Installing solar panels can be a move toward long-term energy savings for a lot of people. Though inflation is cooling, energy costs have increased for a lot of people over the past two years. While solar costs have also risen with inflation, their cost is falling overall and can be subsidized with the 30% federal tax credit. If you’ve invested in solar, you won’t want to leave any electricity production (and the associated savings) on the table. Winter weather can add a few obstacles to that goal.
Solar panels work just as well in the winter as in the summer. (Maybe even better. Cool temperatures can keep solar panels running at their most efficient.) But shorter cloudy days, snow and ice accumulation and the sun lower in the sky all reduce the amount of sun available. If solar panels work better in the cold, they have less sun to work with.
You can mitigate some of these effects. You might not be able to do much about the clouds in the sky, but you can do something about the snow on your panels. With just a bit of extra work, you can get a bit more energy out of your solar panels through the winter than you would otherwise.
CNET has other solar tips, from how to find a reputable installer among our favorite installers to how to avoid a bad solar deal. Check out how to save money and electricity around the house and find answers to all your solar questions.
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Remove heavy snow from your panels
If you live in an area that gets snow, it’s natural that some will land on your solar panels. And that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Light snowfall is likely to melt fairly quickly. And there may actually be some benefit to snow on your solar panels since it can clean your panels as it melts or slides off.
While some snow on your solar panels is fine, watch out for excess snow accumulation. Solar panels that are covered in snow simply won’t capture sunlight in the same way. Additionally, heavy snow can result in too much weight on your solar panels, putting stress on the mounting points.
If you’re going to clean snow off your solar panels, be sure to use the right tool. A rough brush or rake can damage your solar panels. Instead, use a soft snow brush that will clean the snow off without scratching the surface of your panels. Again, it’s always a good idea to check with your provider to make sure you won’t void your warranty.
