Solar panel system maintenance--Why should I clean the panel

One question a homeowner or business owner might wonder about when considering the installation of a solar power system centers is:

 

Do I need to maintain the solar panels?

And it drew more concerns, such as

How frequently and how much is the cost?

 

Why do panels need the maintenance?

 

Since the panels are obviously the key component in any solar power system, the maintenance of them would be critical for long-term energy production and stable efficiency.

Over time dust and debris will build up on your solar panels, which may compromise the performance of your solar panel system. 

When dust, dirt, and other debris gather on these surfaces, it interferes with the efficient absorption of sunlight by the panels.

Hence, necessary little clean for those panels could ensure that the entire surface area is capable of efficient absorption of the sun’s radiant energy, and conversion into electricity.

Just like keeping a car, regular servicing is the best way to ensure your solar panel system keeps working safely, properly and efficiently.

 

Does other component(s) in the system also need service attention?

Sometimes plenty of dust and dirt attached on the vent of the charger controller or inverter device, which may causes overheat to the inside wires due to low cooling efficiency.

Most inverter contains overheating protection that will get itself cut down when detecting extreme high working temperature, so it helps avoid the electrical fire.

But an error message on the display also not good news for keeping a reliable solar power system.

What’s more, those wiring cables may get damaged or corroded after a long time exposing outside, the current leakage risk exists under this potential issue.

 

 

How often should I take care of those parts?

Occasionally, rain will do the solar panel clean job for you, so solar panel does not require a frequent manual maintenance.

Unless you live in some areas of dry climates, otherwise, 1 cleaning per 3 months is appropriate.

As for other components service, to avoid any electricity fault or risk, 1 time careful check in each 2 months seems practical.

 

How to do all those maintenance stuff?

 

Solar panel cleaning:

One of the easiest ways to accomplish cleaning of solar panel surfaces is to rinse them off with an ordinary garden hose.

No doubt that would be more difficult to climb the roof to rinse off the panels, but it’s well worth the effort. If there are materials which do not rinse off with an ordinary spraying, you can use a soft, spongy squeegee on a long pole to reach the dirty areas. Soapy water is fine to use on solar panels, and will not harm them in any way.

Or if you don’t have suitable tools for that, also don’t want to take any risk of climbing, you could just have a call to the local pro solar panel cleaning team. Of course, this will cost you some coins.

 

As for maintenance of components, just to make sure:

-no parts have deteriorated/corroded

-vents are free of debris

-switches do not have any defects

-wiring has not been damaged/has not deteriorated

-confirming fittings and cables are securely attached

-electrical checks to ensure all components are operating as intended

 

Some tips for solar power system maintenance

 

1.In winter, you may need to clean your panels after a heavy snowfall. If you're using water to clear the snow away, make sure it's lukewarm. You can also use a squeegee with a long handle. Just remember, never use hot water when clearing snow off the panels. The panels are made of tempered glass, and the extreme temperature disparity between hot water and cold panels can crack them.

2.If you have no time in cleaning solar panels, you can install automated cleaners that work like sprinkler systems or even schedule appointments with solar panel cleaning companies.

3.Never use an abrasive sponge or soap for your solar panel cleaning as you may scratch the glass.

4.If you must get on the roof, take proper care as once you begin cleaning, the roof becomes slippery due to the water, and you could slide off when you get down, so use safety ropes for support.

5.Keep solar panels out of shade as energy production becomes inefficient when they are kept from absorbing any sunlight.