Do you have solar panels somewhere on your property? If so, you are already familiar with how beneficial solar panels can be. These advanced pieces of technology collect sunlight and convert it into electricity that you can use in your day-to-day life. However, problems may arise when your solar panels become dirty. As a result, you’ll begin to wonder how to clean solar panels at your home or business.In this blog, we’ll discuss the best practices for how to clean solar panels, as well as our professional solar panel cleaning services.
We are Picture Perfect Glass, and we are a locally owned pressure washing and solar panel cleaning business near you. Serving our Dallas, TX clients is always our pleasure, so give us a call if you need our professional assistance.
Why Solar Panel Cleaning Is Necessary
Before learning how to clean solar panels, you may be curious why solar panel cleaning is needed at all. Maybe you have a neighbor who lets the rain clean their solar panels. Is this enough to keep solar panels in the best condition? The short answer is no. Over time, solar panels accumulate many different types of debris. Some examples include dirt, dead insects, bird droppings, pollen, algae, and mold. Rain won’t be able to remove all this grime; tough debris will persist through rainstorms and continue staining your solar panels.
Debris has multiple negative effects on your solar panels. Firstly, it will make them much less visually appealing. (It goes without saying that clean solar panels look better than dirty solar panels.) Additionally, debris will actually affect the efficiency of your solar panels. When debris suffocates your solar panels, they won’t be able to gather as much sunlight. As a result, they won’t generate as much electricity, either.
Tools Needed For Solar Panel Cleaning
So, you’ve decided that you’re going to take action and restore your solar panels. But learning how to clean solar panels requires the correct equipment. So, what exactly are you going to need? We’ve put together a short list of gear for your consideration:
- Microfiber Cloths. Using regular washcloths can actually scratch solar panels, so use microfiber cloths to avoid the risk of unnecessary damage.
- Gentle Soap. For DIY solar panel cleaning jobs, a simple mixture of warm water and dish soap is enough to bust grime and restore cleanliness.
- Hose. You’ll need to rinse solar panels before and after cleaning, so make sure you have a garden hose on hand. (Do not pressure wash solar panels.)
- Squeegee. For visually appealing, streak-free drying, we recommend using a squeegee. Gentle strokes will leave your solar panels looking great.
Deactivate Solar Panels Before Cleaning
Before cleaning solar panels, it’s important that you turn them off. Why? There are two main reasons for this. Firstly, the risk of damaging your solar panels is reduced when they are deactivated. Secondly, you’ll also reduce the risk of electric shock. Turning the system off cuts power flow, lowering the risk of electrocution if water or tools contact electrical components.
Bear in mind that this means that your solar panels won’t be able to generate electricity while you clean them. Because of this, you may want to plan your project accordingly. For example, it would be better to clean your solar panels on a cloudy day when they wouldn’t be able to generate much power anyway. That way, your solar panels are switched on and ready to go when the sun is shining its brightest.
Cleaning Solar Panels
With preparations out of the way, let’s discover how to clean solar panels together. First, take the hose and rinse the solar panels. This will remove any loose debris immediately. Next, prepare your cleaning solution. If you are using dish soap, this will be as simple as combining it with warm water in a bucket. Dip your microfiber cloth in this bucket, and then, detail clean your solar panels. You should be able to remove even stubborn stains with relative ease this way. Take your time so you can completely restore your solar panels—quality is key!
Once all debris has been removed, use your squeegee to dry the solar panels. Firm strokes are the secret to removing excess moisture without causing any streaking. Finally, wait for any remaining moisture to dry (if relevant). At this point, your solar panels will be ready to generate power for you again. Switch them back on and enjoy the free electricity!
About Roof Solar Panel Cleaning
Are your solar panels located on your roof? If so, there are extra precautions you will need to take during your cleaning project. You won’t be able to reach those solar panels without a ladder, so remember the basic tenets of ladder safety. Ladders need to be placed in flat, stable areas to prevent the risk of them toppling over. Additionally, you should always follow the rule of three points of contact when climbing a ladder. What this means is that between your two arms and two legs, three of them should be on the ladder at all times.
Cleaning solar panels on your roof can be an intimidating process. If you do not feel comfortable with solar panel cleaning for any reason whatsoever, consider reaching out to Picture Perfect Glass. Our professional team would be happy to restore your solar panels for you.
Scheduling Professional Solar Panel Cleaning
When your solar panels are dirty—and when you don’t feel like cleaning them on your own—scheduling an appointment with a professional business is the best move. For example, at Picture Perfect Glass, it’s always our pleasure to serve residential and commercial clients. So, no matter who you are or how many solar panels you need us to clean, feel free to contact us online and schedule an appointment! We’ll give you a free cost estimate for our services, and then, you can choose a time and date for our arrival. It won’t be long before we restore your solar panels to your complete satisfaction.
