Professional cleaning ensures solar power efficiency, reduces power bills

Adam Leggo “Regular cleaning not only ensures your panels are working at their best efficiency, but it also protects your investment.”

Despite the fact that we have experienced a great deal of rain this year, many home owners are unaware that this is not enough to keep their solar panels working to peak efficiency.

“Dirty solar panels typically lose between 15% and 25% of their efficiency, through heavy soiling from pollen and dust,” said Adam Leggo, of Adam’s Pressure Washing.

“In cases of heavy soiling from bird droppings, heavy soot or salt spray, efficiency losses can exceed 30%.”

Regular cleaning of solar panels is ideal and is crucial to prevent this level of energy loss.

“Homes near construction sites or industrial zones, in new estates, near unsealed roads, in close proximity to heavy traffic have a higher likelihood of grime build up, whereas homes in coastal areas build up salt spray and homes in heavily treed and rural areas see a higher dust accumulation on roofs and solar panels,” he said.

The angle of the roof can also impact on the accumulation of dirt and grime.

“Low-tilt panels, which are often used on flat roofs, tend to accumulate more dirt because rain cannot wash them off effectively,” he explained.

To maintain the performance of your panels, you can monitor their output with your inverter app to look for sudden drops in daily energy production.

“Regular cleaning not only ensures your panels are working at their best efficiency, but it also protects your investment, because accumulated dirt and debris can cause permanent damage to solar panels, and significantly reduce their lifespan.

“Persistent grime can cause "hot spots" that burn out cells and lead to corrosion and cracks in the panels, potentially violating warranties, because manufacturers often require regular maintenance to uphold their warranty.”

Now is a great time to have your solar panels professionally cleaned, because cleaning in the cooler weather helps to avoid thermal shock, which can damage panels if cold water hits hot glass. Cleaning when it's cool prevents rapid evaporation, reducing streaking, and prepares systems to maximize efficiency during the coming high-production seasons.

Adam is fully insured and safety trained, and you can contact him on 0437 732 628 to book your professional solar panel clean.