Cleaning panels
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- Posts: 392
- Joined: Wed Jun 16, 2021 3:48 pm
Cleaning panels
I’ve been up on my roof putting up some panel brackets for more PV. I noted that next door’s panels look like they have never been cleaned in several years. They are seriously spotted with lichens.
I wash my panels a couple times each year, or whenever considered necessary, so no real hard work. The panels on his roof must be seriously ‘shaded’, so what should I suggest for him to use when I next see him - and tell him the bad news?
Personally, I would be spraying with formaldehyde (or similar) first, before then giving them the soft brush treatment or even a gentle pressure wash, but I’m not doing anything with his panels unless using a tried and tested cleaning system.
Suggestions, please. He is certainly, for sure and definite, not going up on his roof!
I wash my panels a couple times each year, or whenever considered necessary, so no real hard work. The panels on his roof must be seriously ‘shaded’, so what should I suggest for him to use when I next see him - and tell him the bad news?
Personally, I would be spraying with formaldehyde (or similar) first, before then giving them the soft brush treatment or even a gentle pressure wash, but I’m not doing anything with his panels unless using a tried and tested cleaning system.
Suggestions, please. He is certainly, for sure and definite, not going up on his roof!
Re: Cleaning panels
I used a snowfoam lance and bilt hamber touchless foam. Excellent results.
19.7kW PV SE, VI, HM, EN & DW
Ripple 7kW WT & Gen to date 19MWh
42kWh LFPO4 storage
95kWh Heater storage
12kWh 210ltr HWT.
73kWh HI5
Deep insulation, air leak ct'd home
Zoned GCH & Hive 2
WBSx2
Low energy bulbs
Veg patches & fruit trees
Ripple 7kW WT & Gen to date 19MWh
42kWh LFPO4 storage
95kWh Heater storage
12kWh 210ltr HWT.
73kWh HI5
Deep insulation, air leak ct'd home
Zoned GCH & Hive 2
WBSx2
Low energy bulbs
Veg patches & fruit trees
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- Posts: 662
- Joined: Mon Mar 21, 2022 7:37 pm
Re: Cleaning panels
Live or switched off?
Morso S11
FIT
16 Sharp PV panels facing WSW 4kW
Solarmax 4200S inverter
Non FIT
3 Canadian solar DC coupled 1.75kW facing SSE
Storage
Growatt SPA3000TL BL inverter ac coupled
Growatt GBLI6532 6.5kWh lithium phosphate battery
FIT
16 Sharp PV panels facing WSW 4kW
Solarmax 4200S inverter
Non FIT
3 Canadian solar DC coupled 1.75kW facing SSE
Storage
Growatt SPA3000TL BL inverter ac coupled
Growatt GBLI6532 6.5kWh lithium phosphate battery
Re: Cleaning panels
Live.
19.7kW PV SE, VI, HM, EN & DW
Ripple 7kW WT & Gen to date 19MWh
42kWh LFPO4 storage
95kWh Heater storage
12kWh 210ltr HWT.
73kWh HI5
Deep insulation, air leak ct'd home
Zoned GCH & Hive 2
WBSx2
Low energy bulbs
Veg patches & fruit trees
Ripple 7kW WT & Gen to date 19MWh
42kWh LFPO4 storage
95kWh Heater storage
12kWh 210ltr HWT.
73kWh HI5
Deep insulation, air leak ct'd home
Zoned GCH & Hive 2
WBSx2
Low energy bulbs
Veg patches & fruit trees
Re: Cleaning panels
Oliver, maybe to uǹderstand the idea behind snowfoam *lifting* process (a pre wash) to vacate potential scratchy bits, prior to a blast with a soap and water, full force, lancing, ...or not at all & instead set to "drizzle" to rid the area of anything vaguely caustic is better described in this instance (I'm sure joe can fill the descriptive gaps)
Minimal invasive force & a preferred brand / ph factor.
..long gone are the days of killing moss & lichen with creosote based jeyes fluid..
Minimal invasive force & a preferred brand / ph factor.
..long gone are the days of killing moss & lichen with creosote based jeyes fluid..
1906 ripplewatts @wind Turb-ine-erry
It's the wifes Tesla 3 (she lets me wash it)
Leaf 24
Celotex type insulation stuffed most places
Skip diver to the gentry
Austroflamm WBS
A finger of solar + shed full more
It's the wifes Tesla 3 (she lets me wash it)
Leaf 24
Celotex type insulation stuffed most places
Skip diver to the gentry
Austroflamm WBS
A finger of solar + shed full more
Re: Cleaning panels
The snowfoam does all the heavy lifting and gently slides off removing dirt and grime. Lichens, not so sure but as a non invasive light touch way to clean panels it is very good. As Gus said it is a thrown drizzle, not a HP blast. I had the idea when watching how well it lifted dirt off of the matte finish on the EV. It transferred across well.
