Maintenance and Cleaning Tips for your Solar Panels

Having solar panels is a considerable investment.  As an investor, it is necessary to maintain and prolong the life of your solar panels to ensure the maximization of long-term benefits. Below are some tips for their maintenance and cleaning. 
Maintenance Tips:

• Keep your solar panels out of the shade. Energy production becomes ineffective when they cannot absorb sunlight. 
• Pay attention to your panels and ensure that the inverters have a blinking green light. Once you notice they are no longer flashing, your electricity use is no longer being compensated.
• Have documentation of the panel’s day-by-day performance. It is recommended to take note of the energy they produce on a daily basis,  particularly on cloudy days. You may note some inconsistencies. 
• Monitor the system—monitoring the system will help you to see the environmental benefit. Also, this can show you the feed-in tariff plan and the benefits that you can derive from it. 
• If you don’t have any spare time for solar panel cleaning, you can also install the automated cleaners, which work like a sprinkler system. You can also contact a solar panel cleaning service and schedule an appointment. 

Cleaning Tips:

• Use solar panel cleaning set. This kit includes a wiper, brushes and biodegradable soap. Take note that you can actually use plain water to remove stains that are already built up on the solar panels. 
• An easy way to clean them is when they’re already wet and just wipe off any residue. 
• Don’t use a rough sponge on your  residential solar panels . This can leave scratches and damage your panels. The most effective and recommended material to use for cleaning is a biodegradable soap and a soft rag. 
• It is necessary to take note that cleaning solar panels using harsh materials can cause damage and lead to costly repair. 
• For safety reasons, you should use a wiper with a long handle to clean your panels while you are on the ground. 
• If you cannot avoid getting on the roof to begin cleaning, take note that the roof is slippery so you are obliged to use safety harness and ropes.

Depending on the kind of solar panels you have, cleaning might be done weekly or monthly. The solar panel manufacturer will give you information about the panel’s proper cleaning. Cleaning solar panels is just like cleaning your window which is not too time-consuming. Neglecting to clean your panels may result in inefficient energy production. If you have any questions about cleaning your panels, give your solar panel installation company a call.