Solar panels play a crucial role in providing energy for your home. Not only are they good for the environment, but they can also help reduce your energy costs. Considering this, it’s important to maintain your solar panels to ensure they will last a long time and work at peak efficiency. One big part of maintaining solar panels is making sure they’re clean.
If you’re looking to take matters into your own hands, here’s how to clean solar panels like a pro.
How Often Should You Clean Solar Panels?
How often you should clean your solar panels depends on a few factors. The first is your location. If you live in an area with lots of trees, pollen, or other airborne particles, you’ll need to clean your panels more frequently.
The second factor is the type of solar panels you have. Monocrystalline solar panels are typically more efficient than polycrystalline solar panels, so you’ll need to clean them less often.
Most experts recommend cleaning solar panels at least twice a year, but it’s a good idea to check the manufacturer’s recommendations, along with the previously mentioned factors.
What Materials Do You Need?
When it comes time to clean your solar panels, there are a few things you’ll need to gather.
- A ladder or some other way to safely reach the panels.
- A bucket of clean water.
- A sponge or soft cloth.
- A gentle cleanser (such as dish soap).
- A squeegee or brush to remove any stubborn build-up.
- A hose.
How to Clean Your Solar Panels?
Solar panel cleaning is a pretty simple process. Just follow these steps, and you’ll have your panels looking like new in no time.
Climbing Up
Before you start scrubbing away at your solar panels, you need to make sure that you can safely reach them. Depending on how high up they are, this may mean getting a ladder or scaffolding. If your solar panels are on the ground, you should be able to clean them without any assistance.
Once you’ve got your ladder in place, it’s time to start cleaning.
Start from the Top
When you’re ready to start cleaning, make your way up to the top of the solar panel and begin working your way down. This will help prevent any streaks from forming on the panels.
Wet It Down
Once you’re at the top of the solar panel, it’s time to wet it down. Use your sponge or soft cloth to dampen the surface of the panel. Be sure not to go overboard — you don’t want the panel to be dripping wet.
Apply Cleanser
Now that the solar panel is wet, it’s time to apply a gentle cleanser. You can use dish soap, but there are also a variety of solar panel cleaners on the market. Whichever cleanser you choose, make sure to follow the instructions on how to dilute it. Once the cleanser is mixed, apply it to the solar panel with your sponge or cloth and begin scrubbing in a circular motion.
Work in Sections
When you’re scrubbing the solar panel, it’s important to work in small sections. This will help ensure that you don’t miss any spots.
Rinse It Off
Once you’ve scrubbed the entire solar panel, it’s time to rinse it off. Use your hose or bucket of clean water to remove all the suds and grime from the solar panel. You may need to go over it a few times to make sure that all the cleanser is removed.
Dry It Off
Once you’ve rinsed off the solar panel, use your squeegee or brush to remove any excess water. Then, use a clean cloth to dry the panel.
Check for Streaks
Once the solar panel is completely dry, take a step back and check for streaks. If you see any, go over that area again with your squeegee or brush.
Monitor Output
Now that your solar panels are clean, it’s important to monitor their output. If you notice that your panels haven’t improved in efficiency after cleaning them, there may be a problem with your panels that needs to be addressed.
Cleaning solar panels is an important part of maintaining their efficiency. By following these simple steps, you’ll be able to keep your solar panels looking new and working well.
Solar Panel Cleaning Tips
It’s important to clean your solar panels regularly to maintain their efficiency. How often should you clean them? And what’s the best way to go about it? Read on for some helpful tips.
The first step is to find out how dirty your solar panels are. The easiest way to do this is to look at them from a distance and see how much dust or bird droppings are on the surface. If they’re only a little bit dirty, you can probably clean them with a garden hose.
If they’re really covered in dirt, though, you’ll need to use a more powerful cleaning method. One popular option is to use a pressure washer. Make sure the pressure of the water is set to low, or you could damage the solar panels.
No matter what method you choose, be sure to clean the entire panel surface, not just the visible area. Along with this, always take care to avoid getting water inside the solar panel housing.
Bonus Tip: Pay Attention to Panel Orientation
Solar panels are designed to be most effective when they are facing the sun directly. When cleaning solar panels, be careful not to change the orientation of the panels. This can reduce their efficiency and cause them to produce less power.
By following these simple tips, you can keep your solar panels clean and operating at peak efficiency. Regular cleaning is an important part of maintaining your investment and ensuring that your solar panels continue to save you money for years to come.
DIY vs. Hiring a Professional
Now that you know how to clean solar panels, you may be wondering if you should do it yourself or hire a professional. There are pros and cons to both options.
If you decide to do it yourself, the biggest advantage is that it will save you money. Solar panel cleaning kits are relatively inexpensive and can be found at most home improvement stores.
The downside of doing it yourself is that it takes time and effort to properly clean the panels. If you don’t have the time to do it yourself, hiring a professional may be the best option.
Besides that, professionals have experience and knowledge to properly clean your solar panels. They will also have the right tools and equipment to get the job done quickly and efficiently. While they may initially cost more, this could lead to savings over the long term because you won’t need to have the panels cleaned as frequently.
Ultimately, the best option for you will depend on your budget, time constraints, and level of experience.
Conclusion
Solar panel cleaning is beneficial to anyone who relies on the energy the panels produce. By cleaning solar panels in a safe and effective way, not only will the panels last longer, but they will ultimately be cheaper. They will bring you more energy and last for as long as possible.
If you’d like to have your solar panels cleaned by professionals, then Bailey Boys can help. We can handle any exterior house cleaning job — from gutters to windows and more — and we have years of experience cleaning solar panels as well. Contact us today for a free quote.
