Finding the best solar panel cleaning company
Solar panels have become an integral part of our energy landscape where sunshine is harnessed to generate free electricity. Therefore, ensuring their optimal performance is of utmost importance. One crucial aspect contributing to this performance is the cleanliness of the solar panels.
Any barrier between sunlight and solar panels, such as dust, dirt, and other environmental pollutants that accumulate on their surfaces over time, will reduce the latter's ability to convert sunlight into electricity. Consequently, this leads to a significant decrease in energy production.
When you see it's time to clean up your solar panels, you have two options: you can clean them yourself or use a professional solar panels cleaning service to take care of them.
If you choose to clean them yourself, you should know that there are risks involved, you'll be working with electricity and water and heights all at the same time.
Benefits of Cleaning Your Solar Panels
Solar panels cleaning has three different benefits:
Efficiency : when your solar panels extremely dirty its going hard for the sun to really hit those solar cells and produce what you want them to produce.
Longevity : when you keep your panels cleaned they're going to be lasting what they're supposed to last.
Warranty : as long as you clean your solar panels regularly it states in the manufactures warranty stays valid.
How much does it cost to clean solar panels?
Most cleaning companies charge fees on a per-panel basis and range from $6 to $18, with the minimum service price being at least $100, if you only have a few solar panels.
In general, the typical cost per panel significantly depends on whether the panels are in a single story or two story home and the difficulty of accessing them, and the angle of the roof’s slope.
How Often Should Solar Panels Be Cleaned in California?
Depending on the weather conditions, you need to clean your solar panels, usually once every six months or at least once every year. Dust and dirt constantly accumulate on your panels, reducing their efficiency and increasing the possibility of minor damage or corrosion.
The increase in production after cleaning can be up to 20%. Although this immediate increase in energy production may be slight, the full effect could be seen over several months and this increase in production will be able to cover the cost of the cleaning process, which is a good way to support sustainability and local small businesses instead of supporting... Big energy company.
However, if you are close to a freeway or notice a buildup of fallen leaves or bird droppings on your panels, you may have to clean them more often to ensure it lasts as long as possible.
The decision to invest in professional solar panel cleaning services should make sense in your bill. Weigh the potential increase in energy production after cleaning against the cost of the service. If the increased efficiency does not outweigh the cost, it may not be financially justified unless of course you want to support a small business rather than a large energy company.
What to Consider When Choosing One of the Best Solar Panel Cleaning Services
Look for regional providers
Ensure that the company is licensed and insured
One of the most important aspects that must be taken into account as an agent when choosing a solar board cleaning service is whether the company is licensed and has sufficient insurance.
Keep in mind that any damage to the panels during the cleaning process will void the warranty provided by the manufacturer or the company that installed the panels. Therefore, to ensure the protection of your investment, make sure to choose an insured solar panel cleaning company.
Hiring a licensed and insured professional will ensure the protection of your investment and achieve psychological comfort, because you will be protected in the event of any risks or damage occurring during the cleaning process.
Check out reviews and ratings from previous customers
If you can't find it there, use the search feature available on BBB (Better Business Bureau rating) review sites like Yelp to search for the name of the business you want to verify customer experience with.
Customer Support
During a phone call with the service company, inquire about the service details, pricing, and the company's experience in solar panel cleaning before making a decision.
The service provider or the person appointed to answer calls should provide you with sufficient and clear information about the service, licensing, or insurance. They should offer a transparent quote regarding the customized cost details, ensuring accuracy and no hidden additional fees. If the customer service team is unable to provide clear and technical answers, this could be a sign of a lack of familiarity with the service.
Conclusion
In the hot summer months, ensure to schedule solar panel cleaning services in the morning or evening. Because when it is very hot outside, washing the solar panels with cold water can cause them to crack.
Make sure that the solar panel cleaning service you choose does not use chemicals or cleansers for the cleaning process, as they may damage your solar panels.
If you're interested in additional cleaning services such as window cleaning, solar panel bird proofing, gutter cleaning, or screen cleaning, many solar panel cleaning companies and professionals offer these services.
Mohamed Bellamine
I'm the blogger behind Goo SolarPower. As a solar engineer, and a strong supporter of renewable energy. I've always been interested in Solar devices. I loves to write articles, guides, and tutorials about solar PV technology. Through goosolarpower.com I want to help people build and understand how solar power systems work.