip: Monitor that battery system and try to keep 50% of reserve charge during routine use. Daily cycling is healthier for the battery when it doesn’t become completely depleted. Staying aware of your stored energy will also get you in the habit of conserving enough energy to keep your bills reasonably low, wearing your comfy (and stylish) layers around the house to manage where you set that thermostat, and turning off lights and devices when you can. After all, if saving money was one of your solar goals in the first place, minimizing your energy usage is another great way to save.
Snow? S’no Problem!
A little or a lot, our region is almost guaranteed to receive snow every winter. You’ve probably seen the various types of wintery mix interacting with solar panels in your area before – a fine dusting that blows right off, a thin layer that melts the next morning, or a heavy blanket that lasts for days. The good news is that when snow finally slides, drops and drips off of solar panels, it takes any dust and dirt with it (like a good rain shower but with a better grip)! The other good news is that because solar panels are designed to absorb energy from the sun, snow is likely to melt off the surface of solar panels more quickly than it does on the surface of your roof. And believe it or not, solar panels can still collect sunlight and generate electricity under several layers of snow!
If more than 2 inches of sticky, packable snow are in the forecast, call or message us for advice on snow removal. Many solar installers recommend waiting for snow to melt on its own, as it usually only takes one sunny day to begin heating the dark, smooth panels enough to speed up the melting. Balancing concerns like your safety reaching the arrays, finding a snow brush soft enough to avoid scratching the panels, and assurance from your installer that your warranty won’t be voided, you can choose to leave the snow alone or gently clear it.
Seasonal Surprises
If you’re reading this while you’re still in the planning phase, even better! Check with your installer about how they expect your roof angle to perform in terms of solar energy production both in summer and in winter. If you’re interested in getting into more technical detail, find out how the angle of your roof helps your production and if different roof planes will be used, how the sun angle will make their production differ. You might think that summer is the best season for producing solar energy, but you may be surprised that solar panels actually operate less efficiently in the hottest season. In other words, they are just as good at squeezing as much solar energy out of shorter winter days than they are at operating in overheated conditions. (We bet you know a few people like that too!)
The holidays are approaching and a solar installation is the gift your family can’t wait to unwrap, that gives you back the gift of clean air and smaller electric bills. Now you know that solar panels will benefit you even when frosty weather decorates your home. Federal incentives are the ultimate great deal, without the “doorbuster” mayhem, so make this winter holiday season your perfect time to go solar with a quote from Green Rack Solar.
