Do Rooftop Solar Panels Need Cleaning

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.

Do rooftop solar panels need cleaning.

Not keeping your panels clean will cost you money in the long run and can put the lifespan of your panels at risk. Show extra caution if cleaning your solar panels requires you to climb up on the roof. How often do you clean your roof. Probably not very often most likely never.

Consider getting professional solar panel cleaners to do the job. We ll get to the best way to clean your solar panels in a minute. 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. I hear you saying isn t that what rain is for that s kind of the same logic for solar panels too.

Yes you have to clean your rooftop solar panels and you have to clean them regularly. Generally in the uk unless your solar panels have bird droppings on them you shouldn t need to clean your solar panels. Solar panels generally require very little maintenance in order to function. 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.

This is because for most homes in australia rainfall is enough to keep solar panels reasonably clean. Clean the surface of the solar panel with a soft cloth or sponge. Some of our favorite solar panel cleaning supplies include. You do not have to clean the wiring underneath.

Dirt on solar panels usually has very little effect on their performance. 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. Companies specializing in cleaning solar panels generally say. After all anything that accumulates dirt on them for example dust or pollen will get washed off the next time it rains.

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. Olson recommends homeowners use a soft bristle brush with an extended handle like the type used to clean off an rv. And don t forget to choose an environmentally friendly soap. One company selling an automated washing system says panels should be washed every couple of weeks.

There are some instances where solar panels might need cleaning but most of the evidence says solar panels are self sufficient and low maintenance. In most cases you won t need to clean your solar panels often if at all. Some say panels need an annual scrub others say quarterly. Long arm 1005 window solar panel cleaning kit.

When it comes to cleaning solar panels it s better to err on the side of safety and efficiency.