Do solar panels need cleaning? Yes, they do.

Research has found that accumulated dust and debris can impact the output of your solar energy equipment. 

If you want to keep your system running efficiently you will need to clean your solar panels on a regular basis. However, you need to make sure you’re carrying out this important solar maintenance task the right way. 

Otherwise, you could inadvertently damage your solar panels in the process. 

Avoid this and keep reading to find out the best way to clean solar panels. 

When to Clean Solar Panels

Although cleaning is an important part of solar panel maintenance, you shouldn’t have to clean your solar panels more than a couple of times per year. 

Depending on how much dust and debris they collect, you should aim to carry out solar panel cleaning roughly every six months. If they stay relatively clean, you can even push this to once per year. 

Because most solar panels are mounted at an angle, rain usually helps to keep them clean. However, if your panels are lying flat, or you live in a dusty area that gets very little rain—then you might need to increase the frequency of solar panel cleaning. 

How to Clean Your Solar Panels

If your panels just have a light coating of dust, then all you’ll need to do as far as cleaning and solar panel maintenance is to rinse them down with a hose. 

Do not use a pressure washer as this can damage your panels. 

If there are any areas of stubborn stuck dirt or bird droppings, you can also give your panels a rub down with a soft cloth and a mild cleaner. Do not use any hard scrubbing brushes or scouring pads on your panels, and avoid harsh chemicals. 

In summary, the best way to clean solar panels is gently. Saving a few minutes by using a pressure washer, a heavy-duty scrubber, or a strong cleaner is not worth the cost of a damaged panel. 

Cleaning Is the Only Solar Panel Maintenance You’ll Need to Do 

Cleaning your solar panels might sound like a pain. However, this is the only solar maintenance task you will need to do. Besides monitoring your system to make sure it’s running efficiently, there won’t be any other solar panel maintenance tasks. 

Once a solar system is installed, it should run without hassles for many years. Because there are no moving parts, the wear and tear on solar systems is very low. 

Having to rinse down your panels once or twice a year is not a big price considering how much you will save on electricity. If you have gotten a solar savings estimate, you’re probably already rubbing your hands at the thought of saving a couple of thousand each year on your utility bill. 

Now You Know How to Carry Out Solar Maintenance

As you can see, cleaning your panels is not a very complicated job. What’s more, it is the only solar maintenance chore needed to keep your system running at peak efficiency.

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