Two Wind Power Myths Homeowners May Assume Are True

Renewable energy sources have rapidly been gaining attention, and this is for good reasons. These systems have experienced a significant decrease in cost and maintenance requirement in recent decades. In fact, homeowners have a variety of options available to them if they are wanting to install a renewable energy system for the home. In particular, wind turbines have started to gain popularity as a source of energy for homes. However, there are many homeowners that lack a detailed understanding of these systems, which can make it difficult for them to make an informed choice about whether to install these devices on their property. After learning the following couple of answers to routine questions, you will be in a better position to decide if this is right for your home's energy needs. 

What Will You Have To Do To Maintain The Wind Turbines?

There is a common assumption that a wind turbine system will be extremely maintenance intensive, but this is far from the case. These systems are designed to operate with minimal intervention. Depending on the setup of your system, there are likely only a couple of tasks that you will need to do regularly. First, you must shut the system down when strong storms are about to pass through the area because the wind from these storms can cause severe damage to the turbines. Also, you will need to inspect the base of the turbines to ensure the soil is not in danger of eroding too much. 

For the mechanical maintenance, you will need to hire a professional because this can be extremely dangerous work. These individuals will need to climb the wind turbine to inspect the bolts, lubrication, belts and any other mechanical devices with the system. Without these yearly service visits, minor problems with the system will have enough time to develop into a source of a major mechanical failure. 

How Will Your Wind Energy System Handle Excessive Output?

Your wind turbine system is designed to generate a set amount of power, but there can be days where the system will generate far more electricity than your home needs. Some individuals may believe that this excess power can place their homes at a risk of suffering an electrical surge, but this is not a concern. These systems are designed to be able to handle sudden spikes of electricity production without damaging your home.

At a minimum, your turbine system will have a ground wire that is designed to disperse any sudden surges of electricity that are produced by the turbine. However, an increasing number of utility companies have started allowing homeowners to sell this type of energy to them. This is done by connecting the turbine to the power grid, and setting it to divert excess power to the local electrical grid.  

If you are considering installing a wind turbine power system on your property, you need to have the right information before you make a final decision. Understanding the type of maintenance your turbines will require and the way excess electricity is handled will help you to better understand these devices, which can help you decide if they are an upgrade that you want for your property.