How does the weather affect your solar energy system?
drop of rain on solar cells, technology
One of the facts of life in northeast Florida is that it rains quite a bit during the year, especially during the summer. Because of this, prospective solar energy system owners in the area tend to worry that rain will have a negative effect on their solar energy system, such as damaging it or decreasing its output.
Rain itself will have no effect on your solar energy system. Solar panels are waterproof, so moisture won’t damage them. And, in fact, rain is helpful in that it will wash off some of the dirt and debris that accumulates on the panels over time.
What about severe storms or a hurricane? Solar companies in Florida must abide by strict building codes when they install solar energy systems. They securely attach solar panels to a building with ample attachment points to resist wind uplift. This makes Florida solar panels less susceptible to damage from blowing debris in a storm. In case you do have damage to your panels from a storm, solar panel manufacturers have an equipment warranty that covers any damage to the solar panels. Check with your solar contractor before purchasing a solar energy system to fully understand the warranty.
Unfortunately, rain clouds do affect your solar energy output, often drastically. It’s best to move essential devices running on solar energy to a non-solar energy system when clouds start to form, so everything continues to run uninterrupted.
