Why Solar Safety Inspections are Crucial for Your Solar Energy and Battery Storage System?
Solar Safety Inspections Can Ensure Your Safety, Giving You Peace of Mind and Protecting Your Solar Investment
Solar System and Solar Battery Storage can be a great investment for both the environment and your bank balance.
However, like any electrical system, they require regular maintenance and safety checks to ensure it keeps performing well for you and prevent any potential hazards and unwanted outcomes.
Just like your car, you wouldn’t drive it around for 5-10 years and expect it to run well or run at all.
Below, we delve into the importance of having your solar panels and system inspected for safety and how it can benefit you in the long run.
1. Prevent risks to yourself, your family and property from Electrical Hazards and Fire Risks
One of the primary reasons for regular Solar System Safety Inspections, is to identify and rectify any electrical faults that are present and/or may have developed over time.
This is not a job for your local electrician as Solar Inspections are a highly specialised craft requiring extensive experience and in-depth knowledge of your system.
Solar Panels can and do catch on fire, we see this ourselves quite often and it is more frequent than you would guess in Australia. Isolators are next to go, followed by Solar Storage Batteries and on a very rare occasion 1:1000,000 inverters will self-ignite.
Batteries in particular pose significant fire risks if not installed correctly or have a catastrophic failure, impossible for the average person to put out without specialised equipment, if deemed unsafe the fire have a significant health risk if breathing fumes, you don’t want to be finding this out after the fact
A Good Solar Safety Inspection will identify any problems with Poor installation, damaged wiring, water in the system, damaged components, loose connections, or faulty components can lead to electrical shocks, short circuits, damage to your home and fires.
So yes, fire is a real potential problem if you don’t have your system checked regularly.
An inspection by a well-seasoned and fully Qualified Solar Inspection Specialist can identify these issues early on, often addressing the issue on the spot or allowing for timely repairs and mitigating the risk of accidents.
This also allows you time to budget for problems you know are happening with your Solar and Battery Storage System or parts that will fail in the near future.
2. Ensure Optimal Performance and Energy Efficiency
The Australian environment can be harsh compared to other countries, so what may last in Europe may well develop problems early or fail altogether in Australia.
Solar panels and associated systems (Solar inverters, Solar Batteries etc) are exposed to the elements year-round and, making them age faster and susceptible to wear and tear much earlier.
Poor and incorrect installation, Severe weather, Intense heat, Solar Flares, cyclones, hail, falling objects, dust, mould, lichen, debris, bird droppings, and even panels internally breaking down will impact the efficiency and severely reducing the energy output of you Solar System.
A thorough Solar Safety Inspection by the Solar Doctor Savers Specialist Inspection Team should identify any defects, obstructions or damage affecting performance and ensure your entire Solar System operates at its peak, day in day our for the expected life of your system and its components.
Additionally, an inspection can reveal any potential shading issues that may be hindering energy production.
3. Extend the Lifespan of Your Solar System
Regular maintenance and inspections will significantly extend the lifespan of your Solar Panels, Solar inverter and Solar Storage System, provided it is done right, and your Inspector is of high calibre.
By identifying and addressing minor issues before they escalate into major problems, you can budget for remedial work in advance, avoid costly repairs or premature replacements.
This proactive approach ensures that your investment continues to generate clean energy and savings for you in years to come.
4. Maintain Warranty Compliance
At Solar Doctor Savers, we deal with Warranty claims on a daily basis.
Many solar panel manufacturers require regular inspections by a qualified Solar Specialist to maintain the validity of their warranties.
Neglecting these inspections could void your warranty, leaving you liable for any repair or replacement costs.
Another important point is – About the 8-year mark is when problems generally becoming more noticeable. Most defect warranties on panels are for 10 years (the rest is production warranty-which we found almost no manufacturer honours in OZ), inverters can be from 5-10 years.
If you don’t identify there is a problem (we find this VERY common) within the defined period, regardless of if it has been ongoing for years, the manufacturer will not accept liability and leave you holding the bag.
This can be very costly for you and the best outcome is to have the parts replaced by manufacturer, so before your warranty runs out get your system, checked. For a relatively small fee you can save yourself many thousands of dollars
A safety inspection ensures that your system remains compliant and protected with regards to making warranty claims.
5. Insurance Purposes
If you find a few years later your Solar System has been damaged by storm activity you may be paying out of your own pocket.
In most cases your Solar system is deemed to be part of the building structure (you will have to check with your insurer) so any damage from weather etc should be covered. However, there is a 12-month limitation on this. If not recorded and the claim is not filled within the year it happened, then the insurer will not pay the claim.
A Solar Safety Inspection after any Major storm event will ensure you are best positioned for full claim of all storm damaged parts of your system.
6. Peace of Mind
Regular inspections give you the confidence that you, your family, your home and your investment is protected and that your home or business is not at risk of fire or electrical hazards.
Rather than hoping-Knowing that your solar system is operating safely and efficiently provides invaluable peace of mind
When to Schedule a Solar Safety Inspection
- If your inverter come up with a fault: this is a red flag to have your system checked over.
- Your monitoring platform sends you alerts: If you have a newer system and have online monitoring setup, it will send you a notice that there is a problem.
- You notice your electricity bill suddenly go up: This is when most people realise there is something wrong and indicator your solar system is not operating as it should.
- You notice your Solar Production drop: You may notice on your inverter LCD or your monitoring platform that you Instantaneous and daily production has dropped noticeably.
- Just after you have it installed on your home: that way any design issues, poor installation practices, defects or substandard work are identified immediately, and the installer is still around to rectify their work.
- After Severe Weather Events: Storms, hail, or high winds can damage your solar panels. Schedule an inspection after any severe weather to identify and address any potential issues.
- Regularly: It’s recommended to have your solar system inspected by a qualified electrician every 1-2 years. This ensures that any developing issues are caught early and addressed promptly.
- If you have never had your system serviced: Chances are if you have never had a Solar Safety Inspection on your home, then there are issues of which you are unaware and may come as an unpleasant surprise
- Buying and Selling your home: Solar Systems can add or reduce the value of your home. A Solar Safety Inspection by a reputable, experienced Solar Inspector should give you an up-to-date snapshot of if you are buying or selling a white elephant or whether the system is in good order and will add value to your home and make it easier and more attractive to sell.
- Before your Solar Warranty Expires: Before your Solar System components warranty lapses, have them inspected so if they do need replacement this is not at your own expense or you out of pocket is a small amount compared to complete replacement.
Conclusion
Solar safety inspections are not just a matter of compliance; they are crucial for ensuring the safety, efficiency, and longevity of your solar system.
Investing in regular Solar Safety Inspections can save you money, stress, protect you and your family, your property, and give you peace of mind knowing that your entire Solar System is safe and operating at their best
Remember, your solar panels are a valuable asset that makes you (saves you) money, the better it runs the more you save, so treat them with the care and attention they deserve.
From the Solar Doctor Savers Team 😊