Why and how does snow affect solar panels?

The weather can always have a significant impact on your home, especially if you have solar panels installed. That’s especially true for a region like Massachusetts, where winters are very cold, and snow will not melt that fast. And because of that, it’s crucial to learn how and if solar panels are affected by the snow. Here’s what you need to know.

What happens if your solar panels are covered by snow?

Due to the bad weather and snowfall, it’s to have certain issues with the solar panels. While they still work, it’s crucial to understand that snowfall will affect the performance of your solar panels. Here’s what happens:

• Even if snow partially covers the solar panels, that means you will end up with a lower output from each covered panel. Uneven snow coverage will also lead to inconsistencies when it comes to performance.

• What happens in Massachusetts often is that snow will melt slightly, and then it will freeze again overnight. That leads to ice layers that stick to panels, increased stress, and more weight on the mounting systems. Plus, there are longer periods of blockage, too.

• It’s also possible that the solar panels can get fully covered during intense snowfall. If that’s the case, that means sunlight will not reach your photovoltaic cells. As a result, it’s possible to have a huge drop or even zero energy production. Clearly, if you don’t remove snow from your solar panels, that can lead to severe problems.

Why does snow stay longer in Massachusetts?

Massachusetts winters are different because the temperatures are lower, which ends up slowing down the natural melting process. And because of it, the solar panels will not function very well. If you leave them full of snow, they won’t work that well or at all.

The region is also known for frequent snowfalls, which lead to intense snow accumulation. There’s also limited sunlight during the winter, due to the shorter winter days. Since there’s less sunlight exposure, the natural melting effect gets reduced, too. And due to the roof angle and orientation, many homes lack the right direction or tilt needed for snow to slide off properly.

The hidden cost of having snow-covered solar panels

At first, you won’t bother removing snow from your solar panels, since you expect it to melt naturally. But as we mentioned earlier, the weather in Massachusetts is different. The natural melting process is very slow. Your solar panels may be covered by snow for a very long time. And, as expected, this comes with various hidden costs:

• When your solar panels are covered by snow, you will lose energy savings. Covered panels don’t generate electricity; you are relying more on the grid for power, and thus, the energy bill will increase.

• Plus, this means the return on investment from your solar panels is reduced exponentially. You will have a lower system efficiency, the payback speed for your solar panels is lower, and the energy output is decreased.

• You’re also going to miss any net metering benefits. If the panels are covered, you lose any potential credits, and you are also not able to generate extra energy.

Why is it a good idea to use a professional snow removal service?

Clearly, Massachusetts winters are no joke, and hiring a proper snow removal company like Ace Property Services is a very good idea. Not only will it save you time and money, but you can also ensure that your solar panels will function at their highest possible capacity even during the winter.

Hiring a professional snow removal service will help ensure that there are no slippery surfaces, ice patches, or any risks of falling. Plus, if you try to remove snow on your own, you run the risk of damaging or cracking the panel surface, or you could damage the mounting systems. That’s obviously something you want to prevent, hence the reason why you want to work with professionals in this niche.

Snow removal services usually stick to the following system:

• First, the company will inspect the situation and assess the ice buildup and snow issues you are facing. They will also check the solar panels and see their current state.

• After that, they will move on to safe removal techniques. They will use soft and non-abrasive tools to ensure that nothing gets destroyed or damaged. Solar panel integrity is the utmost priority here. These panels are sensitive, and damaging them can lead to massive repair costs.

• During this process, the team will also carefully remove the frozen layers and take the right precautions to prevent re-freezing, which can prove to be very problematic.

• At the end, the snow removal team will give advice on panel angles and also offer any additional guidelines/suggestions to ensure that everything is ok.

Snow removal is crucial in regions like Massachusetts because the winters are long, which means you will have more lost energy. On top of that, electricity costs are high, so having snow-covered solar panels will lead to financial losses. And not only that, but there are frequents storm cycles. So, you need consistent help with these things; otherwise, the problems will come back many times.

Removing snow from your solar panels is important when it has already snowed, and the panels have been covered for a few days. Also, if you have some ice buildup or the energy production has dropped significantly, it might be time to call a team of experts that can assist. The same thing is valid if a snowstorm has passed and you can barely see the solar panels on your home due to snow accumulation.

Choose Ace Property Services

It’s clear that if your solar panels are covered by snow, you end up losing money and energy you would generate otherwise. Using a professional snow removal service will help clean your solar panels, ensure that they generate as much energy as possible, while also protecting you from possible issues when you try to remove the snow yourself. It’s the best way to maximize your solar investment, while also staying safe!