POWER WASHING: Why Cleaning Solar Panels Should Be A Priority

9/4/2020

Solar panels provide a greener way to power your home, and they also help lower your energy costs by up to 20% or more. The key to maintaining their capacity and longevity, is to keep them clean, which professional power washing can help you accomplish.

Solar panels generate power by utilizing sunlight. When light hits the panels, it will convert it into energy that can then be used to provide a low-cost alternative source of electricity, depending on your solar system type, for your home.

Over time, the panels can become riddled with various outdoor elements, such as dust, dirt, pollen, sap, animal droppings, and more. This will essentially coat the panels with grime and prevent sunlight from fully penetrating them, resulting in a loss of energy absorption.

In fact, according to reports, dirty solar panels can decrease energy absorption by up to 10% or more in some cases.

Frequently cleaning your panels provides various benefits. Continue reading to learn more about why maintaining clean solar panels is ideal.

What Are The Benefits of Cleaning Solar Panels?

It Enables More Light to Enter the Panels for Greater Efficiency
The main benefit of keeping your solar panels clean is that it allows more light to penetrate the solar cells; thus the more power they will generate. Regularly removing buildup enables you to take full advantage of the panels.
It Improves Overall System Performance
If even just one of your solar panels is dirty, it not only prevents the individual module from converting energy, but it also puts a strain on the entire system. That strain will cause your energy system to under perform. Hence, the cleaner your panels, the more efficient they are able to work which helps improve the overall function of the panels in the circuit.
It Helps Preserve Their Beauty
If you are like some people, you not only find your solar panels useful for generating alternative energy, but they can also create a beautiful addition to your home, thus helping to increase its curb appeal, as well as its value.

Dirty solar panels can sometimes look dull and drab. Unfortunately, this can make your home look unkempt which can take away from its exterior appeal.

Why Cleaning Them Regularly is Important

It Helps Protect Your Investment
Investing in a solar panel system can be costly. You'll want make it last as long as possible for a good return on your investment. Keeping your solar panels clean is one step to help make them last so they continue to function properly.

Reports show that, when properly maintained, solar panels can last up to 20 years or longer and more than pay for themselves during this time.
It Helps Keep Your Warranties Active
Under some solar panel installation company and manufacturer warranties, your solar panels must be cleaned regularly to keep the guarantee in effect.

Should you encounter an issue with your panels, and you do not have documentation that they have been professionally cleaned at regular intervals, your warranty may be void.
It Helps Save Money on Replacing Your Panels
Once dirt has become ingrained on your panels, which typically occurs from allowing it to sit too long on the panels, it can result in permanent staining. In some cases it cannot be removed even with professional cleaning.

When a panel is stained, it will result in a permanent decrease in energy output from the module. Therefore, the panel will need to be replaced to restore peak performance.

Cleaning your solar panels regularly helps prevent staining, which helps save money on having to replace them prematurely.

Rainwater Won't Do It
Rain cannot remove animal droppings, nor can it remove sticky pollen or tree sap. Simply relying on rain to clean your panels will allow these elements to buildup, which can cause permanent staining.

Rain can also cause deposit its share of dirt onto your panels, similarly to windows, which can cause the issue to become worse and even lead to corrosion.

Cleaning your panels also helps remove stubborn matter, as well as rainwater deposits, which helps prolong the life of your panels.
It Gives You Peace of Mind
When your panels are clean, it gives you peace of mind to know that each time you use your system, it will function as it should. It also gives you confidence that you can rely on this peace of mind for the 20-year or more life expectancy of the system.

How Often Should I Clean My Solar Panels?

Solar Panel cleaning intervals will mostly depend on the environment.

For instance, panels installed in areas with high dust levels, such as in rural areas, near areas of high traffic, or in areas with lots of air pollution will require more frequent cleanings because they will accumulate dirt faster than panels installed in low dust areas.

This is also true for solar panels installed near the sea because they can collect salt build-up, which can cause erosion.

The angle of your panels can also affect how often they will get dirty. For instance, flat-mounted panels can allow rainwater to pool at the lower edge, which enables debris to gather there. They need to be cleaned more often than vertical panels where most debris is more likely to roll off with the rain.

On average, you should have your panels cleaned at least once every six months to every year to maintain maximum performance.

In the meantime, should you notice a drop in energy output, it could be an indicator that your panels need to be cleaned.

Why Professional Solar Panel Cleaning?

Solar panels contain electrical parts, which can become easily damaged without the proper care when cleaning them, which is why it is usually recommended to have your panels washed by professional cleaners.

It also helps ensure the panels are cleaned as per the manufacturer's directions, which helps keep your warranty valid.

Professional solar panel cleaners also have the right professional tools and pressure washing equipment to safely reach and thoroughly clean the panels, which helps eliminate the danger of doing it yourself.

They can also inspect your panels for cracks and worn seals that can enable water to seep into the panel's inner parts, which can damage them.

If you have found that your solar panels have lost their brilliance, or if your system is experiencing a drop in energy, feel free to schedule an appointment with us to see if dirty panels could be the issue.

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