Owning solar panels can help slash your winter heating bills, help the environment and even improve the value of your home and property. However, you may need to do some slight maintenance on the panels. Winter maintenance work can keep your systems functional, in spite of wear and tear caused by Mother Nature. Here are some guidelines:

First, take a look at the manufacturer’s recommendations for cleaning. Next, pick a good time to do the work. As intuition would suggest, solar panels can get blisteringly hot during the day, even during the winter. Choose early morning, late afternoon, or a cloudy day to do the work.

In most cases, a water hose can help you take off the pollen, bird doo, debris, leaves, and dust that can inhibit the efficiency of solar panels. If simple hosing doesn’t do it, take warm water and soap in a spray bottle and a sponge or soft cloth to swipe the panels. Avoid touching or trying to “clean” the wiring underneath the panels. Take care while going on up on the roof and using ladders, and consider hiring professional roofing contractors to help you.

Some studies suggest that biannual solar panel cleaning can help users improve their efficiency by 15 to 25 percent. Monitor your use and performance before and after cleaning to determine an ideal cleaning schedule going forward.

Call The Solar Roofing Specialists Today!

For help dealing with solar panel installation, maintenance, or any other roofing related concerns, call the team here at Century Roofing & Solar for a free consultation. You can reach us at (510) 780-9489.

Whether you live in the Northern California mountains, and you and your community are already “battening down the hatches” in preparation for massive snowfalls; or you live in a milder, more urban region of Northern California SF Bay Area (that nevertheless occasionally gets assaulted by Old Man Winter), you need proven, easy, cost effective ideas to protect your home.

Here are some evergreen tips:

Check your “roof plumbing”: downspouts, fascia, gutters, and other elements of your roof’s “plumbing” are easily assaulted by snow, ice and other weather. Clean that stuff out, check for leaks, and seal up the “plumbing” yourself or work with a professional to get the job done.

After storms, particularly wind storms, roof shingles can detach or come loose. If you fail to notice minor damage, leaks can develop, which can in turn metastasize into multi thousand dollar home repair projects. So, after a big storm or wind event, go outside and check on your roof.

If you own a flat roof, you might want to apply a weather protective coat. Or, you could hire a professional to do the job for you.

Winter weather “attacks” on your roof and structure can happen in the most surprising and inconvenient times. For instance, say you’re out of town on a vacation or conference. You hear about a storm ripping through your community from friends or through an online alert. What do you do then? Or what should do you if you’re in the middle of urgent responsibilities, like childcare or preparation for a business meeting?

The answer is: Get help, ASAP. If you let winter weather damage linger, the results could be costly, annoying cleanup.

Trust the Bay Area professionals at Century Roof and Solar to get your job under control.

For over 15 years, our team — the “most trusted name in roofing” — has been helping business owners and homeowners like you solve their roofing problems.

Find out more about us at www.centuryrooftile.com, or call us at 510-780-9489 for a free quote.