Photovoltaic panel maintenance: mistakes to avoid
What mistakes should you avoid when maintaining your photovoltaic panels?
For a photovoltaic panel to provide optimum electricity production all year round, regular maintenance is vital. Despite the low cost of maintenance in Switzerland, representing around 1% of the price of the installation per year, many owners still neglect this task or go about it in the wrong way, which can reduce the performance of their photovoltaic installation. Here are the mistakes not to be made when maintaining your photovoltaic panel.
Rub with an abrasive sponge
Stubborn bird droppings and insect corpses can be difficult to remove simply with clear water. So it’s quite tempting to use an abrasive sponge to clean your solar photovoltaic panels. Not a good idea. Even though the glass panels are covered with a protective film, it is not designed to withstand too much friction. What’s more, scratched glass drastically reduces the performance of your solar array. Photovoltaic solar panels should be cleaned with a soft cloth.
Walk on the panels
Photovoltaic panels can be cleaned using a telescopic pole, provided that the installations are easily accessible and at the right height. But when the roof is too high or there is no equipment available, it’s tempting to climb directly onto the roof. But not only does such a solution present a risk of accidents, it also means that by leaning on your solar array, you run the risk of seriously damaging it. That’s why you need to call in professionals who are equipped for maintenance and, above all, have the know-how to work safely.
Using a high-pressure cleaner
This practice is becoming increasingly common these days. As the highest rows of photovoltaic panels are very difficult to access, some people try to clean them using a high-pressure washer.
The power of the water jet can damage the edges of the receivers, but above all the water could seep between them and damage the seals around the panel. This method should be avoided at all costs. Most photovoltaic panel maintenance professionals are equipped with special equipment or even robots that can clean your installation in no time at all without risking damaging it. So it’s best to leave the maintenance of your photovoltaic panel to a company that specialises in this area.
Using detergents for photovoltaic panels
If it seems obvious to ban chemical products, detergents should also be avoided when cleaning a photovoltaic panel. Even if they are advertised as environmentally friendly and contain natural ingredients, they can leave residues that affect the performance and yield of the installation. That’s why demineralised water is still the best solution for cleaning your panel without leaving a trace.
Focusing solely on cleaning solar panels
While cleaning is essential for your solar panels to work properly, it does not mean you don’t need maintenance. Checking the inverter, inspecting the various components that make up your installation, and above all having it done by a professional, is unavoidable if you want to get the most out of your photovoltaic panels.
Solarnet, a specialist in cleaning photovoltaic panels in French-speaking Switzerland, offers both private and professional services in the canton of Vaud, Lausanne, Fribourg and Geneva. If you have any queries about the cleaning and maintenance of your photovoltaic panels, please do not hesitate to contact us.