Many homeowners often wonder how the weather affects solar energy systems in their homes. Because solar panels are installed outside on the roof, it is easy for someone to imagine that adverse weather can damage the solar panels or at least severely reduce the amount of energy produced by the system. Here are some of the widespread misconceptions surrounding home solar installations.
Cold Weather Affects Solar Energy Systems
This is a popular misconception that arises from the fact that most people think that solar panels convert energy from the heat that the sun emits. With this in mind, it is easy to assume that in cold seasons, the solar panels might produce less energy than during hot seasons. In actual fact, the opposite is true. Solar panels produce energy from light so cold weather does not reduce the energy production from your panels. In some cases, energy production may even increase in cold weather as the solar panels are cooler and thus more efficient.
You Can’t Have Solar Energy In Freezing Climates
Home solar installations work just fine in areas prone to heavy snow fall. Depending on the type of panels that are installed in your home, you can get just about the same level of energy from the right kind of solar panels in snowy areas as you can in other places. In addition, there are solar panels that are designed to handle extreme weather (hot or cold) and can rapidly melt any snow on the panels. This ensures that no snow accumulates on the panels thus blocking the light from reaching the surface of the panels.
Wind Affects Solar Panels
If your home solar energy system is well installed, the wind should have no effect on the system. This is because when professional contractors are setting up the system, they take into consideration the wind patterns and plan the set up accordingly. In addition to this, most solar panels are designed and tested to withstand high wind pressure and continue to function properly with no damage.
Hail Can Destroy Solar Panels
Just like wind pressure, solar panels are designed and tested to withstand hail storms and come out just fine. Once solar panels are tested, solar panels then get certification known as UL (Underwriter’s Laboratory) certification which gives the assurance that the panels have undergone testing and can withstand a variety of weather conditions including hail storms.
Certified Solar Panels Are The Same
Closely related to this is the misconception that all certified solar panels are the same. This however is not true at all. What UL and other certification do is to provide a minimum level of guarantee about the panels. Some solar panels manufacturers however take the testing further beyond this minimum threshold. It thus helps for a homeowner to ask if the panels have undergone testing beyond this minimum.
One of the reasons why it pays to have a professional solar energy contractor do the set up in your home is because they know the best solar panels to use based on the weather patterns in your locality. Such a contractor would also be familiar with the various kinds of solar panels and their capabilities in different weather conditions. If you are looking for a professional solar energy contractor in New Jersey who understands what works in your area, talk to us at GenRenew. We are professional solar contractors that practice a client-first approach, so you can be sure your needs will be met in the best way.