Solar panels don’t have many parts that are mobile. This cuts down on the maintenance you’ll have to do, because of this. With this being said, however, maintenance should be taken seriously. Cleaning, in particular, is one aspect of maintenance that shouldn’t be taken lightly. Here’s a look at the best way to clean solar panels.
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What’s the purpose of clean solar panels?
There are a ton of different factors that can impact the cleanliness of a solar panel. On the roof, panels come into contact with water, chemicals, bird droppings, and tree debris. This can harm the efficiency of the panel.
An experiment conducted by Google showed that the number one way to increase and preserve the efficiency of your solar panel is to clean it regularly. In fact, the same experiment showed the energy output almost doubling when panels are cleaned and maintained properly.
Yet again, the study found that you can’t rely on rain to clean the solar panels! If you have your own set of panels, you’ll have a higher energy output if you clean them yourself.
Best way to clean solar panels DIY
- A great first step to take is to make sure there aren’t any special recommendations from your solar panel’s manufacturer, as far as cleaning goes.
- You’ll want to pick a day that isn’t too sunny. The heat from the sun can make your panels very hot!
- Depending on how much dirt accumulates on your panels or how often you clean solar panels, you might be able to simply use a garden hose to get the job done.
- You won’t need any chemicals or special solutions to clean solar panels. Simply add soap and warm water together and scrub your panel or panels down!
- Use a sponge to get all the grime off. Don’t worry about the wiring beneath the panels. You might cause costly damage to the panel!
- If you aren’t able to safely access your solar panels, consider getting a professional to clean solar panels for you. Consider calling an expert if your panels are in a hard to reach or dangerous location, such as the roof of your house.
What’s the cost of not having clean solar panels?
This is a question that’s quite reasonable since it’s not thought of very often. The truth is shocking, however. It turns out that a solar panel can lose almost 25% of its efficiency if not cleaned regularly or in a way that’s suitable. You’ll have less power for your home or whatever you’re using the panels for. Furthermore, you’ll have to pull power from other sources which will cost you more money!
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How often should I clean solar panels DIY?
The spring is probably the best season to clean solar panels. This is because of a large amount of air pollution in the winter. Additionally, cleaning doesn’t have to occur that often. Noticeable energy increases occur when they’re cleaned as little as once or twice a year.
If you live in an area that’s not prone to rainfall, dirt will accumulate at a quicker rate than normal. Sources of pollution can also cause a greater build-up of grime on the panels if they’re in the proximity of the panels. Depending on where you live, autumn can also be a time that requires more cleaning of solar panels. Dead leaves can cause a large amount of dirt to form on solar panels.
Clean solar panels tip: If you tilt your solar panels, rainwater will rinse them more efficiently!
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Keep track of changes in solar panel output
A great piece of advice regarding cleaning is simply to keep track of the power that’s produced from your panels. Furthermore, it’s a trial and error process. You might have to fine-tune some of your cleaning strategies based on the output of energy after a clean.
Cleaning solar panels is almost as simple as cleaning your car’s window! It doesn’t take that long either. Save yourself time and money by cleaning your solar panels on a regular basis!
