Arizona’s near-constant sunshine makes it paradise nine months of the year—until triple-digit temps take over in summer. When June rolls around, many homeowners head for cooler climates, leaving their houses empty through early October. If you’re one of these seasonal “snowbirds,” remember that your rooftop solar array will keep generating power while you’re gone, but it still deserves a little attention. Before you lock up and hit the road, here’s how to keep your solar investment safe, productive, and ready to cut your bills the moment you return.
Whether you have a grid-tied or off-grid solar system, there are a few things you can do to keep everything running smoothly in your absence. In this article, we share what to do if you’re leaving your solar panels for a few months, including how to set up remote monitoring and how to protect your solar panels from extreme heat and monsoon season. We also include a checklist of things to prepare for your solar panels and battery storage system before you go.
Key takeaways:
- Keep your system running while you’re gone. The panels will power essentials like your fridge and security devices, shrinking your bill even in your absence. Any surplus energy flows back to the grid, earning credits that can help offset pricier bills.
- Most solar systems include desktop and mobile apps that let you track production and battery status from anywhere, so you can spot and address issues quickly.
- There are a few things you can do to prepare your solar panels for extreme heat and monsoon rains, including cleaning debris, securing panels in place, trimming nearby branches, and taking pest control measures.
- It’s worth designating a trusted neighbor, property manager, or technician to check your system in person if any alerts come up.
Should you keep your solar system on if you’re away?
If your Arizona home has solar, it’s almost always worth keeping the system on, even if you plan to be away for an extended period of time. Your panels will continue to generate clean electricity, and help to offset your bills.
Most snowbird homes still run essential appliances while the owners are away. Fridges and freezers need to stay cold, security systems and surveillance cameras need continuous power, and in some cases, pool pumps and irrigation systems are set to run on a schedule. Solar can help cover those energy needs and keep your electricity bills lower while you’re out of state.
Even if your home uses very little power, we still don’t recommend switching off your system completely. Under Arizona’s net billing program, any excess electricity your system produces during the day can still be sent back through power lines to the electricity grid and credited to your account. That means your system can continue offsetting future usage and improving your payback period, whether you’re home or not. (Note: Net billing only applies to grid-tied systems as off-grid systems are not eligible for the program).
So our general guidance is, unless your system is undergoing maintenance or repairs, it’s best to leave it running. Think of it as generating passive energy savings while you enjoy the cooler weather elsewhere.
Learn More: Net Billing And The Case for Arizona’s Solar Market
Tips for managing your Arizona solar system while away
You might feel iffy about leaving your solar system up and running while you’re away, but just because you're out of state it doesn’t mean you can’t keep track of your solar system. These days you can monitor your solar and battery setup from your phone or laptop.
Most solar systems today come with remote monitoring tools that connect to your inverter or battery. These tools display live and historical data through a dedicated app or web portal where you can check:
- How much electricity your system is generating
- Whether your battery is charging and discharging properly
- How much energy you’re exporting to the electric grid
- Your home’s energy usage (if you’ve added whole-home monitoring).
If you have microinverters, you might even be able to view performance at the individual panel level. This can be helpful for spotting shaded or underperforming panels.
The great thing about remove monitoring is that your system will notify you of any problems, including if:
- The system shuts down or trips
- Energy generation drops unexpectedly
- The inverter performance declines
- A safety-related fault is detected.
So instead of spending your time away wondering how your solar panels are performing, you’ll have peace of mind knowing exactly what’s happening back home. If you want even more intel, you can install a third-party monitoring device that offers more than just the basics. These devices can track:
- Total household consumption
- Usage by individual appliances or circuits
- Self-consumption rates (how much solar power you use directly)
- Battery charge and discharge patterns.
Not everyone wants this level of detail, but these monitoring apps can make it easier to troubleshoot high bills and fine-tune how your system operates.
Note that remote monitoring depends on your system staying online, so make sure your inverter or battery is connected via Wi-Fi, 4G, or a hardwired network. The last thing you want is to have all the apps ready to go, only to lose access when you’re away.
Keep Reading: Complete Guide to Using SolarEdge Monitoring Systems
How to protect your solar system during extreme heat and monsoon season
Arizona’s blazing summer heat and intense monsoon storms are intense, and if you’re away, you might understandably feel a little nervous leaving your solar panels exposed to the elements while unattended. But with a little preparation, your solar system can handle the summer sun and storms and keep producing power efficiently.
Stay ahead of the heat
High temperatures don’t typically damage solar panels, but they can affect their energy production.
To protect your system during peak summer heat:
- Ensure panels are well-ventilated: Make sure there’s proper airflow underneath your rooftop panels to prevent heat buildup. This includes removing debris from nearby trees or birds.
- Monitor for efficiency drops: If your system’s output declines despite sunny weather, it might be due to overheating or a failing component
- Keep your panels clean: Dust, pollen, and debris can accumulate on the surface of your solar panels faster in dry summer conditions. If you plan to be away for months, make sure to schedule a solar panel clean before you leave to ensure optimal performance while you’re away. .
