Technology

Why, When, and How to Clean Solar Panels

As the use of solar panels gains popularity, more and more people are tending to use them. And why not? After all, utilizing renewable and green energy is a great way to support our environment. Moreover, solar panels can also help you reduce your energy bill. 

However, though solar panels are a one-time installation, you need to take care of it and maintain it properly to let your PV panel work the way it should. 

Part of maintaining your solar panels is cleaning them regularly and keeping the panels free from dust and dirt. 

Cleaning is important and even the best solar panels in Sydney require some sort of cleaning and looking after to make them perform the way they should.

So, why, how, and when to clean your PV panels? Let’s learn.

Why Clean Solar Panels?

For most households, the solar panels are generally flat, inclined, and installed on the roof. Most often, you won’t need to clean your solar panels regularly at all. The dust and debris that accumulate are naturally washed away by rain. 

However, cleaning is important in some cases. For example, if there are a lot of bird droppings, you’ll need to clean them often because rain does not wash them off totally. 

Also, if you live in a state where drought is normal, or if it rains it’s only a light, misty one, then you might need to clean your solar panels more often.

How to Clean Solar Panels?

If you think your solar panel needs cleaning, there are two ways you can do it. One is hiring a professional and the other is doing it yourself. 

A lot of companies offer professional solar cleaning services for a fee. This may come as a part of their annual maintenance or suggest you do it as often as you need. 

On the other hand, if you choose to DIY, that too is very much feasible. All you’ll need is a hose and soap, and you’ll be good to go.

If you live in drought-prone areas, where there is not much rain, using a hose and soap can come in handy in cleaning your PV panels. 

However, first, you need to make sure that your solar panel actually needs cleaning. There are two ways to do that. One is physically inspecting the panels for dirt, debris, leaves, or bird droppings. If you find any of them accumulating, you’ll need to clean the panels. 

There are also monitoring systems that you can install that can let you know how your PV panels are working. If it’s not working optimally, it’s a sign that it needs maintenance work to be done on it. However, when you get an alert, it might be due to several factors such as mechanical, electrical, or cleaning. So, before you start off with your cleaning work, make sure your panels actually need it.

What to Use to Clean Solar Panels

If you are all set to clean your solar panels yourself, there are a lot of products you can use. Most of the time, a hose and a bucket of soapy water will suffice. Cleaning your PV panels will be exactly the same as washing your car. 

But, first, ask your PV panel installer about any recommendations regarding the choice of material or process and dos and don’ts of solar panel cleaning. 

If you stick to the use of soapy water and hose, make sure you use a non-abrasive sponge to apply the soapy water. Otherwise, your panels might get scratches and you don’t want that to happen. Also, make sure to not use any high-pressure water sprayer when cleaning your solar panels. Using a high-pressure water sprayer can damage the solar panels and thus make sure you are using only a standard water pressure to clean off your solar panels. 

This is how to clean your solar panels. We have also mentioned why and how often you need to clean them. Cleaning solar panels are a part of the maintenance task and even the best solar panels in Sydneywill need some type of cleaning over time. 

So, to keep your PV system working efficiently, make sure it is cleaned for optimum performance. 

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