Summer is well and truly upon us, and as is the case across many parts of the country, homeowners are cranking up the AC to try and stay cool while indoors. Air Conditioning can certainly be a blessing, but it can be costly, and is often the cause of increased energy bills during the summer months. Some households report an increase of as much as 50% in their monthly energy charges when running an AC unit.
If you’re the owner of a solar panel system who also relies heavily on AC when the mercury rises, you might be interested to know that cleaning your panels could help lower your monthly electric bill.
Here’s more on the subject:
What makes solar panels efficient?
Sunlight is converted into energy by solar panels, and the more sunlight they’re exposed to, the more electricity they generate. But, when the panels are covered in a layer of grime and debris, such as bird droppings, dust and leaves, their ability to receive sunlight is limited, and their efficiency is reduced as a result. In fact, grubby panels have been proven to lose as much as 20% efficiency, which in turn, means homes get less clean electricity, and may depend more on the power grid, especially when running high-intensity appliances such as air conditioners.
Keeping your solar panels nice and clean, makes them more efficient, and gives you more clean, green energy.
What are the economic benefits of keeping solar panels clean?
There are a number of economic benefits you can enjoy when you make an effort to keep your solar panels clean, and here are some of them:
- An increase in energy production
The simple fact is that clean solar panels are capable of generating more electricity, which means that you can rely much less on the grid when powering your home. This translates directly to a decrease in electric bills, especially during the summer months when appliances like Air Conditioning are running for hours on end.
- A maximized ROI
Getting the most out of your solar investment is a priority for most homeowners, and by ensuring that your panels are kept nice and clean, you can maximize that investment.
- An increased lifespan
Maintaining your solar panels well by cleaning them as and when needed, will mean that they can continue to provide you with clean energy for many years to come.
- Lower maintenance costs
It’s also true that panels that are kept clean, are far less likely to experience any kind of maintenance issues, that could cost you dearly.
Cleaning your solar panels
Depending on where you live and where your panels are situated, you may need to clean them a couple of times a year, or as and when the need arises, such as after a big storm.
If your panels are located on the roof of your home, seeking professional help for cleaning them might be wisest, and safest. If you are able to safely clean them yourself, always use a soft brush or sponge, and only a mild detergent mixed with water; harsh chemicals may damage them.
Where possible, clean them first thing in the morning or as afternoon turns into evening, when the panels are cooler, this will prevent the water and detergent from drying too quickly and leaving streaks.
So, if you want to save big on your electric bills this summer, try washing your solar panels to make them more efficient. Do remember that if it isn’t safe to do this, you can ask the company who installed the panels to do it for you.