A thin layer of dust can reduce your solar panels’ energy production by blocking sunlight. This dirt could be sand, pollen, bird droppings, or soot.
It’s recommended that you clean your panels as needed. Learn how often this is based on your location, local weather conditions, and solar design. Contact Solar Panel Cleaning Austin now!
Whether you’re using solar power to help offset energy costs or to create green electricity, clean panels are essential to optimal performance. While routine cleaning is possible for homeowners to do themselves, a professional service should be utilized for any serious cleaning needs and for larger commercial systems. The process involves a few key steps.
First, ensure the system is unplugged and deactivated. This will avoid damage or electrocution if you spray water on the system. Then, make sure you can safely reach the solar panels on your roof. It may be necessary to use a ladder, or consider hiring a professional to do the cleaning for you.
Gather Necessary Equipment
You’ll need a soft brush, squeegee, garden hose with spray nozzle, and bucket. A telescopic hose wand can also be useful for getting the hard-to-reach areas of your system. You’ll need to mix your cleaning solution with water as well, and it’s best to choose filtered or distilled water that has been treated to remove impurities. This will help prevent mineral deposits and streaks, which can hinder the performance of your solar panels.
Begin by assessing the condition of your solar panels and noting any dirt, dust, or other debris present. This assessment should be completed before you begin the actual cleaning to avoid any accidental damage and to determine if a professional cleaner is needed.
If you decide to clean the panels yourself, it is recommended that you do so in the morning or late afternoon when temperatures are cool and not too sunny. Direct sunlight can cause the panels to dry out quickly, which will reduce their effectiveness. It’s also important to note that the more thorough you are, the less often you should need to do so.
Keeping solar panels clean helps preserve them and can improve performance for the entire life of your system. However, if you notice that your solar panel efficiency is lowering after a cleaning, it’s time to call in the experts. Get free, no-commitment estimates from local solar power professionals today!
Safety First
While some homeowners do opt for DIY solar panel cleaning, it’s crucial to remember that safety is always first. Wearing protective gloves, a harness and working from sturdy ladders are all essential when dealing with high areas. It’s also a good idea to hire professional cleaners to minimize the risk of damage and prevent any electrical issues that could be caused by working with power tools or cleaning chemicals.
Solar Panels should be cleaned at least twice a year. However, how often they need to be cleaned can depend on several factors:
Location: Pollen, dirt and dust accumulations can vary in different locations, with pollen and spores typically accumulating more in springtime when pine trees are shedding pollen and in autumn when leaves fall. Solar panels that are closer to major roads, airports or other industrial sites may need to be cleaned more frequently as well.
The size and number of panels: Larger solar systems with more panels require more frequent cleaning than smaller installations.
Installation angle: Steeper panel angles can help reduce dust and dirt build-up, while low-angle installations are more susceptible to soiling.
Cleaning solution: Mild soap or a mild detergent should be used when cleaning, as harsh chemicals and abrasive materials can scratch the surface of solar panels.
Tools: Garden hose with spray nozzle, soft sponge or non-abrasive cloth, bucket for water and cleaning solution, telescopic extension pole or squeegee for reaching distant spots, and vinegar or commercial glass cleaner if needed.
Spray a small section of the solar panel with cleaning solution, then gently scrub in a circular motion to remove grime and debris without scratching or damaging the surface. A light pressure and patience are key when scrubbing to avoid scratches, cracks or residue that can decrease solar power production.
Once the panel is clean, a squeegee or soft cloth should be used to dry the panels completely to avoid hard water marks or streaking. Then, homeowners can restart their solar systems and monitor energy output to see if their cleaned panels are producing as well as before.
Equipment
Some of the equipment needed for solar panel cleaning is fairly standard and may already be present in your home. Other items may be more specialized and need to be purchased, especially if your panels are mounted on the roof of your house and therefore not easily accessible.
Ladder and harness – You need to be able to get up onto the roof safely so a sturdy ladder that extends to at least 10 feet is needed as well as a safety harness to help you remain secure when washing your panels. A squeegee – This is an excellent tool for helping you to remove water from your panels without damaging the surface of the panel itself. It’s also a great way to help dry off your panels when you are finished as a wet panel is less effective at producing energy.
A brush – Often a standard garden or even window cleaning brush will do, but one that has soft yet durable bristles and a long telescoping pole for reaching hard to reach places is ideal. Usually it will have a handle which can extend to around 20 feet in length. This is a good size to allow you to access the majority of your solar panels without needing to leave your ladder.
Non-abrasive cleaner – Generally a mild soap is recommended but it’s important that any cleaning product you use is environmentally friendly and chemical free as chemicals can damage the solar cell and reduce efficiency. Once you’ve washed your solar panels, rinse them off with clean water and then squeegee them dry with a lint-free cloth or squeegee, as this helps the edges of your panels to stay intact.
It’s important to remember that while a little bit of dirt on solar panels may not seem like much of a problem, over time it can reduce your energy production by as much as 50%. If you’re worried about how dirty your solar panels are and don’t think they’re generating as much energy as they should be, it’s definitely worth calling in the professionals to clean them.
Cleaning
The cleaning process for solar panels begins with turning them off and removing any loose debris with a brush. Next, a standard garden hose fitted with a spray nozzle or low-pressure power washer is used to rinse the panels clean. It is important to use warm water rather than cold as introducing cold water can cause damage to the tempered glass. Then, a gentle soap solution is applied with a soft-bristled brush to scrub the surface of the panel. Finally, the panel is rinsing with clean water to remove any soap residue.
After the panels are thoroughly rinsed, they should be allowed to dry with a clean microfiber cloth or squeegee before being turned back on. If a homeowner is uncomfortable performing the cleaning themselves, it may be wise to contact a local solar power professional to handle the task for them.
Homeowners should always follow the cleaning instructions provided by their solar installer as using too much or too little water, improper scrubbing, or chemical cleaners can permanently damage the panels and reduce their efficiency. They should also avoid attempting to clean them while the sun is shining as this can quickly evaporate any remaining water and produce streaks.
Solar power professionals can provide a more in-depth and thorough cleaning of the panels, particularly in hard-to-reach places, than homeowners are capable of doing themselves. They can also offer advice on any maintenance routines that can be done to help keep the panels clean and efficient, which will increase the lifespan of the equipment.
Keeping solar panels clean isn’t just beneficial for the overall energy production and longevity of the panels, but it’s also important for the safety of those who need to get up on the roof to perform the cleaning process. When the weather is nice, a good rain shower will take care of most dirt and dust accumulation, so there’s no need to go out of one’s way to do it. For other more stubborn or persistent stains, there are many solar power cleaning products available that can be safely and effectively used by homeowners.