Snow Won’t Damage Your Solar Panels
If you’ve had sturdy, reliable solar panels installed by professionals, then a little snow should not hurt the equipment. To begin, the slanted nature of a solar array’s design not only allows for maximum consumption of the sun’s rays, but it also encourages wintry weather (rain, sleet, or snow) to slide off quickly. In a way, that wet weather provides a fairly cost-free way to clean your panels after layers of dust, dirt, and grime may have built up over time.
Reports differ as to whether you should try and clean off any snow from the panels yourself, but the general consensus says you can let the panels melt the snow off with their own heat conduction. If you do insist on climbing up to your roof, make sure you use a solar panel snow rake to ensure that no scratches result from your cleaning.
Your Electric Bill Won’t Skyrocket Because Of Snow
Though it might seem counterintuitive, snowy weather doesn’t put too much of a dent in your energy costs, either. Yes, a layer of powder covering your panels reduces their ability to receive the sun’s rays, but a few days without full sun exposure won’t run up your electric bill, especially if you participate in net metering.
Since solar panels absorb an excess of energy in the summer, when sun exposure is at its peak, all that extra energy is stored in the power grid, and you’ll get credits from the utility for the amount you contribute. When you redeem those credits during the winter, a good portion of your electricity expenses can be reimbursed based on the amount of extra energy you passed on to the grid during the summer.
Solar Panels Produce Better In Cold Weather
As we noted before, summer is obviously the time when the most sun exposure is available. However, cold weather conditions actually allow for better heat conduction, so even though the sun is out less in the winter, your panels can produce more energy in a shorter timeframe due to increased heat conduction.
Additionally, snow on the ground can reflect the sun’s rays back onto your panels, allowing double-exposure from that reflection and from the sun. Northeastern states like New Jersey, New York, and Massachusetts actually have some of the highest rates of solar installation in the country, even though California and Arizona would seem like the best spots to get the most sun.
Winter Is The Best Time To Buy Solar
Just as winter coats are on sale in July, so too will solar panels become available at reduced prices during less sunny months. Though solar can save you big bucks in the long run, short-term costs for installation and the equipment itself can be pricey, so take advantage of those winter sales while you can!