Do I Need To Clean Solar Panels
A simple answer is yes but not necessarily often. However, to maintain optimal function and efficiency – cleaning your solar panels on a regular basis is advised. It should be noted that the frequency you clean your solar panels is entirely dependent on your environment or time of year. Living in an area with less rain could mean you should clean your solar panels more often than someone who lives in an area with much rainfall.
Do I Need To Provide My Solar Panels Cleaning Kit
No need to provide your own cleaning tools and equipment! Following your agreement, your Tasker arrives with everything theyll need for the job. This saves you from the hassle of having to buy squeegees or soft cloths yourself. Youll need to provide the water supply yourself, though. And if your panels are on the roof, you may need to provide a ladder for your Tasker.
Can I Use A Pressure Washer When Cleaning My Solar Panels
No. Not at all. High-pressure water is among the biggest enemies of your solar equipment.
First, high-speed moisture can quickly force its way through the seals around the frames and get into vulnerable technology. These water leakages can promote corrosion of the fine wires, which leads to the failure of the solar panel and its photovoltaic cells.
Also, the glass surface can break under high water pressure. We hear you asking, “Why then don’t we see damage resulting from continuous rainfall pounding on the glass?” Thats because panels are designed to resist hours of heavy rain falling across a wide surface area. But washing the panels with high pressure directs a focused beam of water in a highly concentrated spot, which creates an increased chance of stressed areas that can crack.
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Answer #: No Unless Something Really Bad Happens
Researchers at the University of California left solar panels on a roof for 145 days without cleaning. Their findings? The panels’ energy generation efficiency dropped by 7.4%.
It may surprise you that the efficiency of your solar panels can remain intact over a long period, considering all that exposure to debris, dust, heat, and rainwater. But you can trust your panels to withstand the regular wear and tear of the elements.
Solar companies employ only the leading technologies and engineering skills when manufacturing their products. Their design processes usually account for the effects of dirt, water, and pollen from everyday use.
You still need to be on the lookout for any obvious structural issues with the panels, supports, and roofing. If you see anything wrong, you can contact the licensed solar service professionals at Palmetto to perform any sort of repair work that you might need.
Does Cleaning Solar Panels Make A Difference
There are actually several reasons why solar panels should be cleaned:
- Dirt lowers their efficiency. A small amount of grime on your solar panels has a minimal impact, as sunlight is able to pass through the dust. However, as dirt builds up over time, it starts to reduce the amount of light that can reach the solar panels. Various studies have looked at how much this reduces efficiency they put the number anywhere from less than 5 percent to as much as 30 percent. Tests to increase the efficiency of solar panels have been unable to find any
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Determine What Is Making Your Pv Panels Dirty
Sometimes, it is merely dust that obscures your solar output. Dust is more likely to accumulate on solar panels in dry climates. For example, if tall deciduous trees surround your home, you might get leaves covering your panels, especially in the fall. Likewise, bird droppings are more common if you have trees nearby. Unfortunately, in some places in Oregon, it can be humid enough for moss to grow on solar panels, and this cant merely be removed by rinsing with a garden hose. Also, ash can accumulate if there are a lot of wildfires in your area.
Typically, we get plenty of rain in the Willamette Valley to keep solar panels clean and working well. However, if you live in a dry part of Oregon with little rain, it might be worth rinsing the dust on your solar panels with a hose on rare occasion. This is an especially appealing option if you can hose off your panels while standing on the ground, and it doesnt require a ladder.
Also, the flatter your solar panels are mounted, the more contaminants and even leaves can accumulate. If your panels are nearly flush on a flat roof, cleaning them will be more critical. However, if your panels are mounted on a steeply pitched roof, dust, pollen, ash, leaves, and other contaminants can easily slide off.
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What is the best thing to clean solar panels with?
Dish soap and a soft sponge or rag are the best thing to clean solar panels with.
Can I clean solar panels myself?
Yes, you can clean solar panels yourself by filling a bucket with water and using dish soap and a low pressure hose.
Can you use Windex on solar panels?
Windex is a cheap and widely available cleaner that is excellent for cleaning glass surfaces such as those on a solar panel to make sure they are running at maximum efficiency.
Is it okay to pressure wash solar panels?
While they may be good for cleaning other parts of your home, pressure washers should never be used on solar panels to avoid damaging them and creating cracks.
What is the cost to clean solar panels?
A professional cleaner may charge between $150 and $300 to clean solar panels. This varies widely on the type of panel, the degree of cleanliness and how many panels you have. Costs range from $15-$30 per panel.
