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Key points
Out on the roof, your solar panels can accumulate layers of:
These stop daylight from getting through to the panels, which makes them less efficient.
However, there is debate over whether cleaning is necessary. Some people recommend yearly cleaning, while others say it’s only needed if:
Unfortunately, letting the rain do the job might not work. Rainfall can actually worsen the situation by washing dust into the corners of the panels. This causes them to heat up, which again lessens their efficiency.
It’s certainly more cost-effective to clean your panels yourself. There are, however, important aspects to consider regarding:
We always recommend that you check with the manufacturer before attempting to clean solar panels yourself. If you still intend to go ahead with the cleaning, here are some tips:
Be safe |
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Use equipment that’s fit for purpose |
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Avoid hard water |
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Check the weather |
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If you’d rather employ someone to do the work for you—whether it’s a solar panel cleaning company or your everyday window-cleaner—always make sure they have the necessary experience and can demonstrate that they’ll do a professional job.
Any company or tradesperson worth their salt will:
Aside from cleaning your solar panels once a year, there isn’t much more you need to do. Solar panels don’t contain any moving parts and won’t rust or break down, so require little in the way of maintenance.
In the unlikely event that something does go wrong, contact the installer. They can give advice over the phone and will come out if necessary. The most common issues can be resolved simply by resetting the inverter.
The installer might charge for the call-out if your panels are no longer under the installer’s workmanship warranty (typically 12 months).
Scientific study on why dirty solar panels are less efficient
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