Washing Solar Panels

Solar Panels have become an attractive green energy option for many businesses and home owners.  Over the last decade, there has been a significant increase in their installation and use.  This does leave one important maintenance item required for Solar Panels.  They need to be routinely washed and cleaned to maintain their efficiency.  Without routine solar panel cleaning, you may not see the promised reduction of your electricity bills or your consumption.  But besides the cost savings, there are other areas which benefit from the cleaning of your Solar Panels.

Warranty

Your Solar Panel warranty, provided by the manufacturer or installation company, will have a clause in it regarding damage.  If the Solar Panels become damaged, you may have an issue claiming that regular maintenance was not carried out to avoid it.  Having your Solar Panels professionally cleaned can provide the proof required that the routine washing of the panels has been carried out and this can help you avoid having to pay for repairs or replacement yourself.

Lifespan of Solar Panel

Our current environment can really throw a lot of seasonal debris, dirt, and dust at our windows and Solar Panels.  This collects overtime and can cause wear and tear of the surfaces.  It is really important to keep these surfaces clean and avoid build up of grime.  If you do not keep routine maintenance up, you may see a quicker deterioration of the Solar Panels and a reduction of their lifespan.

Environmental Conditions

​Solar Panels and windows are exposed daily to the weather of our environment.  But they are also exposed to other conditions, such as bird droppings and smog.  All of these elements are not easily washed away with our rain fall naturally.  They are left behind on the surfaces and will need to be washed professionally to have them removed.  Also, if the season has been particularly dry, dust and dirt will accumulate much more on these surfaces.  And again, reduce the energy efficiency.

Energy Efficiency

The basic concept of Solar Panels is to harness the energy of the sun.  For obvious reasons, you would place the panels in an area that has the most exposure to the sun and avoid areas where they are not exposed as consistently.  Don’t forget that, while the placement of the Solar Panels is important, so is the cleaning of the surface.  Build up of dirt and debris will block the sun’s energy and can impact your energy savings as a home owner, as well as a business owner.  And depending on how much energy is consumed, this can be significant.  Keeping the panels cleaned will help minimize your energy costs.

Inspection

When you are routinely having your Solar Panels washed, you have better opportunity to identify any damage early.  Wear and tear on the panels will be much easier to identify when they are clean.  This can help you do pre-emptive maintenance to avoid larger issues down the line, as time goes on.

Return on Investment

With any investment, you will want to ensure you are getting a positive return on it.  All items that are costly, such as Solar Panels, come with hope of a good return on the initial investment.  But will all things, the care we put into maintaining them is a significant factor in the return.  You wouldn’t purchase an expensive car or house and not clean it.  It stands to reason that cleaning your Solar Panels will help you with your return on investment.

Curb Appeal

​Just like regular window cleaning, keeping your solar panels clean adds to your curb appeal and overall aesthetics of your building.  This applies to home owners, but more importantly to business owners.  Keeping the exterior of your building clean sends a strong signal to your clients and customers that you are detail focused and take pride in your business’ overall appearance to the public.  They are more likely to view your business positively.

If you have not set up a cleaning schedule for your Solar Panels and your exterior windows or siding, you may want to discuss this with a professional window cleaning service.  They can recommend how often you should be booking in a service, depending on your location and the weather patterns normally experienced.  They can offer you a quote on their maintenance packages that will make sure your full exterior, including Solar Panels, are kept clean and spotless.  Contact Capt Clean for solar and window cleaning in Edmonton.

Want to learn more from the pros?  Check out this other window cleaning article.