If you have decided to invest in solar panels for your home or business, you will most likely discover that you have made a good financial decision. Since solar panels allow you to use the heat from the sun to warm your home or office, the reduction in your utility bills can save large sums of money over the years. Even though this is true, you will still need to pay close attention to its condition and maintenance to prevent problems with soiling.
Soiling can be described as bird dropping, dirt, pollen and dust that collects on these panels. Once these panels are soiled, you can expect the reduction of solar power that can be used in your home. Fortunately, you can work to keep soiling problems from occurring. Here are 5 methods of cleaning solar panels listed below.
1. Clean Solar Panels surfaces with a Soft Brush Or a Sponge
After your solar panels have been installed, you need to make sure that you are well versed in keeping your investments clean well maintained throughout the year. Actually, the more information you learn about the proper maintenance techniques, the better. To start, when you are cleaning the surface of these panels, it is easy to damage them with scratches. To prevent these problems, do not use abrasive cleaning materials to remove dirt or dust from their surfaces. Instead, you should use a soft brush or sponge to clean them. If these problems do occur, it will also reduce the performance of the panels as well as cause certain damage to the module. This is also one of the primary reasons why many solar panel owners prefer to consult with cleaning agencies like MEL Window Cleaning BAM.
2. Clean Solar Panels with Water Mixture that has Similar Temperatures
You may be tempted to hot or very cold water to remove bird droppings and other soil from the surfaces of your solar panel to clean them thoroughly. Even though this may sound reasonable or the right thing to do, you can create problems that can completely damage the surfaces. For instance, if you use hot water in frigidly cold temperatures to clean the surfaces of the glass, you may cause the glass to crack under these extreme changes in temperatures. The same situation and circumstances can also occur if cold water is used in hot temperature weather as well. Therefore, if you do not want to cause any unnecessary damage to the glass surfaces, you should pick the best time to clean these panels. Usually, the hours between 6 a.m. and 7 a.m. are the best time of the day to use ambient temperature waters to clean all of your units.
3. Clean Solar Panels with Distilled Water or De-ionized waters
If you do not want to leave back particles or particles on the surfaces of your solar panel glass, you need to know that the type of water that you use for your cleaning process can make a huge difference. For instance, if you are using water that has high mineral content instead of water that has been distilled, you will need aid or alternative to soften the water before it is used for cleaning. Many of the professionals and experts in the solar panel industry highly recommend using a host attachment to filter out the water to make the water softer.
4. Clean Solar Panels Using this 3 step Cleaning Process
When you are preparing to clean your solar panels, you may want to follow these 3 steps.
1. Select the Coolest Time of the Day
If are thinking about cleaning your solar panels, you need to make sure that you do wait until it is too hot outside. Instead, you should start this type of project in the coolest time of the day to get the best results and prevent unnecessary issues from happening.
2. Rinse the Panels with Your Garden Hose
Since today’s solar panels are usually clean of dirt and debris, you may be able to clean off the dirt and the soil simply by using your garden hose. Typically, most of the dirt and soil is easy to remove without any gentle household cleaning agents.
3. Clean Thoroughly
If the dirt does not come off with the use of the garden hose, you can clean the remaining debris and soil with a soft sponge and a little dawn in a clear mixture of ambient distilled water.
5. Read and Follow the Manufacturers Instructions on the Solar Panels that You Installed
Last but not least, it is very important that you read the manufacturers instructions first. The manufacturer will outline exactly what is needed to clean the solar panel products that you have invested in.
