Do Rooftop Solar Panels Need Cleaning

But first let s look at when and why you might need to invest in solar panel cleaning equipment or hire a professional cleaning service.

Do rooftop solar panels need cleaning.

How often do you clean your roof. There are some instances where solar panels might need cleaning but most of the evidence says solar panels are self sufficient and low maintenance. You do not have to clean the wiring underneath. Yes you have to clean your rooftop solar panels and you have to clean them regularly.

Fortunately cleaning solar panels is easy for ground mounted systems or for rooftop solar systems on a typical one story house. The only thing they need is a periodic light cleaning to make sure dirt leaves and other debris aren t obstructing the sun s rays. When it comes to cleaning solar panels it s better to err on the side of safety and efficiency. Consider getting professional solar panel cleaners to do the job.

Olson recommends homeowners use a soft bristle brush with an extended handle like the type used to clean off an rv. In other parts of the world where rainfall levels are lower build up of dust and dirt can present more of an issue and panels may need to be cleaned more often to prevent a significant drop in output. In most cases you won t need to clean your solar panels often if at all. Probably not very often most likely never.

Dirt on solar panels usually has very little effect on their performance. We ll get to the best way to clean your solar panels in a minute. Grime will build up but eventually there will be sufficient rain to wash most of it off. Solar panels generally require very little maintenance in order to function.

In the uk the vast majority of domestic solar panel arrays don t need regular heavy duty cleaning thanks to the high levels of rainfall. Companies specializing in cleaning solar panels generally say. And don t forget to choose an environmentally friendly soap. This is because for most homes in australia rainfall is enough to keep solar panels reasonably clean.

If you notice a decrease in efficiency it could mean your panels are in need of a cleaning. Some say panels need an annual scrub others say quarterly. One company selling an automated washing system says panels should be washed every couple of weeks. Generally in the uk unless your solar panels have bird droppings on them you shouldn t need to clean your solar panels.

Long arm 1005 window solar panel cleaning kit. Show extra caution if cleaning your solar panels requires you to climb up on the roof. Not keeping your panels clean will cost you money in the long run and can put the lifespan of your panels at risk. Clean the surface of the solar panel with a soft cloth or sponge.

After all anything that accumulates dirt on them for example dust or pollen will get washed off the next time it rains.