Solar panel manufacturers base their figures on the performance of clean solar panels. At Exterior Cleaning Solutions, we know that dust, grime, and bird droppings will alter the performance of your solar panels. Our regular solar panel cleaning services will improve efficiency, increase output, and expand the panels' lifespan.
Here are the steps we take to clean the solar panels:
We examine the solar panels to see all dirt, dust, bird droppings, and other contaminants affecting their performance. We value safety and use adequate personal protective equipment. Also, we secure all necessary safety gear if working at heights (safety harnesses on static lifelines). We will tailor an individual risk assessment and method statement (RAMS) to every job and complete it upon acceptance of your quote.
Before cleaning, we turn off the power to the solar panels for safety reasons.
We can clean roof and ground-mounted solar PV arrays as we have various cleaning equipment. We use brooms or soft brushes with long handles to dry clean the solar panels if applicable. Our soft brushes are specially designed to clean solar panels. We gently remove all loose dirt and debris to reduce water usage.
Our technicians are knowledgeable and adjust the cleaning methods to the surfaces. Over the years, we have managed numerous cleaning jobs and services (roof cleaning, fascia and soffit cleaning, jet washing, etc.), so our experience is rich. We evenly apply the cleaning solution using a low-pressure sprayer.
Manufacturers highly recommend not to use harmful chemicals or detergents to clean solar panels. However, they recommend solar panel cleaning with purified water; such cleaning should occur before winter and summer. We use purified water in our vans to pump along the hoses to the poles or the machines.
Untreated water is harsh and will leave marks on the solar panels. Such marks will attract dirt onto the solar panels, rendering the cleaning process useless. At Exterior Cleaning Solutions, we use purified water without minerals to clean the solar panels. We don't use harmful and abrasive chemicals or detergents; the cleaning process is eco-friendly.
We will gently use scrubbers or sponges to remove stubborn stains without harming the solar panel surface. We minimize water spotting with deionized water and use a soft, lint-free cloth to obtain a streak-free finish.
We run a final inspection to ensure that we have removed all contaminants and that the solar panels are bright and spotless.
We recommend our clients monitor and record the performance metrics of the solar panels before and after our cleaning services. Our technicians will be more than happy to give clients recommendations for follow-up maintenance and cleaning schedules to expand the performance and lifespan of their solar panels.
