You have your new solar panel or you are thinking about getting one but what kind of performance lifetime can you get out of it? Solar panel cleaning and maintenance will go a long way in determining if you will get the full lifetime use or even more than its expected lifetime out of your panel.

Most panels are advertised to be capable of 25 years of use which is a pretty impressive lifetime. Here are some easy tips that will ensure you can maximize your investment in your equipment.
Common Causes Of Solar Panel Underperformance
With light being the most important element in the running of a panel; It is critical to ensure that your panel is in perfect position to receive maximum light. with that said anything which blocks light from reach the solar cells within the panel will be a major drag on performance. The most common causes of stopping light are:
Dirt
Dust is everywhere in our environment and all it takes is a little wind to get those tiny particles airborne. This slowly build up on your panel over time and decreases light reaching the cells
Animal Droppings
Without getting too much into the messy details; we all see what pigeons do to statues… Animals don’t care where they do their business and your panel may become victim.
Vegetation
It is not wise to place your panels near vegetation which could potentially prevent light from reaching your solar panel; however nature doesn’t take a day off and trees can grow pretty quickly and branches overshadow your panel. Leaves can also be easily blown onto your system especially in fall months.
Salt Build Up
If you live on or close to coastal areas and have solar panels installed there is 1 drawback to chilling on the beach. Ocean mist from sea waves can settle on your panel and form salt crystals as the water evaporates. It may seem harmless but these salt crystals will affect the wavelength (don’t worry too much about the nerdy stuff ) of the light reaching the cells and decrease performance.
Industrial Residue
Very similar to the dirt problem; if you live near a factory or industrial zone, soot and other emissions can settle on your panel and slow them down.
The second source of under performance comes from electrical connections becoming damaged over time.
Take Action

Don’t wait till your panel starts showing signs of slowing down to clean or run maintenance on it. What you can do:
Set A Maintenance/Cleaning Schedule.
We often have busy schedules but in most instances, a simple brushing with a very soft brush or cloth will do wonders to keeping the solar panel in tip-top shape. Brushing works best for those who are most affected by dirt, vegetation, industrial residue. A good start is to check your panels every 3 months and clean accordingly. Those affected by the salt can use fresh water to wash their panels.
Hire A Professional Service.
If your panels were installed by a solar company; they more than likely will have maintenance and cleaning services available.
Do-it-yourselfers who installed their own panels can also seek consultation and use these services to maintain their panels. In addition, you can watch the pros and if what they are doing to clean the panel is not of a highly technical nature you could pick up the slack at some point to save a few dollars.
Tools Needed

