How to Clean Solar Panels: DIY or Hire Pros?

All day, your roof is covered by your solar panels. They are continuously covered with dust, dirt, pollen and droppings of birds. In the long run, all that dirt accumulates and becomes an issue.

The thing is that dirty panels do not work as well as clean ones. They prevent the sunlight and this translates to less energy and increased electric bills. The question that most homeowners ask is whether they should clean solar panels themselves or hire someone to do it.

Dirty panels do not work as well as clean ones, which is why solar panel cleaning plays a major role in long-term energy savings. Knowing how to clean solar panels properly will ensure you invest in the proper equipment and your system does not turn to half power.

Why Cleaning Solar Panels Is Important

Dirt prevents the sunshine from striking your boards. Your panels do not produce as much energy when the sunlight is unable to pass through. 

Even a thin layer of dust on your panels reduces their efficiency. Bird droppings and pollen aggravate it. Solar panels may lose up to 15-25 per cent of their power over a period of time due to dirt. Regular maintenance helps protect your investment, especially if you’ve recently completed a solar panel installation for your home.

Reduced energy implies increasing bills. It is more costly to pay back your system. Not cleaning regularly is not only costly but also wears out your panels at an increased rate.

How Dirty Panels Hurt Your Energy

The amount of dirt matters. Light dust could lose your power by 5%. Dust accumulation or bird droppings can reduce your production by a full 20-25 percent or even more.

The place of residence matters a lot. When your panels are nearer to the construction site, active roads, and trees, they become dirtier more quickly. The dry regions are also much faster at accumulating dirt compared to the regions that receive rain regularly.

Be on the lookout for the following signs: 

• An increase in your bills occurred spontaneously.

• Your monitoring system has reduced output, or you can view the dirt on your roof. 

Don't ignore these warnings. The longer the dirt remains in the place, the more money you lose every month.

How to Clean Solar Panels Yourself

DIY solar panel cleaning doesn't need special skills, but you do need to follow the right steps.

Clean early morning or late evening. Never clean in the middle of a hot day. Cold water on hot panels cracks the glass. That's an expensive mistake.

Start with a regular garden hose with a spray nozzle. Begin at the top and rinse down, letting gravity help move the dirt off. For dirt that won't rinse away, use a soft brush or squeegee on a long pole. 

If you can reach your panels from the ground with an extension pole, that's best. If you need to get on the roof, think carefully about the risks. Roofs are dangerous when wet, and people get hurt every year from falls.

For most jobs, plain water works fine. For tougher spots, mix a tiny bit of dish soap with water. Use that sparingly, then rinse everything completely. Leftover soap creates streaks and attracts more dirt.

Tools You Need

The good news is that you do not have to use costly equipment.

Buy a garden hose with reasonable pressure. You will need a soft brush or squeegee attached to a long pole so that you can reach the ground. It is a good idea to have some microfiber cloth in case you have to wipe.

Skip the pressure washer. Excessive pressure will destroy the seals and may crack the glass. Not worth the risk.

Avoid rough things. It means no crude brushes, no scouring pads, no harsh cleaners. These scratch the window, and the scratches are irreversible. When you break the surface, your panels can never be powered again.

The most powerful cleaner to use is a dilute solution of mild dish soap and water. Plain water and soft tools are usually sufficient most of the time.

Mistakes to Avoid

Avoid these mistakes while cleaning your solar panels yourself:

• Using the wrong cleaning method can permanently damage your system, which is why understanding key factors that affect solar panel longevity is important.

• Never clean during the hottest part of the day. Cold water hitting hot glass causes cracks. Even small cracks get worse over time.

• Don't walk on your panels. They're designed to collect sunlight, not hold your weight. Walking on them causes cracks and damage that might not show up right away, but will cause problems later.

• Don't use rough scrubbing tools. Any scratches you make can't be fixed, and they cut your panels' power permanently.

• Be careful with ladders. Don't lean them against your panels because that damages the frames. If you're not comfortable on your roof, or if your roof is steep, don't push yourself. 
  

Wrapping Up…

Understanding how to clean a solar panel properly protects what you paid for. Dirty panels cost you money every month through lost energy and higher bills.

DIY cleaning works well if your roof is safe to reach and you're comfortable doing it. Just use soft tools, clean when it's cool, and skip harsh chemicals.

But if your roof is steep, high up, or feels dangerous, don't force it. Professional solar services handle it safely, and they often find problems during cleaning that save you from expensive repairs later.

Whether you do it yourself or hire pros, the important thing is making sure it gets done. Your panels work hard to save you money. Give them the care they need.