Maintaining & Cleaning Solar Panels on Your Roof

When it comes to the maintenance and cleaning of your solar panels, I hope you’re not ready to do much work, because you don’t really have to! One of the benefits of investing in solar technology is the lack of maintenance required on your part. Cleaning solar panels is a hassle free task that can be accomplished in a few easy steps.

Step 2: Turn it on

Step 3: Spray away any small debris

...see where I’m going with this?

Of course there is more that goes into the maintenance of solar panels than simply hosing them down, but not too much more on the homeowner's part.

Manufacturers recommend periodic system checks and cleanings as part of a preventive maintenance routine. These checks and cleanings include regularly clearing away any debris and cleaning the solar panel surfaces exposed to the environment, which should be performed more often if the environment is particularly dirty. And we weren’t kidding about the hose before. Usually an ordinary garden hose will be sufficient to clear away debris and clean surfaces exposed to the outside environment.

However if you do experience a larger issue, take comfort in knowing that Superior Solar doesn’t just install a system and disappear. Our service department is available 24 hours a day and 7 days a week for emergencies and can help with any issues you may be having.

Tips for Cleaning Solar Panels on Your Roof

Safety always comes first. Follow the procedure in your manual for shutting down the system before commencing cleaning. If possible, it’s always much safer to clean your panels from the ground rather than climbing on the roof. If cleaning your panels from the ground is not possible, don’t attempt to access your rooftop unless you have the appropriate safety equipment and training.

The best time to clean would be either in the morning, in the evening or on an overcast day. Try to avoid cleaning when the sun is beating down directly on to the panel. In direct sunlight, water used to clean can quickly evaporate and dirt will become smeared.

Don’t use metal or abrasive objects to remove built up materials. By doing so, you are taking on the risk of scratching the panel. A scratch on the panel will cast a shadow which may affect its performance.

It’s not necessary to clean your panels very frequently unless the environment is particularly dirty. They are designed to last for long periods of time with minimal maintenance. If you believe that your solar energy panels are not performing to their full potential, there are a variety of features available with Superior Solar energy systems that you can use. The most popular is a wireless in-home monitoring system. This allows you to track the output of your system and see how much electricity your system is producing at any time.