Solar Panels: How Will They Do In Bad Weather?
April 30, 2010 by Guest
Filed under Uncategorized
If you live an area that has weather extremes, you may be wondering whether solar panels are practical for your home. After all, snow and ice storms, tornadoes, hurricanes and hail damage regular roofs every year. Is it really wise to put solar panels on a roof that undergoes those kinds of weather extremes? Following are some facts that will help you decide.
Here Is A Quick Instructional Video on How To Build A Solar Panel
It makes sense to be concerned about hail or wind damage to the glass that encapsulates the solar cells and allows them to have exposure to the sun. Here is the answer: Make sure your solar panels are made with high impact, tempered glass. High quality solar panels are made with glass that can stand up to 60-mile-an-hour winds with 3/4-inch hail. So the panels normally can stand up to conditions that are comparable to what your roofing material can take.
Before the contractor can install your solar panels, he has to determine whether your roof will be able to support the weight of the solar panel arrays. After that is confirmed and the solar panels are attached to the roof, there’s no reason they shouldn’t stay solidly in place. If there is a tornado or hurricane the solar panels should stay secured to the roof. The only way they would come off is if the roof itself came off.
Take A Look at The Making of a Solar Cell
In areas that experience heavy snowfall, snow may blanket the solar panels and block them from receiving sunlight. If this happens, the solar panels will be unable to produce electricity and the snow will need to be removed. But, the snow will not damage the panels themselves.
A larger concern would be your roof’s ability to withstand a wet, heavy snowfall. In that case, you should clear the roof in addition to removing the snow from the solar panels. In the event of a light snowfall, the heat retained in the solar panels will normally be sufficient to melt the snow and clear the panels.
Finally, check with your home-owner’s insurance policy. Often, solar panels are included at no additional cost. If your policy does not include solar panels , consider changing to one that does.
Once you have studied the requirements cafefully the risk of damage to your solar panels will be minimal Don’t be tempted with building your solar panels using minimal standards just to save money. It may prove to be more expensive in the long run having to replace damaged glass which subsequently leads to damaged cells. It is a relatively simple task. You can then sit back and enjoy the comfort of all the free energy that you will have once your project is complete.
Leah Anderson on Fri, 9th Jul 2010 9:10 pm
We have installed a solar water heater at home and it is also as good as conventional water heaters.;.;