How to Keep your Panels Clean

This is an important and overlooked aspect of owning your own solar panels, which is why we decided to put together this updated 2018 guide to cleaning and maintenance.  As a general rule, you should perform a few simple cleaning tasks and performance checks a couple times per year. Only do this if you own your solar panel system. If you lease your solar panels from a third-party, all maintenance and repairs are the solar company’s responsibility, not yours.

Panels Built to Stay Clean

Since there are no moving parts in solar panels, the rain should naturally clean the panels enough. If you live in an area that doesn’t receive a lot of rain, or it becomes dusty in the dryer months you may need to brush off debris and dirt a few times a year to avoid a dip in production.

If you neglect your system and it gets covered in dirt, it can definitely degrade performance as much as 20 percent. Water vapor and droplets let sunlight through. Dirt is just a bunch of really little rocks and sand. If enough dirt covers your panels, the sun can’t get through as well. Other than dust storms, you shouldn’t be worried about different weather scenarios when it comes to keeping your panels working in great shape. If you are concerned about the effect of snow or other weather conditions on your panels see the article about how solar panels are durable and take what nature throws at them. If you live in an area that has frequent dust storms, you are probably checking the panels after storms anyway, so just keep it up.

If you have neglected cleaning your solar panels for quite a while, you may want to clean the glass surface with a damp sponge or cloth. Solar panels are waterproof, so water or mild detergent can safely be used whenever necessary. Try to avoid strong solvents or abrasive detergents as they may damage the panels and void your warranty. If your panels are mounted in a place that is difficult to access, it may be better to hire a professional cleaning service. Ask your solar installer to recommend someone local to help you. They are in most areas, and if not, your installer will most likely be able to clean and perform maintenance on the solar system.

Cleaning Inverters and Wiring

If you use a string inverter then it is a lot easier to check and make sure it is working properly. If you have a solar system where the panels are not all connected on a string, it can be more difficult to check and maintain microinverters that are mounted below each solar panel. Wiring should also be checked for any corrosion, cracking, or breaking. If any evidence of deterioration is found, the installer of the system should be contacted immediately. Installers are trained to handle these problems, and anything that converts electricity from DC to AC current should always be left to professionals. The last thing you want to do is electrocute yourself or damage your solar system. 

The bottom line is a clean solar system performs better. Basic upkeep of a solar system will keep you on top of any problems. We do not suggest fixing any of it yourself, but if you do see something wrong or weird during inspections, then please call the installation company that built the system. Remember that regular preventative checks can help you address any issues with your solar panel system before they become real problems. Solar panels and surrounding system are all made to take the weather and keep working. With a little checking and maintenance, your system will keep running for years to come. For more insight, check these out.

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