Do Rooftop Solar Panels Need Cleaning

Generally in the uk unless your solar panels have bird droppings on them you shouldn t need to clean your solar panels.

Do rooftop solar panels need cleaning.

Yes you have to clean your rooftop solar panels and you have to clean them regularly. Dirt on solar panels usually has very little effect on their performance. Solar panels generally require very little maintenance in order to function. Long arm 1005 window solar panel cleaning kit.

Olson recommends homeowners use a soft bristle brush with an extended handle like the type used to clean off an rv. 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. Show extra caution if cleaning your solar panels requires you to climb up on the roof.

When it comes to cleaning solar panels it s better to err on the side of safety and efficiency. I hear you saying isn t that what rain is for that s kind of the same logic for solar panels too. Fortunately cleaning solar panels is easy for ground mounted systems or for rooftop solar systems on a typical one story house. You do not have to clean the wiring underneath.

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. This is because for most homes in australia rainfall is enough to keep solar panels reasonably clean. 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. 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.

Grime will build up but eventually there will be sufficient rain to wash most of it off. Consider getting professional solar panel cleaners to do the job. Probably not very often most likely never. One company selling an automated washing system says panels should be washed every couple of weeks.

After all anything that accumulates dirt on them for example dust or pollen will get washed off the next time it rains. If you notice a decrease in efficiency it could mean your panels are in need of a 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. We ll get to the best way to clean your solar panels in a minute.

How often do you clean your roof. Some of our favorite solar panel cleaning supplies include. In most cases you won t need to clean your solar panels often if at all. There are some instances where solar panels might need cleaning but most of the evidence says solar panels are self sufficient and low maintenance.

And don t forget to choose an environmentally friendly soap.