Have you ever wondered if you need to clean your solar panels? The answer is yes! Solar panels are designed to capture the sun's energy, but if they become dirty or covered in dust, dirt, or leaves, their efficiency decreases. That’s why it’s important to understand how to properly clean and maintain your solar panels. Let’s dive in!
Why Should I Clean My Solar Panels?
Solar panel cleaning is an important part of maintaining your home’s solar system. When dirt and debris accumulate on the surface of your solar panels, they can reduce the amount of sunlight that reaches the cells inside. This reduces the amount of electricity produced by your system and lowers its overall efficiency. As a result, you may experience higher electricity bills due to decreased performance from the system. In addition, over time dirt and debris can cause physical damage to your solar panels which could lead to costly repairs down the line.
How Often Should I Clean My Solar Panels?
The frequency of cleaning will depend largely on where you live and what kind of environment your solar panels are exposed too. Generally speaking, however, most manufacturers recommend that homeowners clean their panels at least twice a year - once in spring and once in fall. Additionally, if you live in a dry climate or an area with high levels of airborne dust particles (like near a construction site), you may want to consider having them cleaned more often than twice a year.
How Do I Clean My Solar Panels
When it comes time for cleaning your solar panel array, there are several options available depending on what kind of system you have installed at home. We DO NOT recommend attempting to climb on top of your roof unless you have the necessary safety training. Falls from a roof or ladder are among the top 3 most common work related causes of death.
But if you must - If possible try using water first as this is generally considered the safest option for most systems. If water isn't enough to
remove stubborn dirt or debris then use a mild detergents for additional scrubbing power (we recommend GLASS GLEAM - for solar) - just make sure not to use anything too abrasive as this could damage the sensitive cells inside the panel itself. Finally, if detergent and water still aren't enough you can always hire a professional cleaner (like SunView) who will be able to safely remove any unwanted matter from your
array without damaging it in any way.
Cleanliness is key
when it comes to making sure your home's solar system works optimally! While it may not seem like an exciting task at first - cleaning off those pesky leaves, dust particles, bee pollen and bird poop can make all the difference in how much electricity your system produces each day - so don't forget about it! With some basic understanding on how often and how best to clean off your panels, homeowners with solar systems should have no trouble keeping theirs running optimally all year round! Happy cleaning!