Should you hire a Solar Panel Cleaning Company?

The difference in production

Unless you regularly get out a ladder and climb up to inspect your solar panel array up close, then you may not notice the built up dust, grime, and debris laying on top of the solar panels especially if you live in a windy, and highly-polluted area. Maybe you have noticed the dirty solar panels living on your roof, and just figured that the next rain or snow storm will take care of that- Not so fast. There are many conflicting answers to this idea that the weather will restore your panels to a clean surface, and the answer isn’t crystal clear. While rain and snow do a sufficient job of taking off the top layer of debris, to restore your solar panel production to full potential you’ve got to manually clean them. Dirty solar panels can lose anywhere from 10%-25% in energy production over time! That’s a difference you can clearly see just from your monitoring app, and without even looking at the actual solar panels. While there are benefits from rain, and snow-fall on your solar panels sometimes this can be counter productive because it provides the surface of your solar panels a place for pollen and debris to build up even more.

How to clean solar panels

Depending on the layout and pitch of your roof, a solar panel cleaning company may or may not be needed, especially if your solar panels are ground-mounted. There are some major differences in a home-owner cleaning solar panels, and a professional solar panel cleaning company doing it. If you choose to take on the task of cleaning your solar panels, there are a few things you need to be comfortable with, and some tools involved.

• Fiberglass Extension ladder, capable of rising 3 rungs above the edge of the roof.
• Method to tie-off the ladder against the roof or gutter.
• Length of hose to reach Solar Panels
• Soft-bristle brush
• Non-metal squeegee
• Solar Panel Cleaning solution
• Fall protection [Harness, Rope, and Anchor]

Once you’ve got together your Solar Panel cleaning supplies, and it’s time for you to do the deed you can begin by securing your ladder to a location central and ideal to access your solar panels. The reason you’ll want a fiberglass ladder is because if you’re working anywhere near a utility electrical line you will not be introducing an unnecessary hazard into an already dangerous task by using a metal ladder. Tie-off your ladder to the best location on the gutter, or against an adjacent corner of your roof.

Next, you can begin by rinsing off the entire array with your hose, do not use a pressure washer for this step as it can cause more damage than good if you get too close. Pressure washing your solar panels can lead to permanent damage of the solar panel cell by causing them to de-laminate. Much like the way a water damaged rv siding looks, yes your solar panels can de-laminate. Once you have rinsed off the solar panels, the next step is to apply your solar panel cleaning solution to the entire array and keeping the surface wet. While the solar panel cleaning solution is coating your solar panels, now it’s time to get to work and scrub your solar panels with a soft-bristle brush. Rinse and repeat.

Now that you’ve scrubbed all the hard-to reach areas, rinsed off all the cleaning agent and debris, you’ll want to spray down your Solar Panels again with water and this is the part where you’ll want to be a bit quick on your feet. Spray down your solar panels, and before all the water can run down start to squeegee from top to bottom, repeating the process along the entire array of solar panels. Periodically add water to the areas that need it, and squeegee again until you’re left with a squeaky clean surface. Most solar cleaning solutions contain properties that resist the build up of debris and so, extending the time between your next cleaning and protecting the surface of your solar panels to prolong the life of your system! An alternative to using a squeegee you can invest in a filtered water system, there are many online to choose from but come at a hefty price. The reason you would use filtered water is much like using the Spot-free rinse at the car wash, it doesn’t leave streaks all over your solar panels and so you don’t need to use a squeegee. Filtered water and complex water feeding systems are the main difference between a home-owner and a Solar Panel Cleaning Company. By the time you’ve made it to this point, you should end up with something like the next image.

How often should Solar Panels be Cleaned?

Many people have solar panels around the world, and there are certainly solar arrays older than I am that have never been cleaned since they left the factory. Some people are fine with this, and maybe they still ink out some energy from the best sunny days in the region. If you’re wondering if cleaning your panels is even worth it, just think of it as protecting your investment while also keeping the system healthy. You don’t let your car’s windshield get so dirty you cannot see out of it before simply washing it, so don’t let your Solar panels become so dirty it’s not only a chore to clean, but also effects your energy production! So, how often should you have your Solar Panel Cleaning Company stop by? This all depends on your region, air-pollution, and how windy it gets in your area. Generally speaking, the cost to clean your solar panels out weighs the protection and efficiency gained, and can be done quickly and painlessly by a professional. The most attractive option and economic if you’re feeling unsure is to have your solar panel array cleaned once a year and check back at around the 3 month mark to see if an extra clean may be needed. In the age of internet and instant information, you can simply check back on your Solar Monitoring app, and an unexpected dip in production around the 3month mark may indicate it’s time to clean your Solar panels once more!

Conclusion

The cost to regularly maintenance your Solar Panels is almost always outweighed by the protection, and restored production in energy produced and can usually be done by a handy homeowner with the proper tools, and confidence in themselves. Solar Panels are a subject a lot of people have encountered in their daily life, and somewhat of a polarizing topic. If you have a tall, steep roof this job is best in the hands of a Solar Panel Cleaning Company with the proper skill and tools to preform the job on a recurring basis. Clean your Solar Panels!