Complete Guide to Solar Panel Cleaning
Solar panels have many benefits for homeowners in the Phoenix area, like clean renewable energy and protection from the rising cost of electricity. However, there are several factors that can impact just how much electricity your panels will produce, including access to sunlight and cleanliness.
In this guide, we cover everything you need to know about solar panel cleaning to ensure maximum efficiency and electricity generation.
Cleaning Solar Panels: What You Need to Know
There’s no industry standard for how often solar panels need to be cleaned. This is because each solar energy system is unique and will have different levels of debris that can obstruct the panels from absorbing sunlight and producing electricity. The three most important factors that will impact your solar panel cleaning schedule are positioning, your local climate, and nearby obstructions.
| Panel Positioning | Local Climate | Nearby Obstructions |
|---|---|---|
| Panels that lay flat will accumulate dust & debris more than those positioned at an angle. | Strong winds or the lack of rain can have an impact on how often your panels need to be cleaned. | Solar panels that are close to trees will collect leaves, pollen, and other obstructions to electricity production. |
Solar Panel Maintenance: Optimizing Production & Extending Panel Lifespan
Solar panels don’t require much maintenance, but regular upkeep can keep them operating at peak performance for their entire 25+ year lifespan. At SouthFace Solar & Electric, we service all types of solar energy systems—even ones we didn’t install. We can troubleshoot issues, make repairs, install solar panel replacements, and more.
Just like with solar panel cleaning, there are no set guidelines on how often you need to get your system serviced, but we recommend giving our expert technicians a call if:
- You notice a decrease in energy production
- You’ve experienced a recent storm, especially sand storms with strong winds
- You’ve added more electric appliances
- Your system is a few years old and has never had maintenance
- You’re adding solar battery backup
Get More Out of Solar Energy with SouthFace Solar & Electric
SouthFace Solar & Electric offers monitoring for every residential and commercial solar energy system we install. If you notice a dip in your electricity production, we can help find the source of the issue and a reliable solution with our solar maintenance services, which include solar panel cleaning.
We’ve been on the leading edge of the solar industry in the Phoenix area since opening our doors in 2008. Every one of our solar maintenance and cleaning technicians is experienced and trained on the best practices for solar panel cleaning to help get more renewable power to you.
