When it comes to solar panels, it’s easy to assume that the bulk of the effort is concentrated on the initial setup and installation, rather than ongoing maintenance. While it’s true that solar systems are designed to be durable, it’s important not to overlook the significance of regular and proper maintenance for ensuring longevity and optimal efficiency.
In this blog post, we will explore the reasons why adequate cleaning and maintenance of solar panels are crucial.
How Do Solar Panels Get Dirty?
While there are a number of factors that influence how dirty solar panels get and the interval at which you should clean them, these are some of the commonest causes of dirty solar panels.
Water
Typically, solar panels are well protected against water, but when moisture manages to seep inside, it could cause corrosive damages.
Dust
Naturally, dust builds up on solar panel surfaces over time as they are directly exposed to the natural environment. When much dust covers the panels and is not cleaned off, either naturally or by manual effort, it could affect the efficiency of the panels. This is one of the most prevalent ways by which solar panels get dirty.
Debris
Pollen, leaves and other debris can also contaminate panel surfaces, and they can be quite tricky to clean off solar panel surfaces because they don’t just wash away or dissolve in water like dust.
Why you should clean your solar panels
Longevity
Solar panels last so long that it’s actually possible to occasionally forget or overlook their maintenance. Nonetheless, regular cleaning can further increase the lifespan. Dust, stones, and other debris buildup can gradually wear out solar panels and reduce the efficiency in converting sunlight to electrical energy. However, if you regularly clean your panels to get rid of these contaminants, you can prevent the rapid degradation of your panels.
Aesthetics
This is not essentially a functional benefit of regular solar panel cleaning, but you would agree that dirty looking solar panels don’t look good on roofs or wherever they’re installed. Seemingly little things like this could affect the overall aesthetics and perceived value of a property. You should not have the appeal of an otherwise clean looking property be negatively impacted by dirty solar panels
Cleaning helps with solar panel inspection
One thing is that it could be sore to the eyes to visually inspect solar dirty panels. However, if you manage to go do that, chances are you’re going to miss out important details that could inform you of the overall health of your panels. Cracks and corrosion can be particularly hard to notice when they are hidden under dust, debris, or any other dirt.
Get the most value
You would be amazed by how much the efficiency of your solar panels can be impacted by dirt. Clean panels would naturally generate more energy than dirty ones. In addition to making sure that they last long enough for you to get full value for money spent, cleaning will remove obstacles in the way of sunlight getting to the cells of the panels.
Protect Panel Warranty
Solar panels can come with generous warranty offers, but also stringent warranty conditions. If cleaning is part of those conditions, you want to ensure you adhere strictly so as not to make the warranty void.
Prevent HotSpots
The main cause of hotspots on solar panels is shading and dust/dirt building up on panel surfaces can easily cause the development of hot spots. And when you have hotspots you can expect a decrease in efficiency and the total amount of energy produced.
Also Read: Why Invest in Solar Panels? Top 4 Expert Tips to Get The Most of Household Clean
Professional or Self Cleaning?
So, what’s the best way to approach cleaning your solar panels? Should you go ahead and clean them yourself? Or, would it be a better idea to get professional help?
While cleaning the panels may not be the hardest thing to do, there are quite a number of other factors to consider such as the location of the panels, the number of panels, and the panel type.
One of the arguments for hiring professionals over self-cleaning is the risk of causing damages. Cleaning may seem simple and straightforward enough, but professionals are equipped with special equipment and cleaning supplies that won’t cause abrasions or damages to the panel surfaces.
Furthermore, you may want to go with hiring professionals if you’re concerned about personal safety. A cleaning process may require you to climb rooftops or very elevated surfaces. To avoid the safety risks that could come with cleaning solar panels, you should think about hiring professionals that are well trained and have all the right equipment to stay safe.
At the end of the day, it comes down to personal preference, but if you’re very particular about prolonging your panel’s lifespan and efficiency through proper cleaning practices, you should hire professionals. They are well trained and equipped with modern processes that will improve solar panels’ performance and make your property more aesthetically-pleasing to look at.
Some of the most significant arguments for regular solar panel cleaning is to reduce dirt, dust, and other contaminants that could affect the rate at which sunlight is converted to electrical energy. Reduced efficiency is not the only downside to dirty or contaminated surfaces, you also risk the rapid degradation of your panels. For the most reliable Solar Panel Cleaning Austin and in surrounding areas, get in touch with ATX Soft Wash for the best solar cleaning services and more