How to clean solar panels and remove lichen
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- Опубліковано 21 кві 2023
- This video shows the lichen build up on my solar panels and how I removed it and prevented re-growth. A step by step approach to cleaning, tools I used. I explain what lichen is, how it forms and how to remove it.
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4.0kW solar array, installed Sept 2011, 16 x 250w Sanyo HIT-H250E01 panels
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2.34kW solar array, installed Oct 2019, 6 x SunPower Maxeon 3 390w panels
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Based in Rushden, East Midlands, UK
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This is great - we’re going to include a cleaning and maintenance package for customers going forward to avoid this.
Prevention is far better than the cure, great idea. I wish I'd have kept on top of my cleaning schedule. Still at least I now can.
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Thanks for this video. Its the best honest review of how to deal with lichen as there is no "quick fix". My array has been up now for 7 years and was installed when FIT was running. The top row is now very bad and I can see from my inverter which measures by string that it is now giving at least 10% less than my less covered lichen lower row. Both are reading a lot lower than just a couple of years ago when there was no perceptible lichen. With FIT still running for me for several more years it is not just the looks of the panels but also the effect on solar production which has tipped my balance and will now have to bite the bullet. I dont have the luxury of your ground floor extension to stand on so will have to look to buy a scaffold tower (I can use that for other things as well). I did try standing on top of a ladder with the big long 8mm water brush, but that really is not safe. Please stay safe yourself as I did not like the idea of straddling the ridge and leaning down to clean. Best wishes malcolm
Thanks for watching Malcolm. When I searched for how to clean lichen almost all the videos were trying to sell their cleaning services rather than show how to fix the issue, hence my video. Access is always a problem for roof mounted for most installations. A DIY scaffolding tower is a great solution, buy coincidence I have just purchased from BPS Access Solutions www.laddersandscaffoldtowers.co.uk/acatalog/DIY-Scaffold-Towers.html and that is a good stable tower. I did get the 6m high one, but you may not need that high. Anyway good luck. Thank you for your concern on my ridge monkey antics. This is one reason why I purchased the tower!
You will probably find most window cleaners can clean solar panels as they use water fed pole with pure water. I would say once or twice a year should keep the lichen at bay. Tip, if you use a scraper, wet the glass and only scrape in one direction ie scrape up, lift the blade off the glass then scrape up again, never scrape up and down as you will drag dirt across the glass and scratch it.
Good tips thanks
Job well done 👍👍👍
Thanks Glyn. It makes me appreciate window cleaners so much more.
John also if you can get a few photos of the tower how you store it .. Thanks !
I try to do a cleaning once after a rain, here in tx. Howardwick Tx.
A pain I'll agree.
Thanks for watching Jodi. After rainfall is an ideal time to clean the panels.
Hack, it’s said “Lycan” but that doesn’t matter tbh, mix Mortegg or Jeyes fluid and spray that on when panels are dry, Mother Nature will do the rest! The same applies to paths and green fence panels! You can save hours of jet washing and also spray your roses and fruit trees in the winter to avoid pests in spring! You don’t need much just a few caps fulls in a watering can or sprayer and once a year treatment! ❤
Thanks for this. Not sure I'd be happy to leave a chemical to dry out on my solar panels. That said, thanks for the suggestion I'm sure it will help some on here.
@@johntisburysurely chemical leaves marks on the panels
@@sweetvuvuzela4634 my thoughts too. I did use some Isopropyl alcohol l but that evaporates really quickly, to be safe I also rinsed the panels afterwards.
i wonder if a product like rain x would help it makes water run off windscreens rapidly , we use it on rally cars ect its very effective and doesn't cause blurring or go opaque ect .muck and dust wont stick to screen also just a though
That's a great idea. I think the application as per the manufactures instructions would be the problem. Applying an even coat and then reaching the panels to buff off the Rain x would be tricky.
John Thanks for this. Any chance when you get time for this sort of thing to have a video of your 6m tower and how you manage to clean it with the pole ... Would love to see it to get the confidcence to do that sort of thing
also it will be great to see how you store it .. Thanks !!
okay I'll sort that out. TBF I only use the tower to get to the roof for moss removal or similar. I can clean all the panels from the single story roof. I will do a video to explain and also cover the tower at the same time.
