Solar panels are appearing on more and more rooftops these days. They’re a great way to harness the sun’s power to make our energy consumption that little bit more sustainable and importantly, to reduce those ever-increasing energy bills.
Do solar panels get dirty?
However, solar panels do need some routine maintenance in the same way that any other part of your house’s exterior does. They are susceptible to getting dirty from fallen leaves, bird droppings, insects and dust. The latter is the biggest cause of impacting a solar panel’s efficiency since it creates a film preventing the sun from getting in. Of course, rainfall will also go some way towards cleaning your solar panels, but it’s unlikely to get them sparkling clean.
Dirty solar panels are, as you would expect, less efficient than clean ones. This has an impact on the amount of energy they can generate, according to consumer experts Which If left unclean for a year, you could see a drop of up to 4.4% in energy efficiency.
It’s particularly important to have your solar panels cleaned if you live in an area which doesn’t get very much rainfall, or if you live near something which is likely to cause more buildup of grime on the solar panels, such as living near a motorway or a factory.
How do I clean them?
Fortunately, all it should take to have your solar panels looking like new again is a wash once or twice a year. If you have a ladder, this is something you can do yourself. Alternatively, there are professional solar panel cleaners in Monmouth such as https://solarpanelcleanersin.co.uk/monmouth/ who will do the job for you quickly and efficiently.
If doing the cleaning yourself, then first things first – make sure your ladders are in good working order and that you have somewhere safe to stand to reach the solar panels. Mild soap and a hose which stretches up to your roof (and a head for heights!) should be all you need to give those solar panels a good clean.
