Solar panels are highly effective electronic devices that can reduce or even waive our monthly electricity bills. Most people are now using solar systems in their houses to cut down electricity bills. Solar panels generate their own electricity by converting photovoltaic cells from sunlight into heat energy.
As solar panels are installed on the roofs of the house, it needs to be cleaned after certain periods. Usually, debris and dirt are blown with the wind, and can jam the solar panel. Also, if you don’t clean your solar panels, it can affect electricity production.
In this guide, we will explain how often you should clean your solar panels.
How often should you clean off solar panels?
Experts recommend it’s better to clean solar panels every six months or at least twice a year. Usually, solar panels are installed on the roof of the house or open places where it can get direct sunlight. Roofs are open to debris, air particles, bird droppings, dirt, etc. Thus, solar panels can easily get a layer of dirt that can block direct sunlight. As a result, solar panels can’t work perfectly as before and reduce 20% of electricity generation. So, it’s very important to clean your solar panel regularly.
However, you can clean your solar panel when it gets dirty or every six months. Also, it depends on the types of your solar panels. If your solar panels are an old model like you have been using for years, need more frequent cleaning.
How do I know if my solar panels need to be cleaned?
Solar panels usually get dirty after a few months of installation. Also, it depends on the environment where you live. If you live in a place where the environment is snowy or rainy then your solar panel gets a natural cleaning process. Typically, in the rainy season, you don’t need to clean your solar panels. Rain washes the roofs and your solar panels, also. Same as the cold season, where snow can be a natural cleaner for your solar panels.
But if you live in a desert region where there is a lot of sand and dust, your solar panels need cleaning more frequently. Sand and dust can easily layer over a solar panel and dirty it. However, you can check your solar panels every week. It’s a better way to know if your solar panels need to be cleaned.
How to clean solar panels?
While cleaning solar panels, you can call professionals or do it yourself. Professionals can clean perfectly, but if your solar panels need frequent cleaning, then it’s better to do it by yourself. The cleaning process is not that hard so that anyone can do it. Here is a step-by-step guide to cleaning dirty solar panels:
Necessary equipments:
- Water and mild soap
- Garden hose
- Cleaning solution (specially designed for solar panels)
- Soft cloths or sponge
- Soft brush
- Dry cloths
- Extension ladder
- Gloves and shoes
How to clean:
- First, you have to take care of your safety before starting to clean. Wear hand gloves and shoes.
- Turn off the solar panel system so that there is no risk of eclectic shock.
- Use an extension ladder to reach the roofs.
- After, use a garden hose to spray water on the panels.
- Rinse the solar panels with water and mild soap to clean away dust and debris.
- Apply a cleaning solution and rub the panels with a sponge or soft cloth.
- To clean the stubborn dust and debris use a soft bristle brush to scrub the panels.
- After, rinse the panels with clean water to remove all soap particles and solution.
- Use a soft, dry cloth to dry the wet panels.
- After cleaning take some time to get sunlight so that the panels can perfectly dry.
- Now, turn on the solar panel system.
What happens if you don’t clean your solar panels?
Regular cleaning is necessary for solar panels to work effectively. Usually, dust, debris, and air particles make layers of dirt on solar panels. As a result, the solar panel system can’t get enough sunlight to produce electricity. Also, dirty solar panels lose their effectiveness over time. That may affect your monthly electric production by solar panels. This can decrease 20% of electricity production in a month.
Conclusion
Solar panel systems help us to reduce electric bills by generating electricity from sunlight. These electronic devices need cleaning at a certain time to work perfectly. If you follow the expert’s suggestion, then clean your solar panels at least twice a year. Dirty solar panels can’t get enough sunlight to produce the electricity you need.
Also, the environment you live in is a big factor in how often your solar panels need to be cleaned. If you live in a desert region, your solar panels need cleaning more frequently than in rainy and snowy areas. So, it’s crucial to keep your solar panels clean and dust-free.
