If you have concluded that your solar panels have to be cleaned, there are two basic methods to do it. Either you hire a professional solar cleaning service in California or perform it yourself. A lot of solar companies will provide this kind of service to you, obviously against a fee. They might provide it as part of annual maintenance service, or recommend you get it done every so often when they come to install the product.
The ground reality is, what you get back cost-wise in your energy bill does not go beyond the amount you require to shell out to these companies to do the work. The professional agencies often charge a steep amount to do this task of cleaning solar panels in California for not much return on your energy bill.
On the contrary, if you were keen to do it yourself, you’ll usually have all you need to do it at home. In maximum cases, it will involve nothing more than a hose, maybe some soap, and you’re good to go. This could be effective in drought-prone areas too, as usually whatever you’re doing with the hose is the same thing the rain would do if you got more of it in your locality.
There are methods to ascertain if your solar panels require cleaning to start with. One is a physical inspection of the panels for debris, dirt, bird droppings, etc. The other method is the application of a monitoring system that notifies you of how well your solar panels are functioning and performing. This can warn you regarding any maintenance needs for your system, whether that’s mechanical, electrical, or cleanliness. You may require the help of experts occupied with solar power cleaning in California.
What Do You Use to Clean Solar Panels?
If you are keen to clean your residential solar panels by yourself, there are many products you can apply for cleaning them. At the outset, check with your solar installers and providers to find out whether there is any information regarding solar panel cleaning, recommendations, and dos or don’ts when it comes to clean your system.
The most useful way to clean your solar panels is with a hose and a bucket of soapy water. Normally, in the same way, you would wash your car at home. As you don’t wish to scratch the panels in any way, it’s wise to use only water and a non-abrasive sponge to use soapy water. Remember that you shouldn’t use any type of high-pressure water sprayer while washing off your solar panels. A high-pressure attachment can adversely affect the solar panels themselves.
If you do use something else instead of water only, especially to get rid of pesky bird droppings, just make sure what you’re applying is soft and hard bristle-free. Sponges are amazing products to clean solar panels with as they won’t scratch. If deciding to apply a little bit of soap on your sponge, utilize something that you might clean your dishes with. Laundry detergents and other stronger chemicals might communicate negatively with your solar panels. Note that plain water works the best in the majority of the cases.
Remember that solar panels can be very hot while the sun is beating down on them. It’s better to select a cool, overcast day for cleaning the panels. Not just to protect yourself from burns, but if you’re trying to clean the solar panels when it’s very hot out, the soapy water you are putting on the panels will evaporate quickly and may leave a residue or smear to the panels which can impact their efficiency.
This is great information.
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