Does cleaning your solar panels make a difference?How often should solar panels be cleaned?
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What Products Should You Use
When cleaning your solar panels, the most important consideration to keep in mind is that scratching or damaging the glass in any way will reduce a panels energy production. Its best to approach panel cleaning the same way you might clean your car. Dish soap and warm water applied with a soft sponge or cloth is the safest and easiest cleaning method. It may also be helpful to use a squeegee to remove dirty water. Remember avoid damaging or scratching the glass at all costs!
On rare occasions, oily stains can appear on your panels. You might find these if you live near a common truck route or an airport, and they can be tackled with a little isopropyl alcohol and a rag. It is essential to avoid using strong cleaning fluids, however, as these can streak and damage the glass.
For More Extensive Mess: Scrub Them Down
If the mess on your panels is more than just dust and dirt, and includes sticky substances such as bird droppings or sticky plant materials, then you might need to give the panels a good scrubbing.
Once again, you dont want to be too hard on the panels. Pick a soft scrubber, squeegee, or brush, that wont scratch or damage the panels. Also pick a very mild soap, that doesnt contain any chemicals which could harm or degrade the panels.
From there, heres how you clean the panels:
- Fill a bucket with warm water and add a small amount of mild soap.
- Rinse solar panels with a hose, or with another low-pressure sprayer.
- Use soapy water and the scrubber to gently scrub the panels and clean them of any debris or buildup.
- Rinse solar panels thoroughly to remove any soapy water.
- Allow panels to dry in the sun.
And there you have it, its quite the straightforward process, and doesnt require much beyond a scrubber that is capable of reaching across your panels. But remember, solar panels get very hot on sunny summer days. You might want to schedule your clean for early in the morning or late in the evening.
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Bird Droppings: Enemy No 1
Bird droppings can affect a panels performance to a greater to degree than dust build-up. The common string-inverter PV system might result in minimal or no energy being produced if bird droppings cover part or all of just one solar panel. A micro-inverter system might see the affected panel/s producing no or limited power. You can read more about string and micro-inverters here.
Trees situated near your panels will not only drop their leaves and branches but attract birds as well. These cause bird droppings and debris over time, which will not only require cleaning and clearing but pose a safety hazard. Hence, a monthly or annual gutter cleaning, and bird proofing, may be necessary.
Another consideration to keeping your panels performing at their best is the angle. Flat arrays will need more servicing as water can pool up, leaving muddy residue as soon as it evaporates. On the other hand, proper-angled arrays can take advantage of rain without having muddy residue. This is because rain can effortlessly slide across them, keeping them mostly free of dust and pollutants.
How Often Do Solar Panels Need To Be Cleaned
How often does a system need to be clean? The answer to this question is it depends. If you live in an area with a lot of wind, dust, smog, or near trees, the answer is each season. On the other hand, if you live in an area where the solar panels are sheltered and not prone to dust storms, flocks of birds, or sappy dripping trees, you may only need to have the solar panels cleaned yearly.
How do you know the solar panels need cleaning? The best way to tell is when you notice a drop in energy production from the solar array. Dirt on the panels can build up and cause a drop in energy output. You can also be proactive and clean before you notice a drop in energy.
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Cleaning Solar Panels Yourself Vs Hiring A Professional
While cleaning them yourself may seem like a great way to save money, in most cases, its not only a risk to your solar system and the panels warranty, but its a risk to your own safety. No amount of energy savings is worth that. Youre also risking causing damage to your system that far exceeds any gains cleaning dirt off would ever give you.
We dont recommend you clean your solar panels, but if youre really set on it, stick to these basic tips to limit damage to your system.
First off, check-in with the solar installer to see if there is anything you should know relating to the system or special precautions you should take before cleaning. Then, make sure all the necessary safety gear is in place and being used properly.
Only use a soft stream of water from your garden hose . Using any type of high-pressure attachment or a power washer will likely cause damage to your solar panels which could greatly reduce your production and void your warranty.
Its also essential to never clean your panels with anything waxy, abrasive, or corrosive, as it could damage the coating on the panels. In fact, one of our solar panel manufacturers recommends never using any chemicals to clean your panels – just water.
Another important thing to note is that solar panels can get very hot when the sun is out. Opt for an overcast day to do the cleaning, if youre absolutely determined to do so.
Solar Panel Cleaning Dos And Donts
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Do make sure youâre safe .
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Do clean your solar panels in the morning if you can, dew may have softened any grime on the surface making them easier to clean.