Once left to dwell for a few minutes it can be washed off with a garden hose or power washer from a distance.
Once left to dwell for a few minutes it can be washed off with a garden hose or power washer from a distance.
19.7kW PV SE, VI, HM, EN & DW
Ripple 7kW WT & Gen to date 19MWh
42kWh LFPO4 storage
95kWh Heater storage
12kWh 210ltr HWT.
73kWh HI5
Deep insulation, air leak ct'd home
Zoned GCH & Hive 2
WBSx2
Low energy bulbs
Veg patches & fruit trees
Ripple 7kW WT & Gen to date 19MWh
42kWh LFPO4 storage
95kWh Heater storage
12kWh 210ltr HWT.
73kWh HI5
Deep insulation, air leak ct'd home
Zoned GCH & Hive 2
WBSx2
Low energy bulbs
Veg patches & fruit trees
Re: Cleaning panels
Any suggestions as to how to reach panels on a two storey house without ladders etc.?
I can give them a rinse with an ageing pressure washer which just about makes it (well, I could before the hosepipe ban) but can't shift the lichen. I did get a local window cleaning company to try as they said they also cleaned solar panels but they weren't able to shift the lichen and refunded me and suggested I find a speciaist to do it. A quick internet search suggested £200+ for specialist cleaning...
I can give them a rinse with an ageing pressure washer which just about makes it (well, I could before the hosepipe ban) but can't shift the lichen. I did get a local window cleaning company to try as they said they also cleaned solar panels but they weren't able to shift the lichen and refunded me and suggested I find a speciaist to do it. A quick internet search suggested £200+ for specialist cleaning...
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- Posts: 392
- Joined: Wed Jun 16, 2021 3:48 pm
Re: Cleaning panels
I whizzed off an enquiry to bilthamber late last evening.
Got a reply this morning recommending their Surfex HD product for this application. A very good response time. I was impressef.
Got a reply this morning recommending their Surfex HD product for this application. A very good response time. I was impressef.
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- Posts: 1873
- Joined: Thu Sep 09, 2021 3:42 pm
- Location: North East Dorset
Re: Cleaning panels
I get ours cleaned by the window cleaner. He uses his long carbon fibre pole, with a water-fed rotary brush at the end. He has no trouble getting right to the ridge and the brush does a good job of cleaning them. I think he charges us £90 to clean all the windows (inside and out) and the solar panels. No idea how much just the solar panels costs. He uses deionised water, so there are never any streaks left behind, but you can buy the pole etc as a DIY option, you can even go the whole hog and buy a deionised water system as well.Stig wrote: ↑Mon Oct 03, 2022 9:07 am Any suggestions as to how to reach panels on a two storey house without ladders etc.?
I can give them a rinse with an ageing pressure washer which just about makes it (well, I could before the hosepipe ban) but can't shift the lichen. I did get a local window cleaning company to try as they said they also cleaned solar panels but they weren't able to shift the lichen and refunded me and suggested I find a speciaist to do it. A quick internet search suggested £200+ for specialist cleaning...
25 off 250W Perlight solar panels, installed 2014, with a 6kW PowerOne inverter, about 6,000kWh/year generated
6 off Pylontech US3000C batteries, with a Sofar ME3000SP inverter
6 off Pylontech US3000C batteries, with a Sofar ME3000SP inverter
Re: Cleaning panels
Ok, i'll have a crack at this. 5 ltr killaspray. Buy the thinnest lightest plastic pipe that you can, make it up to height, fit a swan neck to the end with a diffuser from the killaspray and use the second storey windows with someone holding as back up brace the pipe. you'd want a 3rd person priming the killaspray. Spray on and leave then wash off or at least dilute down with cleaned out killaspray. Might cost £100 or so for bits but once its done you've got the gear for next year?Stig wrote: ↑Mon Oct 03, 2022 9:07 am Any suggestions as to how to reach panels on a two storey house without ladders etc.?
I can give them a rinse with an ageing pressure washer which just about makes it (well, I could before the hosepipe ban) but can't shift the lichen. I did get a local window cleaning company to try as they said they also cleaned solar panels but they weren't able to shift the lichen and refunded me and suggested I find a speciaist to do it. A quick internet search suggested £200+ for specialist cleaning...
19.7kW PV SE, VI, HM, EN & DW
Ripple 7kW WT & Gen to date 19MWh
42kWh LFPO4 storage
95kWh Heater storage
12kWh 210ltr HWT.
73kWh HI5
Deep insulation, air leak ct'd home
Zoned GCH & Hive 2
WBSx2
Low energy bulbs
Veg patches & fruit trees
Ripple 7kW WT & Gen to date 19MWh
42kWh LFPO4 storage
95kWh Heater storage
12kWh 210ltr HWT.
73kWh HI5
Deep insulation, air leak ct'd home
Zoned GCH & Hive 2
WBSx2
Low energy bulbs
Veg patches & fruit trees