Learn More: How Extreme Heat Affects Your Solar Energy Production
Prepare for monsoon season
Arizona’s monsoon season brings strong winds and heavy rains, which can test the durability of your rooftop solar system. Thankfully, solar panels are durable and made to withstand these extreme weather patterns, but it still helps to be prepared.
Here’s how to prep your solar system for monsoon season:
- Secure panels and mounts: Before leaving, have your solar installer check for loose panels, bolts, or brackets that could be dislodged in high winds.
- Trim overhanging branches: Nearby trees can drop leaves and branches that could scratch your solar panels or clog drainage paths.
- Install surge protection: Lightning-induced surges can damage your solar inverters and batteries. You may want to add a surge protector or whole-home suppressor for an extra layer of safety.
- Take pest prevention measures: It may be worth adding pest guards around your solar panels to prevent birds and rodents from nesting under your solar array or chewing wires.
- Inspect for waterproofing: Make sure all rooftop electrical connections and components are sealed to protect against leaks.
Learn More: Solar Panel Pigeon Proofing: Ensure Long-Term Performance
Solar panel checklist before going away
It’s a good idea to give your solar system a quick once-over before you head out of state for the season. This can help you spot any potential issues early on and address them before it’s time to leave, giving you peace of mind while you’re away.
Here’s a checklist to help protect your solar investment while you’re away:
- Run a system performance check: Use your monitoring app or portal to confirm your system is generating electricity as expected. Review any recent performance reports to look for any unexpected dips in output. If anything seems out of order, contact your solar installer to have it resolved before you go.
- Inspect for visible damage: Check for signs of loose panels, cracked glass, or rusted mounts. Also look for nests, leaves, or debris buildup beneath or around your solar panels, which can create hotspots or attract pests while you’re away.
- Test your internet connection: You need a stable Wi-Fi connection if you want to monitor your solar system while you’re away. Make sure your inverter or monitoring device is connected and sending data as it should. You might also want to consider using a backup internet option (like a 4G dongle) if your Wi-Fi is prone to outages.
- Clean your solar panels: Dust, pollen, and bird droppings can all accumulate on your solar panels and reduce output. It’s a good idea to schedule a professional cleaning so you leave your panels in a clean slate.
- Schedule a maintenance check: If your system hasn’t been serviced for a year or more, it’s worth scheduling a quick pre-departure inspection to make sure everything is up to scratch. Your solar technician can check wiring, fasteners, inverter status, and more, so you leave with peace of mind that everything is working as it should.
- Confirm monitoring alerts are enabled: Log in to your monitoring app and make sure alerts are set up to notify you of any system faults or power outages via email or SMS.
- Trim nearby trees or branches: Cut back any branches that could shade your panels, drop debris, or cause damage in high winds.
If you’re planning for off-grid living, read our guide: How Many Solar Panels Do You Need to Run a House Off the Grid in Arizona?
What about solar batteries?
If your solar system includes battery backup power, there are a few additional things you can do to make sure it keeps running safely and efficiently while you’re away:
Keep your battery connected
Just like your solar panels, your solar battery will need an active internet connection to communicate with your remote monitoring system. Make sure it’s connected before you leave and test that remote access is working using your app or web portal.
Check your battery settings
Review your battery’s charge/discharge settings or time-of-use modes. Many Arizona homeowners configure their battery to:
- Store excess energy during the day
- Discharge in the evening during peak-rate hours, and
- Maintain a minimum reserve in case of grid outages.
SRP has different on-peak hours at different times of year. Make sure you’re aware of when the seasonal rat plans shift and plan to alter your settings accordingly through the app while you’re away.
Monitor your battery’s health remotely
Just like your solar panels, you can keep an eye on your battery’s performance while you’re out of state. Your monitoring platform should give insights into charge levels, discharge cycles, and whether your battery is working as expected. It’s worth setting up alerts so you’re notified immediately if performance dips or a fault is detected.
Keep your battery safe
Ensure your battery is fully enclosed and shielded from debris, flooding, and pests. Sun Valley Solar Solutions recommends indoor installation whenever possible, but if your unit is outdoors, double-check that its weatherproof casing is intact, sealed, and securely fastened before you leave.
Know who to call locally if any issues arise
Our final tip is to arrange for someone locally to look after your solar system should any problems come up. Even with a reliable, well-prepped solar system and remote monitoring in place, it helps to have someone on the ground who can respond quickly if anything happens.
Don’t be afraid to ask a trusted neighbor, friend, or even a property manager to visually inspect your solar system if you receive an alert or suspect an issue. Make sure they know how to safely check the system and who to call if professional guidance is needed.
You can also coordinate with your solar provider and let them know you’ll be away for an extended period of time. They may be able to send out a technician to identify and troubleshoot issues if anything comes up.
Note: If your system is located in a gated or hard-to-access area, make sure you give your local contact or solar technician the necessary instructions or permissions to inspect the property while you’re away.
Get peace of mind while you’re away
You shouldn’t stop generating clean, renewable energy just because you’ve gone out of state. With just a few smart steps, which we’ve outlined above, you can confidently leave your system on knowing it’s running as it should.
If you’ve got any questions or concerns and want to speak to a solar professional, our team is here to help. Contact us today to schedule a consultation or solar inspection.
