Solar panels are the way of the future. Producing clean, renewable energy that halts the emission of greenhouse gases, solar panels save users money on utility bills while ensuring they have power rain or shine. The advantages are endless. Check out this article to learn about more advantages of energy efficiency in your home. 

As a homeowner, however, it creates one additional asset on your home that you need to keep clean. That’s right! Solar panels need to be cleaned. By cleaning them, you ensure that they produce the maximum amount of solar energy possible, as well as establish their durability after bouts of bad weather or wear and tear over time. 

There are a few chief things to consider. This can be a potentially dangerous task. Depending on the angle of your roof and how many solar panels you have, the roof can become slick with water once you begin cleaning. If you deem the job too dangerous, solar paneling cleaning companies can help.

Read on for instructions on how to clean solar panels. 

Gather Supplies and Turn off Solar Panels

Before you start, there are a few things you’ll need to do first. Make sure you’ve turned off your solar panels before you begin. If you are unsure how to turn off your equipment, consult your manufacturer’s guidelines or the step-by-step guide your contractor left you. Next, you’ll need a few supplies to get the job done. 

• Bristle brush
• Ladder
• Garden hose
• Bucket
• Squeegee

The following are optional tools you can use to make the job easier for yourself and more effective:

• Water fed pole brush
• Solar glass cleaner
• Garden sprayer
• Dish soap/vinegar

Now that you’ve got your supplies, don’t climb up the ladder yet. Make sure you have appropriate footwear and protective gear like a hard hat. Though cleaning your solar panels won’t take long, you’ll want to be properly prepared for the job.

Cleaning the Solar Panels

Once you’ve gathered all the equipment you need, it’s time to get to work. This project should only take about a half-hour, depending on how many solar panels you have. 

Turn on the Garden Hose 

Start by using your garden hose to spray down the solar panels. This will break up any debris, leaves, and dirt that has built up over time. Mother nature washes these things away on rainy days, but if you live in a climate where rain isn’t regularly occurring, this step is crucial. Plus, even rain doesn’t get rid of it all. 

Get Scrubbing

After removing the dirt and grime from the solar panels, grab your bristle brush and begin to scrub away the remaining debris. Make sure not to scrub too harshly so as not to damage your solar panels. Depending on the brush you bought will determine how long this task takes you. By getting a brush with a longer handle or a water fed pole brush, you can cut down the time and ramp up the efficiency of the task. Some panels can be difficult to reach, so you want to make sure you buy the appropriate brush for the size of the task. 

If you decided to spend the extra dime on dish soap or, better yet, solar glass cleaner, you can now apply it to the panels. There is no need to spray down the solar panels after using your brush because next, you will use your garden hose one last time to rinse off the suds of the dish soap or glass cleaner. If you decided to simply use the garden hose and brush method, you can skip this step. 

Wipe It Down

Last but not least, use your squeegee to make your solar panels gleam. It may seem a pointless step to squeegee away the water on a hot sunny day, but this guarantees your work pays off. Once the water dries, you may find problem areas that didn’t get clean during the previous steps. Carefully squeegee so as not to scratch the panels. 

Job’s Done

You can now cross this off your to-do list. Luckily, this task doesn’t need to be completed often. It’s recommended that you clean your solar panels about every six months, but be mindful of where you live. If your area is prone to drier climates with dust blowing often, this project may need to be completed more frequently. 

Concierge for Your Solar Panels

Concierge Home Remodeling can make sure your home is up to snuff with any home remodeling projects you have. Whether it’s home additions, bathroom remodeling, or solar panel installation, Concierge has you covered. You can contact our professionals at (213) 254-8848 or get a free estimate for your next big project.