Solar Panel Cleaning

A solar panel cell is covered in protective glass. Just like the windows on your home, that glass gets dirty. Wind, rain and storms leave dust and water marks on the glass. Especially in the southwest, where rain is scare and dust storms are common, solar panels can become blocked with dust. Industry reports say the lack of scheduled cleanings can cause solar panels to lose 15 - 25% of their efficiency and increase a solar cells payback time by 3 - 5 years.

You can clean solar panels yourself, assuming you can reach them. Clean the surface of a solar panel much like you would clean the windows of your home. Use warm water and dishwashing soap to remove any accumulation of dirt and grime. A long handled squeegee is a handy tool.

Naturally, there are all kinds of nifty products that can help save you the effort. For instance, a nano-cleaning product helps keep the stay glass cleaner, meaning it needs to be washed less often. And just like the robots that clean swimming pools, there are robots that will clean solar panels.

Of course, most of these solutions mean you have to get up on the roof at some point. Just walking on your roof can cause damage to the roofing materials and coatings, not to mention the danger of slips and falls. If you must get on the roof, wear rubber-soled shoes and have someone brace the ladder.

Probably the best option is to hire professionals to come in and clean the solar panels for you. Experts will get the job done quickly and they know how to do it without damage to your roofing materials.