Cleaning your solar panels is essential to maintaining their efficiency and maximizing energy production. Over time, dust, dirt, and debris accumulate on the panels, reducing their ability to capture sunlight effectively. Regular cleaning ensures that your system performs optimally.
How Often Should You Clean Solar Panels?
Ideally, solar panels should be cleaned twice a year, depending on environmental factors like dust, pollution, or pollen in your area. If you live in an area with heavy pollution, where there’s constant construction work going on, or lots of trees around you, then you need to clean your solar panels more often.
As a rule, you should monitor your energy output and if you notice a significant drop, it is time to clean it.
How to Clean Solar Panels?
Use a soft brush or a sponge with a long handle and non-abrasive soap mixed with water to clean the solar panel. Spray the panels with water first to loosen any dirt, then gently scrub the surface to remove grime.
What NOT to Do
Avoid using harsh chemicals or high-pressure water while cleaning your solar panels, as they can damaged easily.
Don’t walk on the panels, which can lead to cracks or damage.
Rough cleaning instruments such as abrasive cloths and sponges, or heavily toothed brooms, can scratch the surface of your panel.
It is best to call a professional when the panels are exceptionally dirty and there’s a tough buildup on top of it that can’t be washed away easily.
Also, don’t forget to inspect your solar panels regularly to ensure they don’t have any damages or cracks, and there are no rats or bird’s nests on them.