About
Contact
951 678 7733
logologo
  • Solar Solutions
    • Residential Solar
    • Commercial Solar
    • Solar Panel Cleaning Services
  • Battery Back-Up Solutions
  • Resources
    • FAQs
    • Solar Savings Calculator
    • Solar Payment Options
    • Testimonials
    • Solar News
  • Rebates / Incentives
    • Solar Rebates
    • Solar Incentives
    • California’s Solar Incentive Program
  • About
  • Contact
Request A Quote
Request A Quote
951 678 7733
logologo
  • Solar Solutions
    • Residential Solar
    • Commercial Solar
    • Solar Panel Cleaning Services
  • Battery Back-Up Solutions
  • Resources
    • FAQs
    • Solar Savings Calculator
    • Solar Payment Options
    • Testimonials
    • Solar News
  • Rebates / Incentives
    • Solar Rebates
    • Solar Incentives
    • California’s Solar Incentive Program
  • About
  • Contact
About
Contact
951 678 7733
logologo
  • Solar Solutions
    • Residential Solar
    • Commercial Solar
    • Solar Panel Cleaning Services
  • Battery Back-Up Solutions
  • Resources
    • FAQs
    • Solar Savings Calculator
    • Solar Payment Options
    • Testimonials
    • Solar News
  • Rebates / Incentives
    • Solar Rebates
    • Solar Incentives
    • California’s Solar Incentive Program
  • About
  • Contact
Request A Quote
Request A Quote
951 678 7733
logologo
  • Solar Solutions
    • Residential Solar
    • Commercial Solar
    • Solar Panel Cleaning Services
  • Battery Back-Up Solutions
  • Resources
    • FAQs
    • Solar Savings Calculator
    • Solar Payment Options
    • Testimonials
    • Solar News
  • Rebates / Incentives
    • Solar Rebates
    • Solar Incentives
    • California’s Solar Incentive Program
  • About
  • Contact
  • Solar Solutions
    • Residential Solar
    • Commercial Solar
    • Solar Panel Cleaning Services
  • Battery Back-Up Solutions
  • Resources
    • FAQs
    • Solar Savings Calculator
    • Solar Payment Options
    • Testimonials
    • Solar News
  • Rebates / Incentives
    • Solar Rebates
    • Solar Incentives
    • California’s Solar Incentive Program
  • About
  • Contact
Featured image
by Adam Evans February 5, 2020 Maintenance 0 comments

Solar Panel Maintenance

“Is solar panel maintenance a hassle?”

SunPro Solar gets this question from homeowners regularly, and it’s understandable given that no one wants to worry about climbing up on a roof to care for their solar panels.

Solar panels work by converting sunlight into electricity, so the cleaner your panels are, the more efficiently they’ll be able to generate clean energy for your home or business.

Since SunPower’s panels are the most efficient on the market, they’ll make more energy than competing panels in a variety of low-light situations, but any panels covered with too much dirt or debris will produce less power.

In most cases, the loss of power isn’t significant — maybe 1 to 4.7 percent. But one study found that long-term dirt buildup can reduce a solar panel’s electricity production by as much as 20 percent.

How to Clean Your Solar Panels

Typically, we say to stay off your panels – they clean themselves: The good news is that seasonal rain usually washes off any dirt or animal droppings that may have accumulated. But if your area receives very little precipitation and has dusty, windy weather, you may need to occasionally clean your panels. Some homeowners are able to do this themselves or they may choose to have them professionally cleaned.

For example, in the Riverside area, where we install Sunpower solar systems, it doesn’t rain much between spring and the wintertime, making regular monthly or bi-monthly cleanings a good idea. Because the desert is dry, a lot of dust or ash (from California wildfires) can rest on the panels.

Fortunately, cleaning solar panels is easy for ground-mounted systems, or for rooftop solar systems. We recommend homeowners use a soft-bristle brush with an extended handle, like the type used to clean off an RV. And don’t forget to choose an environmentally friendly soap.

If the solar panels are hard to access, such those on a two-story home, buying a high-pressure hose nozzle with an attachment that holds soap typically does the trick. These can be found at any home maintenance store. Find a safe place to stand, spray soapy water on the panels and then quickly rinse them off.

Yes. It’s really that simple.

But for solar panel maintenance do-it-yourselfers should keep some other things in mind:

  • As a rule, stay on the ground. Never get up on your roof without a secure ladder and proper fall-protection equipment.
  • Turn off your system before starting your cleaning. Consult your SunPower® solar manual to see how you turn off your system to protect it. If you’re unsure, ask your SunPower dealer for help.
  • As a rule, avoid using hard, or mineral-rich, water. It can damage panels over time. If your area only has hard tap water, you can buy an inexpensive water-softening hose attachment to filter out minerals. Otherwise, you can use distilled or de-ionized water.
  • Use soft brushes and squeegees. Don’t use abrasive brushes, pads or powders.
  • Clean your solar panels early in the morning or in the evening when the solar panels are cool. During the heat of the day, water and soap can evaporate quickly, which risks smearing the soap and dirt.
  • When using a high-pressure water nozzle, don’t get close to the panels. While they’re extremely durable, you don’t want to damage them.

Still nervous to do it yourself? In many cities, there are businesses that specialize in solar panel cleaning, but it’s also a service that many window washing companies now offer. They typically only charge about $2-4 per panel, depending on how accessible and dirty they are. Better yet, the process is quick: 15 to 30 minutes.

Still, here are some solar panel maintenance tips:

  • Do a monthly visual inspection to look for any dust buildup. Also, you can watch your bill for any noticeable drop inefficiency. Only then should you worry about cleaning. Even then, in most cases, nature is going to clean them for you.
  • Don’t expose yourself to any risk. If you have any doubts about your ability to safely clean your panels, hire a professional.

As you can see, having solar panels is not a high-maintenance commitment at all. So give us a call at SunPro Solar today at 951-678-7733 to see just how much you could be saving by going solar.

maintenance solar panels tips
Why Do You Need An Energy Audit?Previous Post
Take Advantage of the Solar Tax CreditNext Post

Related Posts

Solar Panel Maintenance
February 5, 2020by Adam Evans0 comments

Solar Panel Maintenance

Learn More
What Is The Lifespan Of Solar Panels?
March 22, 2021by Gabe Thrasher0 comments

What Is The Lifespan Of Solar Panels?

Learn More
Do Solar Panels Need To Be Cleaned?
April 5, 2021by Gabe Thrasher0 comments

Do Solar Panels Need To Be Cleaned?

Learn More

Leave a Comment! Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Copyright © 2020 Sunpro Solar. Privacy Policy. CSLB #830451.

Business Hours

  • Monday 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
    Tuesday 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
    Wednesday 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
    Thursday 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
    Friday 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
    Saturday Closed
    Sunday Closed

Go Solar Today!

  • California’s Solar Incentive Program
  • Commercial Solar Installation Company
  • Contact
  • FAQs
  • Home
  • Privacy Policy
  • Request A Quote
  • Residential Solar Panel Installer
  • Savings Calculator
  • Savings Calculator – Thank You
  • Solar Battery Storage
  • Solar Incentives
  • Solar News
  • Solar Panel Cleaning Services
  • Solar Payment Options
  • Solar Professionals
  • Solar Rebates
  • SunPro Solar Testimonials

Head Office

  • 38340 Innovation Ct Bldg G Suite 704-706
    Murrieta, CA 92563
  • Email: info@sunpro-solar.com
  • Phone: 951 678 7733
  • Fax: 951 678 7730
  • Get Directions