How to Properly Clean and Maintain Your Solar Panels

If you already have solar panels on your roof, you may wonder if they are OK up there without checking on them regularly. You may consider if they have become dirty over time and how that might affect their efficacy. Cleaning solar panels is easy, and you won’t even need to get on your roof to do it most of the time. We’ll go over how to properly clean and maintain your solar panels so that you don’t have to worry about them.

Do You Need To Clean Your Solar Panels?

Some people may ask if they need to clean their solar panels, and this is a valid question as it’s not always necessary. There are a few factors that could affect the answer. For example, your panels could accumulate more debris and need a cleaning more often, depending on where you live. Here are some of the things to consider when deciding if you need to clean your solar panels:

• If your panels lie flat (between a zero and five-degree angle), it’s more likely that things will settle on top of them.
• Heavy rainfall can clean a lot off your panels, but drier areas can allow for more buildup.
• High pollen count seasons can leave a residue behind on your panels.
• Living downwind from somewhere like an airport or major highway can cause more dust to settle on your panels.

Steps for Manual Cleaning of Panels

If you do need to know how to properly clean and maintain your solar panels, we can help you. Thankfully, the process is simple but remember to exercise extreme caution if you need to get on your roof.

Rinse Thoroughly

For most solar panel owners, you only need to give your panels a thorough rinsing whenever too much dust or debris builds on them. Depending on the setup and angle of your roof and panels, you can rinse them off with your hose from the ground. We recommend this option whenever possible as it eliminates the danger of climbing onto your roof.

Wash Gently

If some spots need serious cleaning, you can wipe them away with a soft brush or scrubber and a soap and water mixture. You don’t need to use a lot of soap; in fact, it’s best to use as little as possible. Carefully touch the sides of the panels and any wires around them when cleaning.

Remove All Soap and Dry

After washing the panels, make sure you rinse them thoroughly to get all the soap off. Leaving soap behind can create areas for more dirt and dust to settle. A good squeegee drying is all you need to finish them off.

Looking for solar panel companies in Albuquerque? NM Solar Group can get you set up with panels so you can reap the benefits as soon as possible.