Solar Panel Cleaning

It’s crucial to regularly clean solar panels in Southern California due to the region’s unique environmental factors. Our dry climate, coupled with agricultural activities and frequent Santa Ana winds, leads to significant accumulation of dust, dirt, pollen, and other debris on panel surfaces. This buildup creates a barrier that blocks sunlight from reaching the photovoltaic cells, directly reducing the system’s energy output and overall efficiency. Over time, this can translate to a noticeable decrease in electricity generation, impacting your utility savings and the return on your solar investment. Regular cleaning ensures maximum energy harvest, maintaining optimal system performance and extending the lifespan of your panels in this sunny, yet dusty, environment.

Using pure water and boar’s hair brushes for cleaning solar panels is a highly effective and safe method. This approach minimizes the risk of damage while maximizing cleaning efficiency, which is particularly beneficial in dusty environments like San Diego County.

---

Why Pure Water? 💧

We use 100% pure deionized and reverse osmosis (RO) water for solar panel cleaning because regular tap water, even if it appears clean, contains dissolved minerals like calcium, magnesium, and iron. When tap water dries on the panels, these minerals leave behind hard water spots or mineral deposits. These spots can:

• Obstruct Sunlight: Act like tiny magnifying glasses, focusing sunlight and potentially creating “hot spots” that can damage the panel over time.
• Reduce Efficiency: Create a film that diffuses light, reducing the amount of sunlight reaching the photovoltaic cells and diminishing energy production.
• Attract More Dirt: Provide a rougher surface for dust and grime to adhere to, accelerating future dirt buildup.

Pure water, on the other hand, dries spot-free, leaving no residue behind. This ensures the panels are optimally clear for maximum light absorption.

---

Why Boar’s Hair Brushes?

Boar’s hair brushes are the preferred tool for cleaning solar panels due to their unique properties:

• Soft and Non-Abrasive: Unlike synthetic brushes or abrasive scrubbers, natural boar’s hair bristles are incredibly soft. This gentleness is crucial because solar panel surfaces are made of tempered glass, which, while durable, can be scratched by abrasive materials. Even microscopic scratches can lead to reduced efficiency over time.
• Effective Cleaning: Despite their softness, boar’s hair bristles are excellent at dislodging and lifting away stubborn dirt, dust, bird droppings, and other debris without the need for harsh chemicals.
• Even Distribution of Pressure: The natural fibers conform to the panel’s surface, ensuring an even distribution of cleaning pressure and preventing concentrated scrubbing in one area.

The combination of pure water and boar’s hair brushes provides a chemical-free, environmentally friendly, and highly effective cleaning solution that protects your solar panel investment while ensuring they operate at their peak performance.