Solar panel cleaning
Solar panels must be cleaned on a regular basis to ensure they keep functioning optimally, while also looking spotlessly clean. When it comes to cleaning solar panels, there are two options – either you clean it yourself or you hire the services of a professional. While the latter is the most advisable, there are also some circumstances where you’d like to take care of the situation yourself. Well, this is perfectly achievable if you happen to possess the right tools and knowledge to go about this. Good news is, if you’re thinking of how to clean your solar panels, then you’ve come to the right place! In this post, we’re going to give you a good insight into the solar panels cleaning process. Let’s take a look!
Prior to cleaning your solar panels, here are some top tips to get your prepared:
- Make use of soapy water
- Wipe clean with the help of non-abrasive sponge in order to prevent scratches.
- Ignore the wiring underneath, they shouldn’t be cleaned
- Carry out the cleaning on an overcast day so as to prevent smears.
- Clean very early in the day as dew will soften the grime allowing for an easier clean
- Clean the panels from the ground, if you can’t, get a professional.
Cleaning solar panels on the roof by yourself is not advisable as you can easily trip and fall on the expensive and breakable solar panels or even fall off the roof – no one wants that. As a DIY task, you should only try to clean solar panels from the ground. To achieve this, you can make use of a high-pressure nozzle that can handle the required power and take aim. Then you can wipe the cleansing stream with a squeegee.
Will dirty solar panels produce less electricity?
Despite the huge potentials of solar to power the future, it only generates a little percentage of the energy in the UK. While some may say this is due to their high cost, a much more significant reason is actually their low efficiency. Generally, solar panels are only able to absorb a fraction of the sunlight that comes in contact with them and that’s even in the best conditions. So, what about the worst condition - when the solar panels are dirty with airborne dust as well as pollution? Well, according to several research and studies, pollution is able to reduce the efficiency of solar panels by up to 25 percent. Let’s take a look at how this is even possible.
First and foremost, due to the upward angle of solar panels, they’re quite prone to all sorts of pollutions such as an accumulation of dust and dirt which can not be washed off totally by rain water as well as bird droppings. As a result of this pollution, the amount of sunlight that hits the panels is significantly reduced which in reduces its output. As the projected energy figures claimed by manufacturers and installers depends on optimal performance of clean solar panels, accumulated dirt will inevitably affect the solar panel’s ability to meet those projections. Consequently, it’s very important to ensure the regular cleaning of solar panels in order to make sure it continues to operate at its full strength throughout its lifespan. What’s more? Regular solar panel cleaning will also help you take full advantage of the feed-in tariff offered by the government. In other words, you do not have to wait till you start noticing a sudden spike in your energy bills to start taking good care of your solar panels.
What Are the Best Ways to Clean Solar Panels?
Solar panels are a great investment which comes with a lot of benefits. In order to protect this investment and ensure your long-term benefits, then it’s crucial to make sure that a regular solar panel cleaning and maintenance is carried out. When it comes to solar panel cleaning, you have two options – either you clean it yourself or you hire the services of a qualified professional. While the latter is strongly advisable, there are situations whereby you might wish to cut down on your expenses by taking on the task by yourself. In this kind of scenario, it’s crucial to arm yourself with the necessary tools, skills and knowledge to ensure the cleaning project turns out to be a success. If you’ve decided to make it a DIY project, then you’d probably want to know the best ways to clean your solar panels. In this post, we’re going to give you some cool cleaning tips for solar panel cleaning. Let’s take a look!
- Do not make use of an abrasive sponge or soap for your solar panel cleaning to avoid scratching the glass. Using a soft rag or biodegradable soap is the best way to clean solar panels.
- Do not make use of harsh materials to clean solar panels to prevent damage as solar panels are quite costly to repair.
- Make use of a long-handled wiper to clean the panels while you clean from the ground so as to ensure your safety as well as that of those around you.
- Solar panels should be cleaned when they’re moist or wet to allow for easy removal of any dirt or residue stuck on them.
With more and more home and property owners coming to terms with the great benefits that comes with solar systems, the need for solar panels cleaning services are also on the rise. Being fully aware a dirty solar panel can lead to about 25 percent drop in its efficiency or ability to generate electricity, the importance of carrying out a regular cleaning and maintenance of solar panels can not be over emphasized. When it comes to the cleaning of solar panels, you have two options – either you do it yourself or call in a qualified professional for help. While the latter is strongly recommended, there are situations whereby you may wish to take on the task by yourself to cut down on your expenses. If you’re looking to make your solar panels cleaning a DIY project, then you’ve come to the right place for help! In this post, we’re going to provide you with some information about the cleaning equipment you’ll require to make your solar panels spotlessly clean and ensure you’re fully prepared for the task.
What you need to clean your solar panels is a top quality, soft brush as well as a squeegee which features a plastic blade on one side and a sponge covered with cloth on the other side. What’s more? You have to ensure that the equipment comes with a long extension in order to ensure an easy access and perfect clean for your panels. You’ll also require a hose with an appropriate nozzle to enable water to get to where the panels have been installed. If your mains water happens to be hard, you can make use of harvested rain water for the final rinse to ensure that only a little residue is left on the panels.
How often should you clean solar panels?
To have your solar panels working at full strength at all times is crucial as this can go a long way to help you reduce your energy bill. In order to achieve this, you simply can’t afford to ignore having them regularly cleaned and free from all sorts of dirt, dust, debris, pollen, bird droppings and the likes. Now it’s quite reasonable to think rain or wind should be able to get the job done, but unfortunately this is not so. What solar panels need is a proper clean which you can decide to do by yourself or call in a qualified professional – the latter which is strongly recommended.
Cleaning of solar panels has to do with working at heights which can be very dangerous especially if you don’t have enough confidence to pull it off. And even if you have zero phobia for heights, solar panel cleaning requires experience as well as some specialized skills and tools possessed by the professionals. However, the question here is, how often should solar panels be cleaned to keep them operating at optimal efficiency?
Well, according to the manufacturers, solar panels should be cleaned twice a year. However, if this is something that you feel is not achievable by you, then you should at least give then an annual clean. The best or most advisable time to do this during the year is at the end of the summer months. This will ensure that you have a fully functioning solar array which is ready and prepared to withstand whatever the cold period throws at you. At the end of the day, you’d have them looking spotless clean while also working at full strength and reducing your energy bills.
How much does it cost to do solar panel cleaning?
The importance of having your solar panels spotlessly clean cannot be overemphasized. Not only will it have them looking good and attractive, but it also keeps them working at optimal efficiency. It’s not uncommon to come across home and property owners thinking rain should do the job for them, but unfortunately, this is not the case. The fact is, rain may be able to wipe off some dirt and debris of the surface of the panels, but what they really need to have them at full strength is a proper clean. And this becomes even a lot more important when you’re using a string inverter as your ability to generate solar energy will only be as good as your weakest cell. If you decide to leave your solar panel cleaning job to nature, it’ll end up being defaced and blighted by dust, leaves, pollen and the likes. It’ll become an eyesore to you, your neighbours as well as visitors and you’d probably feel even worse when the energy bill arrives. You have two options – clean it yourself or call in a professional. The latter which is strongly advisable.
If you’re looking to call in a professional, then you’d probably want to know just how much it’ll cost to have your solar panel cleaned. Well, on average, you can expect to incur within the range of £117 to £384 to have your solar panels cleaned by a qualified professional. However, most companies will offer to clean only on a per-panel-cost which is preferable especially if you happen to have just a few panels. The per panel fee can range between £4 to £15.
