Rooftop solar is pretty low maintenance, but it is still a good idea to check in on your solar panels from time to time and make sure they are working properly. Here’s how.
It is important to monitor your solar system
Even though many solar installers have a monitoring service, they usually can only look for “red flags” that indicate a major failure. Smaller problems are sometimes not noticed by the installer because they are likely monitoring hundreds of systems.
Bottom line: it’s your system and no one will care about it as much as you do.
How do I monitor my solar system?
Newer solar systems usually come with a personalized website and a smartphone app, where you can log in and check the performance of your solar panels at any time.
In most cases, your solar installer should have provided you with the information you need to log into your monitoring tool.
If you never got this information, or you lost it, contact your solar installer.
If your solar installer went out of business, follow these steps:
- Figure out what company made your “inverter”. This is a device that is part of your system. Your original paperwork should have this info, or you can look on the box near your electrical meter. The most common inverter companies are Enphase, SolarEdge, and SMA.
- Call the inverter company and see if they can connect you with your monitoring tool. In some cases, you might need to pay a monthly fee for the service.
- If you need help with these steps, here are some additional services you can use.
What does my solar monitoring track?
Many of the newest monitoring tools allow you to track how each solar panel is doing. If you have a battery, it will track energy flowing in and out of the battery at different times of the day. For a fee, you might also be able to “upgrade” your monitoring tool to also track your energy consumption.
Older system might only allow you to track total system performance, not the performance of each individual panel. These systems make it harder to spot a problem, so we recommend also keeping a close eye on your electricity bill.
What to do if you see a drop in your solar system's energy output?
First, remember that system performance goes down in winter months due to the sun being lower in the sky and shorter days.
In addition, there will always be small differences in output performance from one panel to another. That alone is not a cause for concern.
However, it looks like a panel is consistently underperforming even during sunny days, then take a closer look. Sometimes a small shadow from a vent or something like that can be the culprit.
If there is no clear explanation for an underperforming panel, give your installer a call.
If your installer went out of business, here are some ways you can get help.
You can also contact our Help Desk at [email protected].