Simple window cleaning equipment is usually enough to clean solar panels. The outer casing is of the solar panels are made of glass and a bucket+ window wiper with some soap assembly is all that is needed.
In the end solar panels are pretty durable and low maintenance pieces of equipment but will benefit tremendously from us just taking a few minutes every now and then to make sure they are not being deprived of light by various kinds of debris and that all the electrical connections are not damaged.
Have your own experience cleaning solar panels or enjoyed this post? Please consider sharing it
Related
Check Out What Others Are Reading:
👉 Equipment User Guide
- All You Need To Know About Solar Cars: The Future Of Solar Battery Market And The Automobile Industry 2022
- A Review Of The Solar Generator From Solutions From Science: Energy Saviour In Case Of Emergency 2022
- Everything You Need To Know Before Installing Solar Powered Air Conditioning 2022: Harness Sun Power To Keep Cool In Summer
👉 Solar Panels
- Top Solar Panel Manufacturers 2022
- 4 Ways To Get Inexpensive Solar Panels 2022: Get New Home Solar Power Source For The Best Price Possible
- The Truth About Solar Panels – Are They Worth It: Energy Output And Cost Analysis 2022
👉 Solar Heaters
- Top Energy Efficient Solar Water Heaters Reviewed: Approved Manufacturers For Your Home 2022
- How To Buy A Solar Water Heater? Everything You Need To Know And Consider Before Your Selection And Purchase 2022
- How Residential Solar Hot Water Heaters Work? The Equipment And Set Up You Will Need For Effective Use 2022
👉 Solar Powered Gadgets And Equipment
- Solar-Powered Garage Doors: Advances In Solar Cell Technology That Transformed The Way We Use Solar Power 2022
- Take These 4 Baby Steps To Go Solar 2022: Transform Your Living With These Gadgets And Equipment
- Solar Gadgets For Home: 6 Essential Products For Every Middle-Class Family (2022)
👉 Solar Power Efficiency And Budget Plans
- Free Solar DIY Experiment Kit For Kids – Develop STEM Concepts With Renewable Energy Sources Early
- How To Brighten Your Landscape With Solar Powered Decor – Follow These Steps For The Easiest Outdoor Revamp 2022
- Guide To Starter Kits For Solar Power Home Use 2022: Road To Energy Self-sufficiency
- Why Solar Hot Water Heater? Top Tips On Saving Money On Heating And Efficient Use Of Energy 2022
- The Parade Of The Bulbs: Incandescent, CFL, LED And The First Light Bulb Recycling Machine
- Looking For Solar Panels At A Low Price? Benefits Of Quality Second Hand Solar Panels For Home Use And Points You Should Consider 2022
- How To Eliminate 100% Of Your Water Heating Costs By Using Solar? Save Money And Reduce Water Consumption 2022
- Why More People Should Get Involved In Recycling Bulbs: Benefits More Than Just Protecting The Environment By Reducing Toxins 2022
- Should Solar Power Be The National Home Heating Standard Method? – Solar Energy’s Rapid Rise To Popularity 2022
👉 Sustainability And Climate Efforts
- How Solar Energy & Going Green Can Charge Up Your Life: Start Making A Positive Impact Now 2022
- Want To Make An Impact On The Environment But Don’t Have The Means To? Try Saving The Environment By Exercising 2022: Things You Can Do To Go Green
- How To Make Your Own Solar Power For The Home To Save Money And Protect The Planet: Benefits Of Installing Solar Panels Of Your Own 2022
👉 Product Reviews
- Basic Theory Of Water Heating For Pool By Solar Energy: The Lesson About Heat You Didn’t Know You Needed 2022
- Do Solar Powered Attic Fans Really Work? Top 3 Fan Model Reviewed 2022
- Kyocera MyGen Solar Product Review: Solar System Packages Rediscovered 2022
👉 Solar Power DIY Kits
- How To Build A Solar Power Unit For Home? Step-By-Step Guide To Build Your Own With Ease 2022
- Solar Heating For Swimming Pools (DIY 2022)
- Reasons Why You Should DIY Solar Power For Home Use 2022: Unlimited Potential And Environmental-Friendly
👉 Certifications For Solar Power
- Free Solar DIY Experiment Kit For Kids – Develop STEM Concepts With Renewable Energy Sources Early
- How To Brighten Your Landscape With Solar Powered Decor – Follow These Steps For The Easiest Outdoor Revamp 2022
- Guide To Starter Kits For Solar Power Home Use 2022: Road To Energy Self-sufficiency
- Why Solar Hot Water Heater? Top Tips On Saving Money On Heating And Efficient Use Of Energy 2022
- The Parade Of The Bulbs: Incandescent, CFL, LED And The First Light Bulb Recycling Machine
- Looking For Solar Panels At A Low Price? Benefits Of Quality Second Hand Solar Panels For Home Use And Points You Should Consider 2022
- Solar Heating For Swimming Pools (DIY 2022)
- Solar Power For Homes: All The Benefits And Cost Of Converting To Solar Power At Home 2022
- Will Solar Energy Pay Off? Benefits Of Why You Should Install Home Solar Energy Systems 2022: Green Renewable Energy
Leave a Reply