A Full Breakdown On How To Properly Clean Your Solar Panels

Keeping your solar panels clean is vital for maintaining their efficacy and optimizing your energy savings. The solar panel’s ability to effectively capture sunlight reduces over time when they gather dust, bird droppings, and debris.

Whether you are going for an installation or already own solar panels, knowing how to properly clean your panels is truly essential.

In this article, we will walk you through safe and effective steps for cleaning your solar panels. From the best cleaning tools and techniques to vital safety advice, we have everything you need to keep your panels clean. 

Ready to increase your solar investment? Let’s dig in and learn how to clean your solar panels like a master!

When Should You Clean Your Solar Panels?

Cleaning solar panels primarily relies on your local circumstances and personal preferences. Typically, rainfall is adequate to keep panels clean in most places. However, there are particular conditions where physical cleaning could be necessary:

Local Weather Conditions: If you live in a dry region with a lot of dust, or if there has been recent extreme weather, your panels can gather material that rain can't wash away.

Solar Design and Installation: Panels put at an angle will often clean themselves better than flat-mounted panels. Check your installation and decide whether manual cleaning is necessary.

Visible Dirt and Debris: When you observe a substantial quantity of dirt or bird droppings, it's a good time to clean your panels. A brief visual check may help you identify this.

Time of Year: Avoid cleaning during excessively hot weather, since cold water on heated panels may cause thermal shock. Early mornings or late nights are best for cleaning when temperatures are lower.

Personal Preferences: Some homeowners like their panels to remain spotless for the best efficiency. If you also fall into this category, you may clean your panels more often.

Natural Cleaning: Consider the local forecast. If rain is forecast soon, it can spare you the hassle of cleaning.

How Often Should You Clean Your Solar Panels?

Determining the optimal cleaning frequency for your solar panels majorly relies on the location and climatic factors. Most Central Florida homeowners find cleaning twice a year helps maintain maximum performance, especially in areas with high dust or debris collection.

Typically, if your system includes performance monitoring and there is no visible reduction in efficiency, you may not need to clean the panels regularly. However, for homeowners living in dustier or pollen-heavy locations, a bi-annual cleaning regimen typically suffices.

Inspection Before Cleaning

Conduct a thorough inspection of your solar panels before starting the cleaning process. Start by examining the panels for any cracks or flaws. Keep an eye out for signs of physical damage, including broken glass or loose connections.

After that, remove any dirt, leaves, or bird droppings. This first assessment will assist you in determining the level of cleansing that is necessary.

Also, inspection guarantees that you don't inadvertently cause more damage to the panel if it is already present. Thorough inspection establishes the foundation for safe and effective cleaning, guaranteeing the performance and longevity of your solar panels.

If you don't check for issues before cleaning, you can make already-existing problems worse. And this will result in greater damage or efficiency may severely drop.

What Tools and Materials Do You Need for Solar Panel Cleaning?

Having the correct equipment and products enables a complete, safe, and fast cleaning procedure. To clean your solar panels successfully, you will need a few key equipment and materials:

1.    Soft Brush or Sponge: Use these to gently cleanse the panels without producing scratches.

2.    Mild Soap or Cleaning Solution: A soft cleanser helps remove debris without hurting the panels.

3.    Hose with a Gentle Spray Nozzle: This will rinse out the soap and dirt without exerting too much pressure.

4.    Safety Gear: If you need to climb on the roof, use gloves and a harness to safeguard your safety.

How to Clean Your Solar Panels?

As we have already stated, you must pick the right time to clean the panels.

Early in the morning or late evening are the best times to clean your solar panels. This prevents thermal shock, which may break the glass or harm the panels. When cold water is sprayed on hot panels there are high chances of glass cracking.

Combining water with a mild soap or cleaning ingredient will help you create the cleaning solution. Avoid strong chemicals that might harm the panels' surface.

Steps to Clean

1.    Use a hose with a moderate spray nozzle to rinse off loose dirt and debris.

2.    Using a soft brush or sponge, scrub the panels with the soap solution. Be careful to prevent scratching the surface.

3.    After washing, rinse the panels completely with clean water to eliminate any soap residues.

4.    If required, dry the panels with a soft towel to avoid wet marks. This stage is especially crucial in locations with hard water.

When Should You Hire Professional Cleaning Services?

Consider hiring expert cleaning services if:

• Your panels are hard to access or positioned on a steep roof.

• There is a huge accumulation of dirt or debris that routine cleaning can't eliminate.

• You observe a major decline in your panels' efficiency despite frequent cleaning.

Benefits of Professional Cleaning

Professionals have the required safety equipment and training to clean high or difficult-to-access panels. They use professional equipment and chemicals that may clean more effectively than DIY approaches.

Specialists can also discover possible concerns, like as cracks or weak connections, during the cleaning process and advise on required repairs.

Conclusion

We hope that all your queries regarding ‘how to clean your solar panels’ are answered in the above discussion. Whether done professionally or by yourself, regular maintenance guarantees that dirt and debris won't compromise the efficiency of your panels.

Before cleaning, always check for damage. Use appropriate tools and solutions and choose the best time of day for cleaning. Following these tips will assist you in enjoying your solar investment, and if you’re looking into getting a solar panel system you can also contact our team with questions.