Do Solar Panels Need Cleaning?

If you've installed a solar system at your housing facility, you must've known how much solar panels can save you on electricity bills. There are, however, a loss appearing in the amount of electric energy that your solar panels produce as time goes by. Why is that?

Researches show that over time, dirt, grime, debris and even leaves can build up on the solar panels if a periodical cleaning is not given. To some extent, the buildup can reduce photovoltaic panels' efficiency of energy generation. But if cleaned at regular intervals, your solar panels can work at maximum efficiency.

Why It's Necessary to Clean Solar Panels?

Most people would assume that rainwater is enough to accomplish the task of cleaning their solar panels. But actually, rain simply washes off the dirt on the surface. To fulfill a thorough cleaning, you'd better do the cleaning job yourself, alternatively, hire a professional.

Besides, cleaning the solar panels regularly is a must to ensure they can perform more efficiently. If you're still not clear about why it's so important to clean your solar panels, here comes the points.

• Boost Efficiency

Cleaning the solar panels regularly, undoubtedly, does a great job for enhancing the efficiency of power generation. Statistics indicate an astounding 21% increase of energy generation efficiency in homes and 60% in commercial buildings upon the basis of periodically cleaning solar panels. So it greatly helps to boot efficiency of the panels and make them work in optimal performance.

• Warranty

Lots of solar panel manufacturers include regular cleaning as a condition in their warranty terms. So, if you don't have any proof for regular cleaning, you won't be covered for the warranty if there are any issues with your solar panels. Another thing you should keep in mind is that if you hire a professional for cleaning service, remember to keep the receipts as proof.

• Prolong Longevity

Dust particles, sand and debris in the environment can build up on the solar panels in the long run, which can cause wear and tear to the surface, eventually declining the efficiency and shortening the lifespan. Therefore, cleaning solar panels regularly will help to improve their performance and extend their longevity.

• Improve ROI

Generally, solar panels come at a substantial price. Thus, every homeowner of course wants to see a return in the form of decreased electricity bills and increased home value. A dirty solar panel can lead to the result that you invest so much but only get little return. However, if you clean your solar panels at fixed period, you can expect great efficiency improvement of them and obvious ROI increase. In a word, you can save big on the energy bill!

• Enhance Aesthetic Appeal

Whether you have solar panels arrayed on your roof or in the yard, a sight of dirty panels is always an eyesore. Giving them a regular cleaning is sure to make the surrounding around your home look tidy and aesthetically pleasant.

Conclusion

Solar panels need to be cleaned, and requires regular cleaning. That not only makes sense for enhancing their overall performance and efficiency, but taking the quality of your everyday life to the next level.