Contents:
Investing in solar panels is an overall wise decision since it is a clean energy source. This lowers energy expenses and lessens the dependency on fossil fuel. Similar to any other valuable entity, however, they too need some care from time to time. In all likelihood one of the parameters is cleaning. Now, how bad is it if you don’t clean your solar panels for a long time? Let’s take a closer look at the consequences.
Depressed Output
The main function of solar water panels is to accept sunlight and convert it into electricity. As time passes, there are negative environmental impacts which will result to accumulation of dust and dirt pollen and bird poop amongst other particles. This accumulation prevents sunlight from being available to the panels and therefore affects the energy produced from the panels. Studies show that energy generation falls by over 20% for even the slightest deposits of dust on solar panels. The loss of efficiency in the case of high air pollution or frequent dust storms may be more severe.
Any project would be saddening to imagine this situation as the worst case. Picture a situation where significant funds have already executed a solar energy system but use it poorly just because of dust. In such a situation, there is a decrease in energy savings and payback, as well as the amount of energy efficiency than previously anticipated, therefore forcing the payback to be extended even further, thereby affecting the rate of return on investment. In addition, even looking away from the panels for a long period tends to reduce energy generation from them and that is what one had been trying to achieve with the investment.
More Damage to the Structure
Dirt and other debris accumulation without incidents of cleaning the solar panels raises the damage levels. Maintenance of the panels helps, cleaning off accumulated grime over time cause micro-abrasions to the glass material of the solar panels. Intense bald patches within the glass framing of panel damage reduces the amount of light that is consumed but also brings about some other defects that may be intractable. Any cracked or superficial damage of the panels may require their repair and the cost of repair may be expensive or total replacement may follow.
Additionally, dirt can act as a heat sink which can induce hot spots localizing heat. Such hot spots may have a negative impact on the panels and may lead to faster failure. Therefore, the cleaning of the system regularly helps to avoid these problems and afford the owner of a solar system efficiency and intact state of the system for many years.
Safety Hazards
Another safety hazard that is often overlooked is the neglect of solar panel cleaning. As the months and years go by, dirt can build up such that it clogs the drainage utility and water pools over the surface of the panels. This sitting water is more likely to create a situation for blown circuitry and other electrical abnormalities that can cause fires or other system problems. In as much as keeping the panels clean is targeted for enhancing their performance, it is also vital for ensuring that the panels operate smoothly.
Similarly, dirty panels are likely to attract other destructive pests such as birds and rodents that could be more harmful to the system. Ensuring that you have clean solar panels will thus reduce these risks and ensure both your property and the environment is safer.
Higher Maintenance Costs
Although cleaning solar panels is expensive and perhaps seems like an unnecessary activity, such activities when unattended to will instead invite even more costly maintenance activities in future. Because many of these systems are usually indoors, regular cleaning and maintenance are integral so that most probable scenarios that compel a person to perform repairable actions are avoided. When dirt and other remnants collect to a certain limit then and only then the system will fail, some costs that you would rather avoid like repair and energy generation losses when such systems are down will be faced.
When solar panels are covered, the productive efficiency can decline. Purchasing proper solar panel cleaning devices will ease this job. It does not matter if you will be doing the cleaning yourself or if you will have to hire a person to do it. In either case, it is crucial to have a clean surface in order to get the most out of this investment for the longest time.
Environmental Impact
There can also be some additional environmental aspects when solar panels are in a dirty state. On the other hand, this approach may help one to utilize renewable energy but due to dirty panels, less energy will be produced, therefore, more fossil fuels will be needed to cover which works against the first reason why renewable energy was embraced. It ensures that every time you verify your solar panels, you are playing your part in restoring the environment.
Made measures should be taken for minimizing global warming as well through the application of solar energy systems. Failure to observe the implementation of these protective measures makes matters worse in terms of the environmental impact. Din is petite, and his work like this helps to make sure that the climate change problem impacts you in the right way and not in a negative way.
Conclusion
To sum up what has been said above, failing to remove dirt and debris from your solar panels can cause many issues such as, lowering efficiency, increasing wear and tear, safety risk, more costs in maintenance and worse, environmental harm. In order to safeguard your investment and gain a lot from solar energy, periodic cleaning should be made necessary.
Regardless of whether you chose to hire professionals or purchase solar panel cleaning products and do the cleaning yourself, efforts in this direction will help to generate more energy from the system and also extend the lifespan of the system. Keeping solar panels clean helps even boost energy savings and helps in the assurance of everyone’s future.
FAQ
What is the best way to clean your solar panels?
The safest way to clean your solar panels is by using a soft sponge or soft brush and mild detergent. For better results, solar panel cleaning equipment that have been designed for the effective and safe removal of dirt and other contaminants from for instance, solar panels should be used.
How often should I clean solar panels on my roof?
You are expected to clean the solar panels mounted on your roof every after six months and more frequently if you are in an area with lot of vegetation like trees which drop leaves and/or other debris.
Can dirty solar panels cause problems?
Yes, dirty panels can also cause issues because they are less efficient, converting less energy into power, so there is less energy available to recover your investment.
How much power is lost due to dirty solar panels?
Dirty solar panels have been known to have a loss in power generation capacity from around 20% upward depending on the extent of dirt and debris raccoons have accumulated.
How do I know if my solar panels need to be cleaned?
You will know it is time to wash the solar panels when you can see dirt on their surface, or observe that their power output is below the expected level for normal energy generation.
