Solar panels have the potential to return magnificent earnings as well as cut your electricity bills, and they are eco-friendly. However, their efficiency degrades if they’re not maintained consistently based on their requirements. The challenge that most people face is determining when they should clean their solar panels. Let’s go deeper and see how best you can maintain those solar panels. 

Why Clean Solar Panels? 

Let us dive into when to clean solar panels and understand the signs of dirty solar panels. Organic growth, bird droppings, or pollen mixed with dirt and dust gather on the surface of the panel and shade the surface, decreasing its capacity to attract sunlight. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory claims that if the surface of solar panels is dirty, then the capacity may drop to 25 percent. Cleaning on a regular basis will maintain your panels to their optimum, thus guaranteeing you the best return on your investment. 

These signs indicate your solar panels need cleaning

1. Visual Inspection 

One of the easiest signs of the need to clean the solar panels is a visual inspection of the panels. Here are some steps to guide you:

• Solar panel dirt detection: In the procedure, look for dust layers, bird droppings, leaves, or any other debris on the panels. 
• Observe Weather Conditions: These typically pull in dust storms or heavy pollen or are situated in highly active avian zones, so your panels may require cleaning more often. 
• Tip: Go outside and look at your solar panels from the ground with a pair of binoculars. It is a bit time-consuming but you can get a better view of your roof without necessarily having to climb on the roof. 

2. Monitor Energy Output

Another practical way to identify the level of cleanliness of your panels is by performance, or, in other words, by the energy generated. 

• Solar panel performance check: Many solar power installations have solar panel efficiency indicators that display energy yield. 
• Look for Drops in Efficiency: If you have observed that your system power production has reduced and cannot be blamed on weather or system issues, then you might need to clean your panels.
• Record Energy Production: employ a natural form of record-keeping, such as a notebook or even a spreadsheet on a computer or, more preferably, an electronic tablet, to keep a record of the energy produced daily. In the long run, you will be able to notice trends in when cleaning might just be necessary. 

3. Professional Assessment

Solar Sweep has well-developed inspection services, and one can get advice on when the system requires the next checkup. 

• Talk to an expert: It is advised to call our team for an annual check-up of your system to discover solar panel cleaning signs. We can also give suggestions on how the panels may be cleaned, maintained, and preserved well.