8 Solar Panel Cleaning Tips

Solar panels are one of the most efficient, environmentally friendly solutions on the market, and the number of solar panel homes raises drastically every year.

But once you buy solar panels, how do you maintain them?

Do you need to clean your solar panels, or should you just let the rain “do its job”?

Although rain may wash away any leaves, it doesn’t help a lot with dust and dirt that may accumulate.

Which leads us to today’s subject, cleaning your home’s solar panels.

When should you clean your home’s solar panels?

It all depends on the area in which you live; if you live in an area with frequent rain showers, you will probably need to clean them less frequently.

In autumn, when leaves fall, they can get caught up in solar panels blocking the light and causing issues for you, so in this period, you will need to do the cleaning more frequently.

Typically, you can check on them once or twice a month and see if there is any dust, dirt, bird droppings, or leaves and how much.

#1 Hire a qualified Solar Provider near you

If your solar panels are on your home’s roof, you live in a dusty area, or your panels are visibly dirty and covered in bird droppings, perhaps it is best that you hire professional solar installers and avoid any possible mistakes or falling off the roof.

#2 Read the solar panel manufacturer guide

Often, there are specific recommendations for cleaning solar panels in your manufacturer guide.

Inside you can also check and see whether you need to shut down the system before you do the cleaning and how.

#3 Clean them in the morning or afternoon on a cool day

Solar panels can get quite heated, especially on a hot summer day; choose to clean them when they are relatively cool such as in the morning or afternoon.

#4 Brush away loose dirt and dust

If there are any leaves or visible accumulated dirt on your new solar panels, before you start watering and cleaning with a cloth, brush off any leaves and dirt.

#5 Clean from the ground, if possible

For safety reasons, it Westcoast Solar Energy always recommends that you clean your solar panels from the ground with a long-handed instrument whenever possible.

If you need to go on the roof, make sure you go with a hard hat, safety harness and take all the necessary safety precautions.

#6 Use your garden hose

If there is not a lot of dust and dirt accumulated, your water hose may do the job.

You can add a proper nozzle attachment to your garden hose for better results.

#7 Clean your solar panels gently

If your solar panels are dirtier, use a bucket or spray bottle with warm water, dish soap, and a soft cloth or sponge to clean the surface of the solar panel.

You should not need to clean the wiring underneath.

#8 Do not use metal objects or abrasive detergents

You can also check online for robotic cleaners which are relatively new on the market, or contact us for more recommendations today.

They work on removing dirt at night without using water, and have soft brushes and air blowers to help clean solar panels efficiently.