Solar panel lifespan

[Mel7348]

Does anyone know how long solar panels last and if they need any maintainance/cleaning.

The solar panels on my house are roughly 27yrs. old and don't seem to be working or at least hardly at all.

Am a total ignoramus on the subject and any info will be very gratefully received.

[yrtr]

The life span of a solar panel, depending on the panel, is around 25 yrs and then they produce less electricity. If you are talking of the electricity producing kind!

If you are talking about the common hot water heating panels which also work with the sun, they are around 10 yrs. there are also other systems.

We fitted Evacuated Tube Solar Water Heating and we had hot water all through winter just on the sun. And in summer we have hot water 24/7 enough to take a hot bath..

[scruff]

Can only report that our on the roof solar panels for hot water are 11 years old & still doing the job. Come to that so is our 2 ton cold tank & the hot tank. We do check for rust & no sign of it whatsoever.

We've never done any maintenance & they have rarely been cleaned. Hubby doesn't do heights.

[Deniz1]

I had mine cleaned and the water is too hot now.

[andrew4232]

message #1 i assume you mean hot water solar panels they work better if you can access them easily, to give the surfaces a good clean dust that settles on them slows down the process

[Soner]

Great advice andrew4232, never crossed my mind - just goes to show....

[Mel7348]

Thanks very much everyone.
Mine are hot water panels as far as I know and must be absolutely filthy by now, will try cleaning and follow up on the other advice.

Must say this is the most helpful forum I've come across.

[straitasadie]

just hose down from below,thats all i do.

[Mozgor]

Agree, our neighbours, who look after our house for us while we're not there, cleaned our hot water solar panels and it made a hug difference to the temperature of the water which in turn meant it went further.

Cleaning them increases their efficiency.

Moyra

[mamachina]

Cleaning by hosing down is a bit difficult on a high roof - ours have been moved on to a lower roof at a better angle and still work well and are easier to reach with a hose - and the water also cleans out all the pigeon nesting material which starts to gather. So far a couple of eggs, no squabs!

[bigOz]

We had hot water solar panels on the roof for the past 18 years! Working perfectly well and hot water for 6-7 months - enough for 2-3 people to have a shower! We never cleaned them, because since they have a glass panel covering they do not need cleaning at all. What little dust gathers is washed away by the rain anyway.

Our electric bill reduces by more than 50% during those 6 months and it is money well spent installing one of these (actually, they come in pairs )

I feel, these hot water panels can last even 50 years providing the glass covering is not smashed. It is a simple case of good conductor of heat like copper pipes(that do not rust easily or react with water) covered with black paint. Black absorbs heat, and water inside the copper piping inside the glass covered compartment under direct sun can rise up to very hot levels. The rest is a simple natural circulation of hot water rising into the tank and cold water replacing it in the panels (to be heated again). Hence the device has no reason to stop functioning unless the copper piping gets clogged by oxidisation - which is an unlikely scenario since there is no air inside the pipes...

[Mel7348]

bigOz - Thank you very much for the information.

Always wondered how they work and now I and many others do, thanks again.

Just have to find out why mine not working this year. Suspect the worst as workmen were on the roof (new pipes) last autumn. Know the plumbing to the tank ok as have used emmersion with no problems over the winter.

[Edi]

surely if we are talking about Photovoltaics ( to make elecricity) or to heat water we need the panel to be clean. sunlight (energy) does not pass through dirt. we have had them for years and wash them down 'whenever we need to do something on the roof' eg clean out the gutters. don't forget that the water heating type also needs to be topped up with water/antifreeze

[Marions]

Mine need a jolly good clean, but they are up high and not only that i tmeans a climb up one of those 'nautical ladders' (straight up, no angle, no hand rail) , so a hose it out, and even a bucket is out. the tomboy in me would do it, but.......... and of cvourse my beloved can't do it, but I did wonder why the water was not as hot as before.

So, if you read that I have disappeared, it is because I have gone up there to clean and can't get down.

[bigOz]

surely if we are talking about Photovoltaics ( to make elecricity) or to heat water we need the panel to be clean. sunlight (energy) does not pass through dirt. we have had them for years and wash them down 'whenever we need to do something on the roof' eg clean out the gutters. don't forget that the water heating type also needs to be topped up with water/antifreeze

Not many people in Cyprus use "photo voltaic cells". At least 99% (probably more!) of solar water heating panels on the roofs are actually made up of copper piping painted black, confined in a glass panelled box, facing up, inclined at an angle towards South. Very simple and cheap to install - yet very effective. In countries where there is plenty of sunshine throughout the year, this type of solar heating has been more favoured...

[bigOz]

bigOz - Thank you very much for the information.

Always wondered how they work and now I and many others do, thanks again.

Just have to find out why mine not working this year. Suspect the worst as workmen were on the roof (new pipes) last autumn. Know the plumbing to the tank ok as have used immersion with no problems over the winter.

Mel, I suspect the workmen may have bypassed the supply to/from the heating tank to the panels or may have temporarily turned off the water supply to the panels whilst fitting new piping to the rest. In that case, water would still circulate between the main tank and the cylindrical hot water tank (usually immediately below) supplying your taps, but will not circulate through the heating panels.

Usually the name of the installer/manufacturer is printed in large letters on the cylindrical hot water tank above the heating panel. I suggest you contact them and ask for someone to have a quick look - it may well be something very simple. If there is no name I will find out and suggest one of the installers in Girne. Which part of or to which side of Girne do you reside?

[Mel7348]

bigOz - Once again, many thanks.

I live near Girne Private Hospital, any suggestions re installers will be most gratefully received.

Best regards

Angela

[bigOz]

bigOz - Once again, many thanks.

I live near Girne Private Hospital, any suggestions re installers will be most gratefully received.

Best regards

Angela

I have sent you an email - please check your box...