7 reasons why solar panels need cleaning

The rain washes it all off, right? Well, no, but maintaining solar panels is crucial for their performance and durability. Discover why regular cleaning can significantly impact efficiency, warranty compliance, and return on investment.

1.⁠ ⁠Improve efficiency

Cleaning your panels will undoubtedly increase their overall efficiency. According to many statistical observations, this efficiency and performance improvement can be dramatic, with up to 21 per cent in residential arrays and up to 60 per cent in commercial installations. So, it’s the best way to ensure that your panels are prepped for maximum efficiency. Regular cleaning can make a huge difference!

2.⁠ ⁠Warranty

Many solar panel installation companies, as well as manufacturers, have specified regular cleaning as a warranty condition. You may not be covered by the warranty if there is no proof of regular cleaning. That’s why regular cleaning is recommended if you want to be on the safe side in case there is a malfunction at some point.

3.⁠ ⁠Rainwater won’t wash it

Most solar panel owners don’t clean their panels because they think rainwater will do it for them, but we’re afraid it’s not true. Similar to how you need to clean your car’s windshield more often during the rainy season, your solar panels need to be cleaned more often as well.

4.⁠ ⁠Increase durability

There are lots of grains of sand, dust particles, and debris in the environment. These will eventually build up and contribute to wear and tear if you don’t clean your solar panels regularly. While it may not be obvious at first, over time, your panels’ efficiency will decrease, and you also risk ending up having equipment that fails much sooner.

5.⁠ ⁠Aesthetic appeal

Nobody wants an aged-looking, dirt-covered panel adorning their rooftop. Similar to how important it is to clean the rest of your home, it is essential to take care of your solar panels and clean them regularly. This kind of maintenance will make your home more aesthetically appealing to both you and your visitors.

6.⁠ ⁠Inspection

When you clean your solar panels, you get an opportunity to inspect them as well. Cleaning time is a perfect time to inspect and evaluate the condition of your panels.

7.⁠ ⁠Improve return on investment

Solar panels are not cheap, you spend a significant amount of money to have them installed in your home, so you want to ensure that you get ROI (return on investment) as soon as possible. If you don’t clean your panels regularly, it can dent your ROI time. On the other hand, cleaning them improves their efficiency as more light reaches the cells, and you get improved ROI.

Contact CDS Electrical now and we’ll ensure that they are operating at their most efficient.