How to remove snow from your Solar Panels
The snow season is well upon us, so what does that mean for solar power system?
As solar power systems operate off light rather than heat, electricity will continue to be generated year-round. Contrary to popular belief, solar power systems will continue to operate even when the solar modules are covered in 1 to 2 inches of snow. At this depth, light still penetrates through the snow, enabling the solar modules to generate electricity, albeit less efficiently. However, a large storm producing more than 2″ of snow can leave your system lightless, and thus ineffective.
How can you combat this?
There are a number of ways to get your solar power system up and running when covered in snow. There are sources online that recommend using chemicals and salts, but these have been known to cause damage in some instances, and should be avoided altogether. Using these products may also void any warranty claims, should they damage your system. Also avoid spraying your panels with water – not only will this create ice, but the sudden change in temperature may severely damage the surface of the panel. So what can you do?
Retrofitting a roof rake
Roof rakes can be bought from most hardware stores for $30-50, and can be easily retrofitted with a squeegee so that they do not scratch the surface of the solar panels. The snow can then easily be scraped off the panels, and any remaining snow will melt off quickly as the panels begin to heat up.
Telescopic Soft Rake