Solar Panel (and window) Maintenance
A word about solar panel cleaning:
At Allbright Solar Panel Cleaning, we use Deionized Water (DI water) and High Tech Carbon Fiber Poles to clean solar panels. The glass on your solar panels is porous, and over time, lime, calcium, dirt and a variety of pollutants will work their way into these pours, diminishing the efficiency of your panels. The DI water we use pulls the debris from these pours in the glass, whereas water from your garden hose will be ineffective or exacerbate the problem by building up a tough layer of lime and calcium on the glass, reducing the quality and effectiveness of your solar panels. This is true of all solar panels, even including EVA (ethylene-vinyl acetate) film bonded panels.
In addition to DI water, we also use the most modern, high tech carbon fiber poles. These poles, specially designed to clean solar panels, are very light and strong, which reduces the chance of breaking a solar panel to zero; that cannot be said of any other pole on the market.
Some marketing for solar panels may claim that panels need no maintenance, but the long-term viability of the panel depends on regular maintenance. If you want them to last and work at maximum efficiency, they should be cleaned a minimum of once a year. We here at Allbright Solar Panel Cleaning are experts in the growing field of solar panel maintenance and have been doing it for many years. Below you will find some general tips on how to keep your Solar Panels - as well as your home’s windows - in top shape.
If you would like a free solar panel cleaning/maintenance estimate, give Allbright Solar Panel Cleaning a call (951-369-3206) and we will see what we can do to help you protect your wise investment into solar energy.
Below you well find a few tips on keeping your windows and panels in good condition:
Avoid getting garden hose, or any tap water on your windows or panels. Sometimes people try to clean windows or panels by spraying them down with a garden hose, this is one of the most damaging things you can do. Tap water is full of TDS (Total Dissolved Solids); mostly lime, calcium, and iron. This is what causes water damage (that white, spotty build-up of film that is so difficult, if not impossible to remove) to windows and solar panels.
If you do get water on your windows, wipe the water off before it dries if possible.
If sprinklers are hitting your windows, adjust them or have them fixed. This is a sure way to ruin glass.
If you have a swimming pool, never let the chlorinated water get on windows or solar panels. Chlorine is basically bleach, it will damage windows and panels beyond repair.
Have your solar panels pest/bird proofed. It is illegal to harm or remove any native or migratory bird species that nest or roost on or under solar panels, and having these birds removed by a licensed exterminator is costly. Birds are damaging to roofs and solar panels, once they nest, it can be very problematic.
Keep screens in good repair. They protect your windows.
Never use steel wool, green scratch pads, or razor blades on windows or solar panels, as this will scratch and damage them.
Clean solar panels and windows a minimum of once a year to insure longevity and maximum efficiency. Even if the glass on your panels are ethylene vinyl acetate coated (also known as EVA coated), they still should be cleaned a minimum of once a year to prevent long term damage from weather.