Thanks
Great video thanks. Please can you advise if you need two resin tanks? Is one not sufficient or do they have different functions?
Thanks for watching. Whether you need 1 or 2 tanks depends on the quality of your water. I started off with 1 but found that when I used the TDS (Total Dissolved Solids) meter I was still above 40 (from memory). So I purchased a second one to allow more contact time with the resin and now the water when measured is 0. I have labelled them 1 and 2 and the first tank in line will do the brunt of the work and therefore the resin will need changing more frequently. Many people when they come to change the first tank rotate the 2nd take to become the first one and the newly filled tank becomes the 2nd inline. Then repeat that process on the next refill.
Thanks so much for the explanation. All understood. I have panels recently installed and found this video very helpful and informative and will be purchasing a similar system to yours. Great work!
This makes me feel very fortunate in having been able to have ground mounted panels. We do have an issue with bird droppings but at ground level it is easy to regularly clean.
We did make a mistake in installing very close to the ground which means that we have to keep on top of any plant growth close to the panels.
I assume it is ok for a home owner to go up a ladder but there would be health and safety regulatory issues for third parties?
Ground mounted certainly has its benefits in term of keeping them clean for sure Bryan.
In terms of third parties working on at heights you would expect them to have 3rd party / public liability insurance before undertaking such work.
The Health and Safety Executive would be involved if there was an accident / death as a result of a fall. They would want to see ladder certificates, ladder inspection schedules, inspection tags, recording of scheduled checks.
I am a bit out of date with regulations now but would a third party not feel obliged to use scaffolding?
@@bryanlewens2068 I guess they would make a judgement call based on the job in hand and access requirements to undertake that work. A ladder, a tower, cherry picker or full blown scaffolding could be options.
ooh i havent checked mine and they have been on 10 years, but in my defense i live close to the sea and we dont get much lichen or other growing on our roofs proably because of the salt air :) :)
Perhaps time to pop out and have a look. A pair of binoculars are a handy tool if you have some.
Do you need to use water softeners? Since rain is naturally soft, then wait until it is raining and clean the solar panels then. Alternatively, use water collected in a water butt (filtered to remove any particles), but I just use the rain since I live in Yorkshire....
Thanks for watching and good suggestions. You need a good rinse with plenty of water to completely remove any remnants of the displaced lichen and algae after cleaning to prevent re-growth. Rain would be okay if it is heavy / prolonged. The water butt is an excellent suggestion with a pump and filter to remove any debris.
Many suggest they don't need to clean their panels because the rain cleans them. This is unfortunately is a fallacy. It's akin to saying you never need to wash your car, or house windows, as the rain cleans them.
i know that one of the yellow ones only grow where there is clean air .
This I've heard too.
why alcohol rather than the usual chemical for "soft washing" (cleaning) roof tiles, ie sodium hypochlorite ("bleach") ?
I wanted to use something that would not dwell too long on the panels and would quickly evaporate not leaving any residue. I suspect there's many alternative products available which are suitable so long as it ends up with no residue. I used alcohol principally to remove the algae/lichen.
SH is corrosive and can eat away at protective coating on the panels. It’s also likely going to leave a residue, blocking sunlight. For efficient cleaning, use a deionized water fed poll system and a quality glass cleaner. You can use a foam sprayer to quickly hit all the panels with the glass cleaner, scrub them with your brush, and then use the deionized water to rinse them for a spot-free appearance. With the right setup, you can clean all of the solar panels on a home’s roof in about 10-15 minutes.
Stainless steel pad holder will help speed the process up too
Thank you for the recommendation, would that damage the anti-glare protection found on many solar panels?
@@johntisbury not that we have found
Good to know thank you. I’m familiar with your product line.
For solar panels cleaning you need a rotating brush ,not a windows cleaning brush. Dont use a windows scraper , get a lichen removal bio chemicals.
Thanks for watching.
The water feed pole I now use is has a brush head specially designed for cleaning solar panels. I would have preferred not to use a scraper, however bio chemicals were not an option due to limited access to the arrays and it being a DIY cleaning.
@@johntisbury Dude ....my company provide windows cleaning since 2005. This brush is not for solar panels cleaning,trust me 👍 I have a several rotating brushes and solar panel cleaning robot .