Solar Panel Cleaning and Maintenance

                                                                                    

                                                                                

Having solar panels installed on your home is an excellent way of saving money on your energy bill. Depending on where you live, solar panels may not require cleaning very often. However, if you live in a dry area where dust and bird droppings can build up or where the panel tilt is lower than 5 degrees, solar panel cleaning may be required more often to ensure that the panels perform optimally.

If you live in one of these areas and you have a roof mount system, you will require the help of solar panel cleaning services to do the job. In some cases, the panels are ground mount systems, in which case you can undertake the cleaning without professional assistance. This article will give you some guidelines on cleaning and maintaining your solar panels.

How often should you clean your solar panels?

This will depend on how quickly dust and dirt build up on your panels. Bird droppings are more damaging because the rain can take care of the film of dirt but animal droppings may cover your string or micro-inverters and impair their performance. You may need to evaluate the panels from time to time to see the extent of dirt, debris and substance build-up. You can also have an IT company install a CCTV camera which points at the panels so you can monitor them as often as you want.

DIY solar panel cleaning

As previously stated, roof mounted panels are best cleaned by professionals. Do not attempt to access the roof-top if you do not have the appropriate equipment and training.

If you have a ground-mount system and you wish to do the cleaning yourself, you need to use the right tools so as not to damage the panels. It is advisable to shut down the system before working on the panels as safety is of utmost importance. If you notice any damaged cables, then go no further. Report the damage and have them fixed immediately.

You will require a soft brush or squeegee that will not damage the panels. Use only very mild soap that does not contain harmful chemicals which can damage or degrade the panels.

First rinse the panels with water from a low-pressure hose. A garden hose should do the job provided it is long enough and you don’t spray the panels with high-pressure jets because this can scratch the panels and reduce their efficiency. Fill a bucket with water and add a small amount of the soap. Gently scrub the panels with the soft brush and soapy water till you have removed all the dirt. Rinse the panels again with clean water to remove the soapy water.

Early in the morning is a good time to do the cleaning because the panels would have cooled overnight before you begin, and you can take the advantage of the rising sun to dry your panels when you finish cleaning.

Final thoughts

Having solar panels installed on your home has many benefits but to get the most value out of them and ensure they serve you for as long as possible, you need to pay attention to their maintenance. Most solar panel systems won’t require much maintenance other than regular inspection and cleaning. A reduction in your energy output is a good indication that your solar panels may require maintenance. In general, solar panels will require cleaning about twice in a year but if you live in an area with lots of rain, and your solar panels don’t collect much dirt or debris, the panels may not require cleaning more than once per year.