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September 8, 2021

Getting the Max Out of Solar in Mandurah

Author: Lance Wiggers

Mandurah is one of the leading regions in Perth when it comes to solar power, and it’s no surprise why when you consider that we’re blessed with sunny days year-round.

The best way to harness all that power that the sun provides is by installing a solar system so that you can run your appliances off free, clean energy instead of relying on the electricity grid.

If you’re thinking about installing solar panels in Mandurah, or have already got a solar system but want to make sure you’re getting the most out of it – this article is for you.

Installing Solar Panels

The following recommendations will help you use your system more effectively and get the most out of the electricity it produces. That means paying back your system quicker, pulling less electricity from the grid, and potentially creating excess power to sell back to the grid.

Here are our top 10 tips on how to get the most out of your solar system.

1. Choose Quality – Install an efficient system

The efficiency of a solar system starts with the quality of its parts. It’s especially important to choose reliable, high-quality brands for your solar panels and inverter. Always check the warranty of the products you buy as this will give you a good indication of their longevity.

2. Get the Right Size – Choose the ideal system for your household

To get the most out of your system, you should be choosing the optimal size for your household. Choose a system that’s too small and you won’t be able to generate enough power, but choose one that’s too big and you’ll end up paying more than you need to.

Before installing a solar power system, it pays to do some calculations about how much energy you need. Take a look at your past energy bills to find out your daily kW usage. Then speak with a professional who can help you choose the ideal system size for your needs based on the amount of power your household uses, the roof space you have available, your budget, and the environment surrounding your home.

3. Position Optimally – Install your panels to get the most sun exposure

Solar Panels Mandurah

You won’t be able to get much from your panels if they’re never getting any sunlight. Solar panels in Rockingham and Mandurah should be installed facing north in order to receive maximum sunlight throughout the day.

To maximise your system’s output, the panels should be positioned where there are no trees or buildings to block the sunlight. If you have a problem with a nearby tree, you should periodically trim the branches back to keep the shade at bay.

A solar power installation expert can analyse your home and help you find the optimal location and position for your panels. Existing panels that are in a suboptimal location can be moved if it’s absolutely necessary, but this could be expensive.

4. Time it Right – Use more energy during daylight hours

Since your solar system relies on sunlight to create energy that you can use in your home, the smart move is to use more energy during the day than at night. Whether you’re washing clothes, vacuuming the floors, charging your devices or putting on the dishwasher, try and do so during daylight hours.

Solar panels Mandurah installation

Learn how to program your appliances so that they can turn on when you are not at home. Then if you have a beautiful sunny day and you need to leave home, you can run your appliances to get the best out of the solar panels.

Take a look at when your solar panels are working best and producing the most electricity for your needs. Knowing the best time for electricity production will allow you to plan energy-draining activities better.

If you have a north-facing roof, you may find that 10 am – 3 pm is your optimal period. A west-facing roof could work better at 11 am – 5 pm and an east-facing roof may produce more power between 8 am – 1 pm.

5. Get Prepared – Install a backup battery

On a sunny day in Mandurah, your system is likely giving you lots of energy to use, but what happens at night when there’s no more sunlight? One solution is to install a backup battery system that can store energy from the daytime so that you can use it at night without relying on the grid.

Solar Batteries

The price of solar batteries has dropped significantly in recent years and is expected to continue to decrease, making them increasingly attractive to homeowners and business owners.

While solar power battery storage is still developing technology and may not be the best option for every solar system client at this point in time, it can be a very beneficial option for those who frequently experience grid blackouts or are subject to time-of-use electricity rates from their utility company.

With a solar battery, your home will be able to run off of the solar electricity stored up in the battery at night or during power outages.

6. Keep an Eye on it – Monitor the system’s performance

Knowledge is power. Knowing how your system is going can help you maximise its efficiency. A good monitoring device can tell you which appliances in your home are using the most energy and will help you identify if your system is running in top shape or if it needs some attention.

Some devices connect wirelessly to the internet allowing you to monitor performance remotely and conveniently.

7. Keep it Healthy – Carry out regular maintenance on your system

As with other mechanical systems you own such as your car or computer, regular maintenance of your solar system is the key to more efficiency and durability. Solar panels can lose efficiency if they’re not clean: bird droppings, dirt and even mould can all have a negative effect on power output.

You should aim to clean your solar panels every 6-12 months and every couple of years you should get a professional to check your system over. They will help identify any problems and fix them before they result in costly breakdowns or major repairs.

When you clean a solar panel, the goal is to get the glass nice and clean without introducing scratches. It’s important to never use an abrasive cleaning product or scrubbing sponge.

The best way to clean a solar panel without resorting to using ladders is to mount a cloth on a pool skimmer. Use a soft cloth or washing rag, and the cleaning solution should be a biodegradable liquid soap.

8. Make Good Habits – Reduce your energy consumption

Reduce energy bill

Of course one of the simplest ways to reduce your electricity bills is to use less energy. Small lifestyle changes that reduce your energy consumption can help you get much more out of your solar system.

Try the tips below for better habits around energy usage:

Stagger your electricity consumption

Don’t run your pool pump, dishwasher, washing machine and dryer, all at the same time. If you run too many appliances at once, you may notice a big curve in your energy production in a single period of the day. This is an easy way to find yourself dipping into the grid, and not making the most of the solar energy.

Minimise energy usage at night

When the sun isn’t shining, you will have to dip into your stored energy to get by. Any step that you can take to minimise your energy consumption at night will help you to avoid using grid power.

Use LED lights

Modern LED lights are much more energy-efficient than older types of light bulbs. LEDs also last much longer which means you’ll have to replace them less often.

Choose energy-efficient appliances

When replacing appliances, choose ones that have higher energy efficiency ratings. They may cost more at the outset, but they will consume less electricity over their lifetime.

9. Insulate Your Home – Regulate indoor temperatures to reduce energy consumption

One of the best ways to make your home more energy efficient is by installing insulation in the roof, walls and floors. Solar power in conjunction with quality insulation will bring more savings and make your home greener.

Insulation helps regulate the temperatures inside your home so that you can rely less on artificial heating and cooling throughout the year. The less you run your air conditioner, the less power you will use and the more you can maximise the savings that your solar system brings.

Plus, when you run your air conditioner, it will consume less energy if your home is well insulated. If you need advice about choosing the most efficient home air conditioning in Perth, iBreeze can help.

10. Ask an Expert – Get professional advice you can trust

There’s no doubt that a solar power system offers many benefits for a household, but it can be overwhelming when you need to make choices about which system to install or what size air con would be best for you.

If you need advice about installing solar panels in Mandurah, the team at iBreeze can help. We only use trusted brands and have extensive experience in installing solar panels optimally to help you get the maximum out of your solar system.

Our highly trained technicians can also service and repair your equipment to keep your system running at optimal efficiency.

Get in touch with us on 9534 9491 today for honest and reliable advice about solar panels for your home.

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