Does the ‘self cleaning glass ‘ in solar panels really need cleaning? The answer depends on a few factors which vary from building to building.
1.Location and surrounding environment.
2.The angle ( tilt ) at which the panels are set.
3.The climate , specifically rainfall
When conducting a cleaning survey on a building we often find that solar panels are being neglected in the buildings routine maintenance plan. It could be that being up high on the buildings roof they are forgotten- as the saying goes ‘ out of sight, out of mind.’
But they are actually a very important component of the buildings makeup that should be inspected at regular intervals.. After all the initial expense of installation it would be false economical sense to neglect the panels. Research shows that A clean solar panel will yield a much higher rate of UV light, around 25% , which in turn then produces power for the smooth and sustainable way of running your premises. Of course we should also say it’s an ecologically sound method which is becoming more and more important these days.
So it’s a question worth asking …
Do ‘self cleaning‘ solar panels need cleaning?
Let’s look at the three factors mentioned above…
1.Location and surrounding environment
What is surrounding your building? Nearby trees will cause problems as leaves will fall and the wind will blow them onto the panels. These will then cause a build up of dirt and may allow the growth of algae, particularly if the trees are overhanging.Birds droppings can be a problem which may be acidic and etch the surface when left.
2.The angle (tilt ) at which the panels are set.
If the angle is shallow , say 5 degrees on a large flat roof , they are more likely to need cleaning. Self cleaning glass works much better with a steep pitch, as rainfall run off is quicker and much less grime sticks to the panels. In particular the bottom edges of the panels will ‘ pool ‘ with dirty water and these areas are as important as any other part of the panel.
3.The climate, specifically rainfall
In some dry climates the panels will have a large build up of dust and the panels will not have had a regular natural wash. In the UK this is not usually a problem!
Does the ‘self cleaning glass ‘ in solar panels really need cleaning?
Well they certainly need to BE clean. They certainly need INSPECTING. It’s definitely a good idea to get a QUOTE because we can give you a comprehensive survey and competitive price for the buildings entire cleaning plan.
