Cleaning your solar panels is an important part of maintaining your solar power system. Your panels need to be cleaned to ensure maximum energy production and to prevent dirt and debris from building up, which can reduce the amount of energy your panels produce. Regularly cleaning your panels will keep dust and dirt from building up and increase the performance of your system.
While cleaning solar panels has never been easier, they still require a lot of maintenance. Fortunately, new technologies have recently been developed that make cleaning solar panels a lot less complicated.
Depending on the weather and the size of your solar panel system, you may need to clean your panels once or twice a month. If you live in an environment that isn't too dirty, you can skip cleaning the solar panels for a month. There are various techniques to determine whether your solar panels require cleaning:
Physical examination
Solar panels should be inspected regularly, especially in locations where the weather is bad or there is a lot of dust. The connections should also be examined now so that you can keep track of their status.
Consider using a monitoring device
A physical examination is performed regularly, but supplement this with a monitoring system. These continually check the solar panels’ state and condition. This helps to avoid damage and may even extend the life of your panels. Every month, a solar array generates a particular quantity of power. With the help of a monitoring system, you may get information on whether the system is down and working optimally.
After thoroughly inspecting your solar panel system and determining whether it requires cleaning, there are several options available for cleaning it. You can either clean it by yourself or hire someone who can clean it for you.
The first and most obvious thing that comes to our minds is the DIY approach. Each panel’s surface may be cleaned quickly and simply using common household materials. Warm water and dishwashing soap, for example, will eliminate filth that has accumulated. The only difficult thing is getting there safely. If you can do so, great; if not, the second alternative may be a better one.
The second, and most recommended approach, is to employ the services of a professional. Since most of us aren’t accustomed to these things, we may end up hurting ourselves or failing to achieve the result we wanted. In both circumstances, hiring specialists might be beneficial. If you need a solar panel cleaning service in Melbourne, you can reach us anytime.
Before cleaning, your system should be completely turned down according to the shutdown process outlined in your user guide or the operating manual provided by the manufacturer of your inverter. DC systems must be entirely turned off. AC systems should be turned off by using the solar supply master switch.
If you have rainwater tanks installed and linked to your guttering system, have them temporarily removed or sealed off from the gutters to prevent unclean water from entering your tank.
The mixture of hot glass on your panels and chilly water might increase the likelihood of cracks caused by a quick temperature shift. If the blistering sun is hammering down on the panels, whatever water you’ve used may evaporate rapidly and leave nasty streaks, ruining all your hard labor! A chilly mid-morning is an excellent time for cleaning. Moisture that has accumulated on the panels overnight may have softened the filth and grime, requiring you to use less water and energy to clean them. If you can’t clean your solar panels early in the morning, a gloomy day or a nice, chilly evening are also good times.
If possible, clean your panels from the ground for safety reasons. Use a hose to direct water onto your panels. Allow the stream of water to reach the panels by using a hose with a suitable nozzle.
While it is OK for some water to contact the back of your panels, you should not purposefully direct water onto the back of your panels or into the space between your panels and your roof.
You don’t need any costly cleaning products; water and a basic soap will suffice. A high-quality soft brush and squeegee with a plastic blade on one side and a cloth-covered sponge on the other, combined with a lengthy extension, can be the ideal tool—and keep you securely on the ground.
Using water increases the risk of working on your roof. When water is used to clean a roof, it can become rather slippery. If it is not possible to clean your panels from the ground, do not reach your rooftop unless you have the safety equipment and training. Instead, for your safety, employ a skilled professional cleaner.
Get Quotes on Solar Panels Cleaning
Please contact us if you live in Melbourne and would want to receive free quotations for solar panel cleaning services. We’ll be pleased to help you.