Cleaning Solar Panels With Hard Water

When and how often to clean your solar panels.

Cleaning solar panels with hard water. The most effective way to clean your solar panels is with a hose and a bucket of soapy water. 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. Hard water is generally not harmful to one s health but can pose serious problems in industrial settings and when applied to solar panels. Hard water is water that has a high mineral content in contrast with soft water.

The essential solar panel cleaning tools are brushes intended for modules. Essentially in the same manner you would wash your car at home. If this is the case for you just be sure to squeegee the panels dry to avoid mineral deposits and streaking. Soaps can leave a film or residue that not only shades panels like the dirt that was just washed off but it can also encourage dirt to stick and build up faster said daniel green bland.

There are special washing brooms to buy with telescopic handles. Simply use clean water and a cloth covered sponge or soft plastic brush. Rainwater is low in mineral content but some people have hard water or mineral rich water from the tap. Plastic scourers may also be used.

Fill a bucket or spray bottle with warm water and soap no other special equipment is needed. A maximum difference of 20 degrees is acceptable. A soft household broom is great to use to gently scrub away persistent bird droppings from the solar panels. California based solar installer and maintenance provider bland company never uses a cleaning agent on solar panels instead relying on deionized water and a rotating brush system to wash solar panels.

You do not have to clean the wiring underneath. Of primary concern for hard water spotting on solar panels is the combined levels of magnesium and calcium. Many times solar panels are located in hard access points on the roof and are complicated to perform regular cleaning. Use that as a final rinse.

How to clean solar panels with water and a soft broom. If your mains supplied water is hard mineral rich and rainwater is available. Look for a soft brush and start cleaning your modules with the water mix. Clean the surface of the solar panel with a soft cloth or sponge.

These are fantastic since they make it easy to reach the panels from the ground. Given the nature of good quality solar panel glass clean water and a little scrubbing with a coarse cloth covered sponge or soft brush should remove the most stubborn grime. After all modules are soaped remove the soap with a low pressure hose. Gather some distilled water and mix it with a little dish soap just a little.

Leave the modules to dry over 30 45 minutes and turn back on the dc disconnect switch. The temperature of the water being used for cleaning should ideally be the same as the solar panel temperature at the time of cleaning.