Solar panels are becoming an ever more common sight in Britain. Most streets will have at least one house with panels placed on the roof.
When operating at peak efficiency, solar panels can be a great investment that saves you money and reduces your reliance on fossil fuels. However, many people don’t appreciate the need for regular solar panel cleaning.
Dust, bird droppings, leaves, and other debris can accumulate on your solar panels over time. Research has shown that a dirty solar panel can lose 25% of its annual efficiency. Panels left uncleaned for a prolonged period may develop module staining. This is generally caused by birds dropping onto your panels and will permanently reduce their capacity.
Solar Panel Cleaning
When to Clean
It’s recommended that you clean your solar panels once a year to remove accumulated dirt and debris. If you live in an area with more dust in the air (e.g., near a building site or farmland), consider more regular cleaning.
We also recommend clearing and cleaning your guttering and fascia once a year to keep them running smoothly and looking good. A spring clean of all your outdoor surfaces is ideal, as it removes the dirt that has built up over the winter.
It’s best to clean panels on a cooler, overcast day. If the sun is out, any water you apply will evaporate quickly, and you’ll be much more likely to end up with smears.
How To Clean
For safety reasons, it’s generally advisable to hire a professional company to clean your solar panels. Most domestic panels are located on a property’s roof, making them difficult to access.
If you have the right equipment to reach and safely work on your roof, the cleaning tools you need are all standard household items. Your cleaning kit should include Soap (dishwasher soap is ideal), a small non-abrasive brush, a bucket of warm water and a wiper or squeegee.
To clean your panels, mix the soap with water in a bucket. If you live in a hard-water area, try using stored rainwater instead.
Gently clean the solar panels using the brush and warm, soapy water. You shouldn’t need to apply too much pressure, as most panels are designed to repel dirt.
Rinse the solar panels down using clean, non-soapy water. Finally, squeegee off any excess water to help prevent streaks.
Contact the Professionals
If you’d like to know more about PureTech’s solar panel cleaning service, please call us on 07966 255598 or email tim@puretech-window-cleaning.co.uk. Alternatively, send us a message via our contact form.
Tim Granger, the owner of PureTech Window Cleaning, has over 25 years of experience in providing high-quality professional window cleaning in Nottingham and the surrounding areas. Tim’s focus has always been on providing an exceptional level of customer service, which has helped PureTech grow into one of the leading domestic and commercial window cleaners in the area.