Do I Need To Clean My Solar Panels

Grime and bird poop doesn t need to cover an entire panel to have an effect.

Do i need to clean my solar panels.

Your solar panels need to be exposed to sunlight in order to produce power. Hire a professional or do it yourself. Before cleaning your solar panels a professional technician should check for. Solar panels are generally self cleaning but in particularly dry areas or where panel tilt is minimal dust and other substances such as bird droppings can build up over time and impact on the amount electricity generated by a module.

In most places there s more pollution in the winter which is why the spring is a good time to do an annual cleaning. One of the best ways to determine if your panels need cleaning is to keep an eye on your power. If you cannot safely access your panels to clean them do not attempt to get up on your roof. In most situations panels are self cleaning and do not need to be cleaned.

If you can t clean your panels from the ground hire a company. When someone gets a new rooftop solar installation the second question they always ask is how often do i need to clean my solar panels we ll answer that question on today s show taking into account the different effects of rain dust and electric rates btw the first question people always ask is how do i read my electric bill but that s a topic for another show. If you are going to clean your solar panels yourself use water a gentle soap like dishwashing detergent and a soft brush to get the buildup out of the corners. How to clean solar panels.

You should always check with your solar panel manufacturer to see if your panels can be cleaned without breaking or having an impact on your warranty. This is where cleaning solar panels may have to be done. The best way to figure out if your panels need cleaning is to assess the above conditions. Instead hire a professional who has the correct equipment and knowledge to do so.

How to do it. If you do decide your solar panels need to be cleaned there are two main ways of doing it. However if you can see build up on the panels or if your bills or monitoring tools suggest a decrease in the efficiency it may be worth considering a system health check or clean. Solar panels that are cleaned once and twice a year produce 3 5 and 5 1 more electricity respectively than those that are left uncleaned.

Even if you don t need to wash your panels regularly it might not be a bad idea to give them a little tlc and inspection every few years. A lot of solar companies will offer this type of service to you for a fee of course. However unless you live somewhere with high amounts of smog dust dirt or sand blowing around solar panel cleaning is generally not necessary in most cases occasional rain will be enough to naturally and safely keep your solar panels clean and free of debris that could lower production. But remember generally cleaning your solar panels isn t something you need to bother with.

If you notice a decrease in efficiency it could mean your panels are in need of a cleaning.