How to Clean Dirty Solar Panels DIY vs. Professional?⚡NSW

Why Should You Clean Your Solar Panels?

Because solar panels rely on direct sunlight to produce its maximum power output, panels need clear and unobstructed to stay as efficient as possible.

To get the most out of your solar panels, your system should be regularly maintained and cleaned, with the removal of any bird droppings, layers of dirt, or moss that may be growing. Even with obstructions on a single cell, it can cause panel inefficiencies that may affect your whole system.

When your solar generation is reduced, your solar exports and savings are impacted which can affect your overall investment and timeframes.

How Often Should You Clean Dirty Solar Panels in Maitland?

To determine how often you should clean your solar panels, it will depend on where your property is located, as well as the surroundings around your building.

'Dirty' solar panels can come in all forms, like simple layers of dust, or a mix of tree debris like leaves and sticks. If you live in a dusty location, the wind pushes the dust onto the panels which create layers over time that negatively impact your solar generation.

If your solar system is not exposed to surrounding trees, and isn't a dusty environment, you can get away with cleaning your solar panels once every 6-months to yearly.

In contrast, if your property is vulnerable to dust and tree debris exposure, you may need to clean and maintain your panels more often depending on the amount.

On average, it's good to at least visually inspect your solar panels every 6-months, and clean according to whether they look dirty or not.

What Tools are Required for Cleaning Solar Panels?

To get started in cleaning dirty solar panels yourself, you'll need:

- a soft sponge or brush that doesn't scratch the glass (this could be an old broom or car wash sponge)
- a hose /nozzle adjuster to rinse the dirty water off, or soap when doing a deep clean.
- a soap solution that is water based to avoid harsh chemicals (optional)
- a ladder to access the roof

By combining a soft sponge or bristled brush with a water-based soap solution (which is optional), you avoid damaging protective layers and the glass to ensure your system stays operational. Water-based solutions also reduce the risk of damaging waterproofing and seals to confirm your panels are long-lasting.

To avoid needed to get on the roof, single-storey homes and use a hose nozzle to adjust the stream and reach the panels from the ground. This is actually the recommended way.

DIY vs. Professional Solar Cleaning: When to hire an Expert?

Most home solar panels will remain relatively clean with occasional rainfall which will rinse any dirt. If your system is very dirty with various obstructions and layers of dirt, then hiring a professional may be the choice for you.

By hiring a professional solar cleaner, they can reach every surface of each panel using specialised gear that is designed to deep clean solar systems.

For double-storey homes, hiring a professional is a must as the risk is far too great. Professionals will have harnesses and safety gear, designed to ensure they're as safe as possible whilst your solar system is being cleaned.

Overall, it is recommended that a professional be used for most solar cleans, with the exclusion of single-storey homes that a hose stream can reach.

How do I know if I cleaned my Solar Panels properly?

In addition to visually checking the panel condition once the clean has been completed, you can also check your solar app and see the production level differences in your solar generation.

A dirty system will produce less, so by visualising your generation, you can see how much you've improved your production.

What NOT to do when Cleaning your Panels

When attempting to clean solar panels yourself, there are a few things to avoid ensuring minimal risk of injury and damage the solar panels. We recommend hiring a professional solar cleaner to maintain your panels if they are not easily accessible from the ground.

No Harsh Soaps

Avoid using harsh detergents that consist of strong chemicals that may result in corrosion of panels, resulting in damage.

Use either cleaner that is designed for solar panels, or a water-based cleaner soap and rinse with water.

Avoid Close Pressure Washing

Only use a pressure washer when spraying from a distance. Spraying closely will result in damage to the panel waterproofing and potentially negatively impact its production.

Avoid Scratching

Don't use harsh brushes or anything with ‘teeth’ (brooms with hard bristles, anything that is not soft etc.).

You may scratch the surface of the panels, lowering its efficiency, defeating the whole purpose of cleaning your panels in the first place.

Cleaning at Heights

We do not recommend attempting to clean your solar panels from the roof or any high places, as it is unsafe and could cause serious injury, and in some cases, death.

Contact expert solar panel cleaners today.

Reduce Surrounding Clutter

Maintain a well-ventilated area around the battery to ensure the energy storage system remains cool and can combat the harsh Australian heat on those summer days.

This also applies to your solar inverter, which also needs ventilation to keep cool whilst converting your energy

Monitoring Analytics

Your battery installer should setup a monitoring dashboard where you can analyse your battery's health. Here you can also update the firmware which may eliminate issues with your system.

Periodical Checks

An easy way to maintain your battery is to simply have a look over it. You don’t need to be a technician to see if the battery and wiring has any signs of wear or malfunction. With the combination of your batteries statistics analysis, and physical check-ups you will know if there is anything wrong.