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Donât clean panels when theyâre hot â you should only clean the panels during cool weather, early mornings or cool evenings to prevent smudges or damage.
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Donât clean the wiring underneath the panels.
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Donât use abrasive sponges or brushes that could scratch the panel surface.
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Donât use any harsh chemicals when cleaning solar panels â these could damage them permanently.
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Should You Remove Snow From Your Solar Panels
Snow on solar panels generally doesnt need to be removed it will typically slide off on its own. Most panel installations are tilted at an angle, and snow will naturally slide off as it melts. If snow persists on your panels, you can also invest in tools like a solar panel snow rake, which makes it easy to safely remove snow covering on solar panels. It is important not to use a standard broom, shovel, or another non-specialized tool to remove snow from panels, as they can scratch the panel glass and lower your power production.
Can Cleaning Solar Panels Improve The Performance Of Pv Systems
As we’ve seen so far, the short answer is, “The impact of dirty solar panels on solar power production depends on various factors.” But we’re interested in the long answer, right? Lets dig into the science and math a bit:
An experiment involving solar panels on a low-slope roof sought out the difference in energy output before and after a thorough cleaning.
The researchers found an average 3.5% boost in energy production after cleaning the panels using a soft rag and water. The implication here is that the energy yield increase was low, despite the high amount of dirt accumulation.
Things became interesting when heavy rain did the cleaning job. The average performance increased by only 1.9% after rainwater pounded on the dirty panels. What does that mean? A good shower from the skies can take care of some cleanup, but its not as effective as the proper equipment and some elbow grease.
You may want to check how much your dirty solar panels are costing you in terms of energy generation. Here’s a simple formula for determining the value of solar panel cleaning:
Yearly Energy Production × Production Loss From Dirty Panels × Electricity Cost per kWh
For example, if your residential solar energy system can produce 10,000 kWh of electricity per year, and you assume a 5% loss of production due to panels being dirty, and you pay $.20 cents per kWh for electricity from your utility, your yearly cost of electricity loss from dirty panels is as follows:
10,000 × .05 × .20 = $100
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Why You Probably Dont Need To Clean Your Solar Panels
For the most part, solar panels are low-maintenance systems. Most panels are pitched, meaning that they are inclined slightly. This means that they can be cleaned off fairly well by rain the rain hits the panels, dislodges dust and dirt, and carries it away due to the slope. If your panels have even a 5-degree incline, the rain should clean them well enough that you dont have to take further action. Studies show that less than 0.05% of solar panels production is lost due to standard dirt and dust and by cleaning the solar panels on a standard house, you would most likely gain less than $8 in energy production per month. That doesnt really make up for the cost of hiring a professional cleaning service!
Cleaning Boosts Their Efficiency
The first reason to clean your solar panels is to boost their efficiency. When your solar panels get dirty, the dirt and grime partially block the sunlight from entering the panel. At Earthlight Technologies, we have often seen a 10- to 30-percent production recovery after a thorough cleaning. To ensure that you get the most out of your investment for your business, remember to clean your solar panel on a regular basis.
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Another Option: Have Them Serviced
Another option, if you dont feel like doing the work yourself, is to have the panels serviced by a professional. If you purchased directly from a solar panel company, then check the manufactures website to see if there are providers in your area that can have them serviced.
Many companies offer service plans upon purchasing the panel itself. These plans might include regular maintenance and upkeep. They might also include regular checkups to ensure that the panels are running as efficiently as they should.
But if it were up to us, we wouldnt choose this option. These services might end up costing you a fair bit. Youre essentially spending money so that you can save on your electricity bill down the line. Youre cancelling out your own cost savings! And since cleaning solar panels isnt a very difficult task to begin with, wed recommend against hiring someone for this job in most circumstances.
Remember, youre essentially comparing the cost of servicing the panels against the cost youd save by generating more energy with cleaner panels. These costs will rarely offset.
When To Call A Professional For Solar Panel Cleaning
If you try the method above and dont see a difference in energy production, call a professional. In all likelihood, your reduced energy production is not due to dirty panels. Call Solar Liberty for solar energy diagnosis and repairs in New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Vermont. We can determine if there is a repair issue or if your panels need to be professionally cleaned. If they do, our trained technicians will use deionized water and special brushes designed for the job. Calling a professional can rule out any technical issues and ensure that your solar panels stay happy, healthy, and under warranty!
For solar panel maintenance & repair in New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, & Vermont, count on Solar Liberty. Contact us today to learn how we can increase your energy production and save you money!
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