Solar panels are an investment in your property that will pay off for years. Not only do they lower your electricity bill, but they also positively affect the value of your home.

Understanding how solar panels work is essential before investing in them. Solar panels convert sunlight into electricity, allowing you to store energy during the day and use it at night or when there isn’t much sunlight available. This means you don’t have to rely on traditional power sources such as coal or gas-fired plants—which can be expensive and polluting—to power your home. Moreover, you’ll save money on your monthly energy bill because solar power costs less than traditional utilities.

Added-Value Of Solar Panels
Do solar panels increase home value? The short answer is yes because they’re environmentally friendly and reduce your carbon footprint. These traits make a home more attractive, whether for sale or not. In addition, installing solar panels can help reduce pollution in your area.

Before you start investing in solar panels, it’s best to have some background knowledge regarding their lifespan and potential issues. The article discusses these in-depth, starting with their durability and lifespan.

Solar Panels: Durability and Lifespan

Solar panels are incredibly durable. You can use them for around 25-30 years before needing repairs or replacement. However, there have been instances where they can last up to 50 years if maintained well. Conversely, their output significantly decreases as they get older.

If you are wondering how solar panel degradation occurs, it happens in two ways:

• Physical degradation
• Electrical degradation
  
  

For physical degradation, the sun’s UV rays and heat affect the solar panels enough to start their degradation. On the other hand, constant electricity flow from the panel’s cells causes electrical degradation. Both types of degradation can cause a drop in efficiency and output power over time.

Despite solar panels degrading over time, it does not necessarily mean you will need to replace them.
You can get them repaired, but many factors play a role, such as the type of house you have, how much sunlight there is, how the weather is daily, and how often you use your solar power system.

These become points for consideration because harsh weather or too much sunlight may be detrimental to old solar panels, in which case replacements become the better option.

Common Repairs
Solar panels can experience a variety of issues, which may be due to several different factors. Here are some of the most common repairs done to solar panels

• Microcracks

The most common repair is for microcracks, which are cracks less than 1 millimeter wide. These cracks can lead to damage and degradation of the solar panel. They can also cause the panel’s output to decrease rapidly over time. Microcracks are usually caused by exposure to extreme temperatures or humidity.

1. Potential-Induced Degradation (PID effect)

This effect occurs when an electrical current passes through a material that’s been exposed to moisture and high temperature without being properly dried out first.

This can result in cracking within the panel and reduced performance over time—and it’s especially common during rainy seasons when panels aren’t dried out properly before being put back into use.

1. Loose Wiring

Loose wiring occurs when there is movement between connections or components inside the panel, which leads to shorting out or even fire risk if left unchecked for long enough.

1. Inner Module Damages

Finally, inner module damages can occur if there are scratches on the glass surface that come from improper handling during installation.

Are Solar Panels For You?

Solar panels are a worthwhile investment that you may want to consider. Although installing might be a complex undertaking, it’s crucial to remember that it’s a long-term investment. From a budgetary standpoint, solar electricity is a wise alternative in many regions.

Even if solar power is proven to be slightly more expensive than traditional energy sources, you can avoid future potential changes in energy bills and can start living greener. Its durability and long lifespan mean you will get your return on investment because you will no longer need to pay electric bills, saving you a lot of money.

If you’re looking for the best time to install solar panels in your home, there is no better time than today!