Hawaiʻi Green Infrastructure Authority

It is important to take care of your installed improvements to ensure their effectiveness, lifespan, and to avoid repair or replacement costs. Maintenance requirements may differ system by system, and you should consult your contractor and system manual for specific maintenance requirements and suggestions.

PV System

PV Systems contain
complex electrical parts, and maintenance should be left up to experts for the
most part. However, regular monitoring is a great way to prevent future repair
and replacement costs, and to ensure that your system is effectively providing
(and storing) solar energy.

Preventive maintenance should be
scheduled on a regular interval based on environmental
conditions, which you will need to determine
with your contractor.

 

However, as PV systems require
specialized training, equipment, and certification for operation and
management, the best way to ensure your system is functioning correctly
is to regularly check your monitoring system, and contact your contractor in
the case of any major changes. Ask your contractor which key performance
indicators can best help you to determine if your system is functioning, or
when there is a problem.

 

When a contractor conducts
preventative or corrective maintenance, they may need to check your electrical
system, interver, roof condition, ballast or raft, ground mount, tracking
mount, environmental conditions, and more.

 

If you have a storage system
installed, your contractor will also need to check additional power inverters,
controllers, surrounding temperature and humidity, and battery colling system.

(National Renewable Energy Laboratory, “Best
Practices for Operation and Maintenance of Photovoltaic and Energy Storage
Systems, 2018)

Here are some tips on what to do when
checking your system’s functionality:

• Panel shading: if your panels are in
  the shade or not receiving direct sunlight at any point of a sunny day,
  consult with your solar contractor if you need to have nearby branches
  trimmed, or if changes to your roof are necessary.
• Panel soiling: dust and litter
  may periodically obstruct your panels, but in most environments, rain will
  be able to wash these obstructions off. In dusty environments, areas near
  the ocean with air that leaves salt deposits, and during dry periods
  without rain, you may need to have your panels cleaned with distilled water. Panels
  should be cleaned at least once a year, either by rain or by a
  professional. 
• System monitoring: periodically
  check to ensure that your system’s monitoring system is connected to the
  internet and familiarize yourself with how to use your monitoring system
  to check if it is working correctly.

(Solar Energy Industries
Association, “Residential Consumer Guide to Solar Energy,” 2023)

Solar Thermal system

Solar thermal systems require periodic inspections and maintenance to operate efficiently. Your system should be inspected by a professional every 3-5 years (National Renewable Energy Laboratory, 2003), but keeping an eye out for early trouble is a great way to prevent expensive damage.

 

Work requiring ladders, walking on roofs, soldering, heat, or cutting trees should be performed by a professional, who provides a cost estimate before performing work. 

Regular check-ups:

• Collector shading: check if your panels are in the shade at any point in the day, particularly if there is new construction or vegetation growth that wasn’t there at the time of installation.
• Collector soiling: check if waste from birds or dust is collecting on your panels. You may need to get them cleaned if rain is not sufficient
  to rinse the waste off. 
• Glazing and seals: check if there are cracks in your panels and if any coating appears to be unsealed or yellowed
• Plumbing, ductwork, and wiring: check for fluid leaks at pipe connections, duct connections, and seals. Ducts and wiring connections should be tight (Note: your heater’s plumbing system requires the same maintenance as a conventional plumbing system (National Renewable Energy Laboratory, 2003))
• Piping, duct, and wiring insulation: check that valves are in their proper operating position, and that insulation covering your
  system is not damaged 
• Roof penetration: watch for any signs of water leakage or damage to sealants
• Support structures: check for any loose nuts and bolts attaching your system to its support structure, and watch for any corrosion on steel parts. Corrosion may need to be cleaned and painted
• Pumps: listen to see if your water pump turns on when the sun is shining on your panels in the mid-morning, to ensure your controller
  and pump are working correctly
• Controls: if your pump is not working correctly, check if the temperature sensors on your collector outlet and at the bottom of the tank
  are securely fastened with a lug or clamp.
• Storage systems: check storage tanks for cracks, leaks, rust, or other signs of corrosion

Tank flushing: periodically remove sediment from your storage tank by flushing the liquid inside

 

Anode replacement: if you have a steel storage tank, ask your contractor if it has a ‘sacrificial anode’ which will have to be periodically replaced, and keep track of when your anode is due for replacement.

 

For more information on solar heater maintenance, please visit the Department of Energy’s Energy Saver website here.