Clean Your Solar Panels With These 2 Tips
Posted on: 9 March 2015
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For your solar panels to work most efficiently, it is important that they are clean. Dust, debris, snow and other things that gather on top of your panels will make it more difficult for them to produce energy. However, you can boost production of energy if you take care to clean your panels when necessary. Here are two tips that will help you keep them clean and working their best.
Use Dish Soap, Vinegar and Water
It is vital that you don't clean solar panels with toxic materials. A gentle cleanser is the best for your panels, and you can create that with a bit of dish detergent, vinegar and water. In a bucket, put one part vinegar, two parts water and a few spoonfuls of dish detergent. This will create a solution that will wash away debris and leave your panels clean, without eating away at the panels or damaging them.
To get the cleaning solution onto your panels, remember to think of the solar panels as being similar to your car windows. Avoid using sharp objects that can scrape, scratch or ding solar panels. Only use soft materials like sponges, towels and cloths to help you wash the panels. You can use a pool skimmer with cloths on the end, so that you can easily reach and clean the panels with the cleaning solution.
Remove Snow
Snow can build up on your solar panels, which can stop them from doing their job. Many times, the snow will just melt in the sun after a snowstorm. However, if this doesn't happen, you need to take steps to remove the snow.
One way to do this is to use a garden hose to melt the snow off of the panels. However, if you do this, only do so when temperatures are above freezing, as you want to avoid creating an ice problem. Another way to get snow off of your panels is to use a roof rake, but cover the rake with a soft cloth to avoid scratching.
There are some things you should not do when trying to get snow off of your snow panels. For instance, do not use rock salt. Just as with your car windshield, avoid pouring hot water on your panels; they could crack.
Use the tips in this article to help you keep your solar panels clean and able to produce energy. Talk to a solar panel contractor about more ways to keep your solar panels clear. (For more information, contact Sunshine Solutions)