Solar Panel Cleaning
Support Clean solar panel cleaning service involves cleaning the surface of solar panels to remove dirt, debris, and other contaminants that can reduce their efficiency and performance. Dirty solar panels can lower the amount of energy they generate and reduce their overall lifespan, but a professional cleaning service can restore them to optimal performance.
Why clean solar panels?
Solar panels are susceptible to the same issues as many other building materials, including algae and lichen growth, airborne dust and bird droppings to name a few. Over time, dirty residues will build up on solar panels, shading the solar panels where the residue has accumulated.
As a result, the sunlight will not be able to reach the cells in those areas, leading to much lower overall efficiency. This means that the solar panels will not continue to provide good value for money – such that the customer will have to be more dependent on other means of electricity provision. Ultimately, the cost to the customer will be greater in the long run if solar panels are not maintained by appropriate cleaning when needed.
Furthermore, Since the lifespan of the solar panel is affected by how well it is maintained, many manufacturers require the solar panels to be cleaned 6-12 monthly as part of the warranty agreement. It is important to check warranty requirements when considering solar panel cleaning.
Why clean solar panels?
At Support Clean we are able to restore solar panels to their original condition through professional cleaning. All of our cleaning processes are carried out under strict Health and Safety regulations. In order to effectively clean roof-mounted solar panels, we employ our Spider-Lifter which provides high level access up to 20m with a 9.5m outreach. As a result, we are able to clean solar panels on both 2 and 3-storey buildings and higher.
Our professional and experienced team understand that solar panel cleaning requires a specialist approach due to the nature of the surface being treated. At Support Clean we use only purified water to clean solar panels, through water-fed poles, known as a reach-pole system. At the end of each pole is a specialist soft brush, specifically designed for solar panel cleaning. Using only purified water means that the minerals have been removed from the water using reverse osmosis and deionisation.
Water that has not been purified will leave behind mineral deposit marks on the solar panels, particularly in hard water areas. Cleaning with untreated water marks can actually attract dirt onto the solar panel as well as affording an inefficient cleaning process.
Furthermore, most manufacturers explicitly state that the use of chemicals or detergents to clean solar panels should be avoided. However, they do advise regular solar panel cleaning using purified water every 6-12 months. Many manufacturers also state that regular solar panel cleaning will preserve their limited warranty and help to maintain the optimum output performance of the solar panels.
