Professional Solar Panel Cleaning in Hamilton

The frequency of cleaning residential solar panels in New Zealand depends on several factors, such as the location of your home and the amount of debris that accumulates on the panels. As a general rule, it’s recommended to clean residential solar panels at least once a year in New Zealand to ensure optimal performance.

If your home is located in an area with high levels of pollution or dust, or if there are trees nearby that drop leaves or other debris onto your solar panels, you may need to clean them more frequently. All manufactures for solar panel brands sold widely in New Zealand have clear stipulations to maintain warranty validity. Most require an annual clean and visual maintenance inspection. If you are unsure about what your particular panel brand stipulates? Feel free to ask us at Eco Shine Solar and we would be happy to assist you. 

The core factor of any professional solar panel cleaning service is pure water. Solar panels are prone to staining from mineralisation. New Zealand water supplies, be they council, tank, or bore, can all have heavy mineralisation content. There are many methods of making pure water, but none better than Reverse Osmosis. Many panel manufactures warranties exclusively state that pure water must be produced via RO/DI. Pure water produced through less sophisticated filtering methods such as deionization will still contain some heavy minerals. Most importantly, silica, which is responsible for the nasty white chalky stains to which many New Zealanders are accustomed. 

Curious how heavy your water supply is? Ask us on the job, and we can easily test and then show you the difference once it has passed through our RO/DI filter.

We use a range of synthetic and natural fibre brush heads, all specifically made for solar panels. Our lichen removal process is performed manually with special tools specifically designed for solar panels.

Depending on the angle, some solar arrays can be accessed from the ground. In most cases, ladder access and the use of a harness and anchoring point are the most practical options. Difficult pitches or large commercial buildings require an EWP.

Yes, you can, but there are some factors you should consider first.

Firstly, are you aware of the risk of electrocution? Are you aware of which parts of the PV system are most likely to electrocute you?

Some steps you can take to minimise the risk of electrocution are as follows:

– Doing a pre-visual inspection to ensure there are no cracked panels or damaged wires.

– Cleaning when the system is producing low amounts of electricity. For example, on a cloudy day or late in the afternoon.

– Wearing rubber-insulated gloves and footwear, plus not using any cleaning equipment that is a good conductor of electricity.

Now that you’re ready to clean, please consider the main factors that can permanently damage your PV modules and void your warranty. Brushes that are too rough, insufficient water flow, the use of chemicals, water containing high mineral content (heavy water), or the use of pressure washers/water blasters.

If you do opt to clean your own solar panels, we urge you to first read your panel manufacturer’s warranty. Cleaning guidelines are clearly outlined and will help you maintain your warranty and protect the longevity of your solar system.

Finally, please stay safe!

The weather in New Zealand, particularly heavy rainfall and wind, can help keep solar panels clean. However, panels will still eventually become dirty due to dust, bird droppings, pollen, and other environmental factors.

Lichen, moss, and mold are big issues given New Zealand’s geographical location. Regular cleaning is the only way to ensure optimum performance and protect against harmful environmental factors.

Yes, dirty solar panels can affect their performance and efficiency. Dirt, dust, pollen, lichen, moss, mold, and bird droppings can reduce the amount of light that reaches the panels, which in turn can reduce their output.

Regular cleaning can help maintain the efficiency of the panels and ensure they are working at optimal levels. An extremely important byproduct of regular cleaning is ensuring the solar system reaches its full lifespan. A system left to its own devices will eventually be host to lichen, moss, and mold. These can permanently damage the seals and cells. Leaving the modules susceptible to moisture ingress and hot spots.