How Do You Clean Hot Water Solar Panels

Disconnect your pv array from the inverter by pushing the rapid shutdown button or pulling down the dc disconnect switch.

How do you clean hot water solar panels. The most effective way to clean your solar panels is with a hose and a bucket of soapy water. Usually a good hosing off will do most of the job but you can also use a soft cloth or a soft bristled brush or broom and some warm soapy water or glass cleaning agent if they are particularly dirty. Fill a bucket with warm soapy water or cleaning solution designed for solar panels. Mine are by the sea and get a salt crust on them fairly rapidly so need bi monthly cleaning.

Get the most from your solar installation by choosing cec accredited products and installers. It is not particularly complicated. Because you don t want to scratch the panels in any way it s best to use just water and a non abrasive sponge to apply soapy water. Cole said solar panel wash is especially helpful in arid locations where dust is high and water is scarce because the wash allows for less water to be used in cleaning.

Clean the surface of the solar panel with a soft cloth or sponge. Use your garden hose to spray down the panels. Brushing any loose dirt off before spraying them with water will make the squeegeeing process quicker and easier. Be sure to check your panel manufacturer instructions for shutting down the system before cleaning if necessary.

Depending on your location you may need to clean your panels more often than twice a year. You do not have to clean the wiring underneath. Show extra caution if cleaning your solar panels requires you to climb up on the roof. Solar panel wash modifies the surface tension of the water so instead of water beading up it will form a continuous film across the solar panels to lift dirt and debris.

Use a mild detergent if you feel like you need some extra help. I have always used clean tap water and a scrubby squeegee thing on a threaded broom handle. You may need to carefully clean heat exchanger surfaces with medium grain sandpaper. You can avoid scaling by using water softeners or by circulating a mild acidic solution such as vinegar through the collector or domestic hot water loop every 3 5 years or as necessary depending on water conditions.

Using anything with high pressure may cause damage. If your panels are readily accessible you can clean them yourself. And if you re asking yourself if you can use a pressure washer to clean your solar panels we encourage you to only use a normal hose. How to clean those dusty dirty solar panels 1.

Essentially in the same manner you would wash your car at home. Use a soft cloth or sponge and wipe them down with the soap solution and then rinse them with the hose. In some cases this will be enough to get them clean but sometimes you ll need to do a more thorough cleaning. Fill a bucket or spray bottle with warm water and soap no other special equipment is needed.