5 Things Homeowners Must Know About Solar Panel Cleaning

 A lot of homeowners are oblivious to the proper usage of solar panels. While cleaning solar panels in California, many people had a lot of queries. In this article, we have identified the five commonest questions asked by the solar panel owners, that all homeowners should be aware of. 

 

1. Do Solar Panels Need Cleaning? 

 

If anything stays outside for a lot of days and nights, solar panels will eventually pile up dirt. But how regularly you may have to clean your panels depends on a few of the following factors, such as- 

• Location  

• Weather  

• System design 

• Size/number of panels  

• Installation angle(s) 

• The duration between thorough cleanings 

• Types of dirt 

It is better to refer to the manual provided to you by the provider. You may do it yourself if it requires very less cleaning, or hire a professional if it has to be cleaned extensively. 

 

2. How Frequently Should I Clean My Solar Panels? 

 

In most instances, you just have to clean your solar panels once or twice every year. many experts suggest scheduling your yearly cleaning routine during the spring, just to avoid the heat of summer and harsh elements of winter. 

 

But your solar panels may require more attention in certain locations. In the Southwest US, it can be observed that there is a more severe accumulation of dirt due to very little rainfall. It is quite obvious that panels in homes near factories, airports, freeways, and other sources of pollution will require regular cleaning. 

 

Winter and fall are other special cases. Getting rid of heavier-than-average snowfall and leaves will significantly enhance your solar performance. 

 

3. Do I Clean Off Snow? 

 

It is imminent that during the days of heavy snowfall, one can be nervous regarding their system not generating sufficient energy. But, snow on your solar power panels normally melts away faster, due to the heat formed by the solar panels, and their smooth surface. Snow on a panel will melt quicker than on an empty roof because of the huge difference in heat between the two surfaces. 

 

However, when the snow consumes more time to melt and your battery storage is running low, you need not have a wait. Brush the snow off your panels to get them back to generating power right away. 

 

You must ensure using the right equipment from avoiding damaging your investment and compromising its warranty. Accordingly, standard brooms, shovels, and other non-specialized tools should not be anywhere close to your panels. Any proper snow roof rake designed for the task, ideally priced within a range of $30 to $150 will be effective here. 

 

4. Can Pressure Washer Be Used While Cleaning Solar Panels? 

 

Never! Don’t even try it. High-pressure water can be extremely lethal for your solar equipment. 

High-speed moisture may force its way through the seals around the frames faster, and penetrate vulnerable technology. The water leakages may cause corrosion of the fine wires, leading to the failure of the solar panel and its photovoltaic cells. 

 

Similarly, the glass surface may break under high water pressure. You don't see damage due to continuous rainfall pounding on the glass, because panels are created to resist hours of heavy rain falling across a broader surface area. However, washing the panels with high pressure exerts additional pressure with a focused beam of water in a heavily concentrated spot, which creates an increased possibility of stressed areas that may crack. 

 

5. What is Localized Soiling? 

 

Localized soiling of solar panels happens if a material such as leaves, bird poop, and any other heavy blockages get stuck on your panels. However, they can only cover part of the panel. Comparatively, in the case of general soiling, material such as dirt and dust cover the total panel surface. If rain and wind can’t remove localized soiling, this kind of debris may block certain parts of the equipment, causing hot spots. 

 

The panel is comprised of many individual cells. As localized soiling blocks sunlight from reaching one of the cells, its energy production falls. But, full current from the adjoining cells can pass through the affected one. It may cause overheating at that cell, damaging the panel. 

Contemporary solar panels are available with several built-in bypass diodes to prevent hot spots. However, the extra-dirty areas may cause damage over time for increasing your solar panel maintenance cost. 

 

You can easily get rid of any localized soiling by hiring authentic solar panel cleaning services in California to perform professional solar panel cleaning if you observe an accumulation of debris. 

 

Inference 

 

Hopefully, the write-up could suffice your primary queries regarding your solar panel. To know more about each panel, it is better to go through the manuals properly.