| The topic of cleaning home solar panels could find | | | | pride in hiring a professional window washer if |
| people at opposite ends of the spectrum. Some | | | | your array is mounted in a precarious location. |
| folks are scrubbing fanatics and others cannot | | | | And if you alternate the rinsing with a wash, the |
| bear the thought. Thankfully, there is a happy | | | | rinsing will be more effective. There are instances |
| medium. The needs are few, yet critical to the | | | | of meters running forwards before a good |
| performance and longevity of a photovoltaic (PV) | | | | cleaning, and running backwards once the panels |
| array. | | | | have been thoroughly cleaned. |
| Whether your home solar panels are roof | | | | As the market for home solar panels grow, so |
| mounted, pole mounted, or ground mounted, they | | | | does the service industry. You can find special |
| will be set at an angle. This naturally is an invitation | | | | cleaning solutions and companies that offer |
| to the accumulation of dirt, dust, and atmospheric | | | | cleaning services. Also available are cleaning |
| pollutants, as well as leaves, branches, saps, bird | | | | systems in which spray heads, connected to a |
| droppings, and any blowing debris. Manufacturers | | | | hose bib, a detergent dispenser, and placed on a |
| recommend rinsing the panels up to four times a | | | | timer, wash and rinse the array as often as |
| year, preferably in the early hours to avoid a | | | | every three to four days. If you do opt to use a |
| great temperature fluctuation. | | | | solution or dish washing liquid, the panel needs to |
| With a hose and nozzle, you can improve the | | | | be cooled down so that a haze and film does not |
| efficiency of your unit up to 20% with this regular | | | | develop from the soap baking onto the surface. |
| attention. At the same time, the frame and | | | | The anodized aluminum from which solar panel |
| mounts will benefit from a quick spray. By | | | | frames are constructed is less tolerant of cleaning |
| incorporating this simple step into your regular | | | | solutions than the panels themselves. Using a |
| yard chores, it becomes habitual. | | | | detergent at high temperatures or for any length |
| Considering that a home solar system can last 25 | | | | of time without rinsing, could start to etch the |
| years or more with minimal repairs, adding one | | | | metal. A mild soap is recommended. The rewards |
| more item to your Fall and Spring clean up is well | | | | of regular cleaning will be measurable. |
| worth the effort. However, there is no loss of | | | | |