Solar panels don't require any special cleaning equipment and can be cleaned with a garden hose, rag, and dish soap. Maintaining panels is essential, but you don't need to clean them as often as most people think. You may need to remove the occasional buildup of leaves, bird droppings, and other debris to maximize the amount of sunlight exposure the panels receive. The usual wind and rain usually sweep away most of the dirt, so it's best to let nature take its course and do only thorough cleaning each year to maximize energy production.
It is also essential to never clean the panels with waxy, abrasive or corrosive products, as they could damage the coating of the panels. In fact, one of our solar panel manufacturers recommends that you never use any chemical product to clean the panels, only water. In fact, some solar panel manufacturers require you to clean them every six months for the warranty to remain valid. Professional cleaning companies provide a washing service and also check for any damage caused by birds and the environment.
Your solar panels will need special attention and frequent cleaning, as they have to withstand much more dust and dirt. If that's you, cleaning your panels can make financial sense, especially if you live in an area of the country with infrequent rains. This method provides even more cleaning power, but it depends on the angle of the roof, the height of the ceiling and the location of the panels, since not everyone will be able to reach the ceiling, even with a long handle. Unlike rigid panels, portable solar panels offer the flexibility to place and use them with the same, if not better, solar charging capabilities.
So, as long as your solar panels aren't completely flat, the rain will be enough to clean them. If you rinsed the panels with soap and water while they were hot, the water would evaporate instantly and create a film that would require additional cleaning measures to remove it. However, the accumulation of dust on solar panels or mirrors is already a major problem: it can reduce the production of photovoltaic panels by up to 30 percent in just one month, so regular cleaning is essential for this type of installation. Following the solar panel manufacturer's maintenance tips is always a good starting point, but if you're still unsure, read on to learn how to maintain and clean your solar panels.
While cleaning them yourself may seem like a great way to save money, in most cases it not only poses a risk to the solar system and the warranty of the panels, but also to your own safety. If you have decided to clean your panels yourself, what matters is that you follow these cleaning tips to protect your safety and that of the solar system. A small electric motor, perhaps using a small part of the output of the panel itself, would drive a system of belts to move the electrode from one end of the panel to the other and cause all the dust to fall off. In addition, panels in houses near airports, factories, highways and other sources of pollution will need more frequent cleaning.
Whether you have a rigid rooftop installation or a series of portable solar panels, it's best to keep cleaning to a minimum. Depending on the size, position, and location of your solar panel, you may want to invest in a programmable sprinkler cleaning system to flush the panels regularly. In combination with portable power plants, solar panels can prepare your home for outages or power the entire house with solar energy. While the situations mentioned above can affect the dirt on solar panels, the best way to “clean” them is to simply let nature do its thing.
