Solar panels are a great way to reduce your energy bills, make your home more energy-efficient and to become environmentally conscious. But like many aspects of your home, they require maintenance. 

After your solar panels are installed, it's important to get them regularly cleaned. It’s something that many Australians overlook but it can have big impacts if not done. 

We’ve collected some information that will help you ensure your solar panels last as long as possible. Information including:

• Why it’s important to clean your solar panels
• What does a solar panel cleaner do
• How often should I have my solar panels cleaned
• How much does solar panel cleaning cost?
• How do I find a solar panel cleaner?
• Getting quotes for solar panel cleaning

Why it’s important to have your solar panels cleaned

Solar panels are constantly exposed to the elements and though they are designed to be able to cope with this, it’s important to keep them maintained. 

Solar panels work by soaking up the sun's rays and turning it into energy. However, your solar panels will slowly accumulate dust and debris on their surface and this will decrease their efficiency and energy production over time. This can be especially bad if your home is near an industrial area or a construction site. 

The bottom line when it comes to solar panel cleaning is that it can increase the performance of your panels by as much as 36%. This saves you money and ensures that your house stays powered in the most efficient way. 

In severe cases, leaving your solar panels uncleaned may even result in costly repairs or replacements.  

What does a solar panel cleaner do?

A solar panel cleaner does pretty much what it sounds like. They are specialists in solar panel cleaning and have all the equipment and training to ensure your solar panels are in top working condition. 

Cleaning solar panels may seem like a simple task but the panels can easily be damaged in the process. A professional will know what chemicals and products to use to prevent any damage. 

Most solar panels are situated on the roof of a home and, particularly when covered in water for cleaning, this can be a dangerous environment. Professional solar panel cleaners have the equipment and the knowledge to complete your job safely so that no one gets hurt. 

They will also usually have insurance. On the off chance that any damage does occur, you won’t be out of pocket for the expenses. 

How often should I have my solar panels cleaned?

The frequency that you’ll need to have your solar panels cleaned will depend on several factors including:

• The location of the panels on your roof
• The weather conditions they’re subjected to
• The climate you live in 
• The type of panels you have (some have textured surfaces which will collect dirt and grime quicker) 

Your panels will need cleaning more or less frequently depending on these factors but a good guide is to have them cleaned twice a year. 

If your cleaner finds that they aren’t particularly dirty each time they come back then you might be able to get away with cleaning it once a year. However, it’s always best to have them cleaned more frequently than less frequently. The savings on energy may be enough to compensate for the cost of the cleaning. 

How much does solar panel cleaning cost?

Solar panel cleaners generally charge per panel they are cleaning and their fees are generally in the region of $10-20 per panel. This can come out to be roughly:

• $100-260 for a small 2-bedroom house with 10-13 panels
• $140-280 for a medium 3-bedroom house with 15 panels
• $200-400 or more for a larger 4-bedroom house with at least 20 panels

These prices may change depending on the service you’re using, your location, the slope of your house, if the panels are located on a second storey and several other factors. 

How to maintain your solar panels

In general, solar panels are pretty low maintenance but there are things besides cleaning that you can do to make sure that they are operating at peak performance. 

Many of these things can be covered by an electrician near you. They can include:

• A regular inverter check to make sure the panels connect to your home energy system properly
• Anti-Island or PV inverter test to check the connection to the broader electrical grid
• Checking for damaged or deteriorated parts
• Checking the connections and wiring 
• Checking that all fittings and cables are securely attached

As a good rule of thumb, you should have your system serviced at least once a year to ensure that any potential issues are caught before they become dangerous or costly to fix. 

How do I find a solar panel cleaner?

Before you hire a solar panel cleaner it can be a good idea to ask them some questions to make sure that you get the right service for your needs. Some of these questions include:

• How long have you been doing this?
• Do you have dedicated equipment for my job?
• Are you insured?
• Can you provide a written quote?
• Do you have customer references I can follow up on?

Getting quotes for solar panel cleaning

At hipages, we always recommend getting at least three quotes before hiring a tradie. The cheapest option may not always be the best one and you may find that there are additional costs down the line that can add up. 

Don’t be afraid to ask questions about anything you’re unsure about. You can always ask about the quotes and get an itemised list of what you are paying for. 

*Costs and prices in this article are indicative and should only be used as a guide. They also vary locally and are subject to market forces.