Have you had solar panels installed for 6 months or more? When you had your solar panels installed did you consider the importance of maintenance? All solar panels are purchased and installed with the understanding that even though the initial costs of the investment are significant, the future savings are well worth the outlay! However, what began as a good intention may have been a waste of your time, effort and ultimately your money. The harsh environmental elements have the ability to rapidly diminish the efficiency of your solar panels. Without regular cleaning, all of these good intentions could potentially be costing you hundreds of dollars! Not only do the manufacturers recommend it, regular solar panel cleaning is a no brainer once you begin to outweigh the costs of the maintenance to the potential financial losses.

Did you know, most solar panel manufacturers specify regular cleaning as a requirement of warranty periods and claims? Not only do they specify regular cleaning periods, they also specify required methods of cleaning. Harsh chemicals not only damage your solar panels they also have the ability to void your solar panel warranty! Using a SolarTidy servicer, you’ll receive a tailored fit cleaning within the warranty guidelines of your solar panels warranty requirements. Through the use of chemical free de-ionised water, soft bristle brushes and safe handling- not only will it boost the efficiency of your panels, it will ultimately protect your warranty!

With the recent rains in Southern California, people often wonder if rain is enough to clean your solar panels? Although rain will provide a minimal rinse off any loose dirt or dust, it will not remove the baked in dirt and debris. To illustrate this, consider what would happen to your car’s windshield if you didn’t clean it for 6 months? The grime and dirt would “green over”, completely blocking your visibility (and light) from entering your car. Think about how dirty your car/windshield gets even after several weeks. And the morning after a rain, remember how your car (if left outside) seems even dirtier than before, like the dust and dirt was just moved around. The fact is that rain contains dust particles that settle and attach to the surface after the rainwater evaporates. When we use our windshield wipers, we clean the center of the screen, but where the wipers do not reach, there is a nasty film of dirt. Your solar panels are in the same condition as the edge of the windshield, where the wipers can’t reach, and likely even worse, since the angle of most solar panels is less than your windshield. Also, the minimal loose dust that does move by the rain will lead to dust accumulating in the lower row of each solar panel, which can cause significant heating. In a string of photovoltaic cells in a panel, if one cell is shaded the others will force current through it, which makes the cell heat up, and will cause a significant decrease in your solar output and greatly reducing the lifespan of your panels.

We’ve recently cleaned many homes/businesses shortly after a rain and the before pictures are just as bad as we find them in the middle of summer! And our customers routinely report a 15-20% boost in power output after having their solar panels cleaned, even days after it rains.

For more information and pictures see our blog post on the subject

De-ionized water is water that has been filtered to remove ions. We use de-ionized water as it is 100% chemical free and environmentally sustainable. However, the major benefit of its use is the spot and blemish free finish! This finish allows the panels to operate at their maximum capacity, optimizing their efficiency and ultimately allows all clients to receive the most financial benefits from their investment.

You could, but consider this 1) It’s unsafe for you to go on your roof unless you’re trained and have the proper equipment 2) Spraying your panels with tap water will leave hard water spots, which blocks UV rays and reduces your power output 3) Pressurized water can damage the panels 4) Without being trained you won’t be able to detect weather damage or cracks in your panels 4) It takes time to do it right. Your time is valuable. Let professionals do the job right while you relax!

No. As long as we have access to your roof (or where your panels) are located, you will not need to be home. You can also contact us by phone or email to make any schedule changes or coordinate instructions for easy access to the roof.

There are endless environmental factors with the ability to cause a build up of dirt and grime on your panels. For these reasons, having your panels cleaned 2-3 times per year is adequate for most residential systems and is also recommended by most solar panel manufacturers. Regular cleanings will ensure your system is performing at optimal levels throughout the year.

SolarTidy (SolarTidy.com) is an online platform and operates using a franchise model. SolarTidy San Diego (WGI Media Group) is an independent LLC (a franchise of SolarTidy) that provides the cleaning service for the San Diego area. They are required to have all applicable insurance as required by the state, and are responsible for any damage that may occur during the cleaning process. To reach  SolarTidy San Diego (WGI Media Group), please use the following email, [email protected]

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