Cleaning Solar Hot Water Panels

Optimally time the cleaning of the solar panels.

Cleaning solar hot water panels.

Be sure to check your panel manufacturer instructions for shutting down the system before cleaning if necessary. A study done in the united states in tucson arizona found that cleaning solar panels only improved their output by around 1. Mine are by the sea and get a salt crust on them fairly rapidly so need bi monthly cleaning. Usually a good hosing off will do most of the job but you can also use a soft cloth or a soft bristled brush or broom and some warm soapy water or glass cleaning agent if they are particularly dirty.

These are fantastic since they make it easy to reach the panels from the ground. It is not particularly complicated. If your panels are readily accessible you can clean them yourself. The most effective way to clean your solar panels is with a hose and a bucket of soapy water.

Essentially in the same manner you would wash your car at home. Cleaning in addition to what is done naturally by rain will boost panel output since on average they will have even less dirt on them but it doesn t help much. There are special washing brooms to buy with telescopic handles. Gather some distilled water and mix it with a little dish.

Clean your solar panels on an overcast day early in the morning or in the evening. Solar panel wash modifies the surface tension of the water so instead of water beading up it will form a continuous film across the solar panels to lift dirt and debris. Start early in the morning. Because you don t want to scratch the panels in any way it s best to use just water and a non abrasive sponge to apply soapy water.

Disconnect your pv array from the inverter by pushing the rapid shutdown button or pulling down the dc disconnect switch. How to clean solar panels with water and a soft broom a soft household broom is great to use to gently scrub away persistent bird droppings from the solar panels. Draindown or drainback systems typically use a controller to drain the collector loop automatically. Gathering all of these tips let s take a look at a review of the steps you need to follow.

If the sun is beating down on the panels any water used can quickly evaporate and dirt will become smeared. I have always used clean tap water and a scrubby squeegee thing on a threaded broom handle. Brushing any loose dirt off before spraying them with water will make the squeegeeing process quicker and easier. Cole said solar panel wash is especially helpful in arid locations where dust is high and water is scarce because the wash allows for less water to be used in cleaning.