Do I Need to Clean Solar Panels After a Wildfire in California?

by Solar Panel Cleaning

Unfortunately, ash from California wildfires can affect everything it touches, including your solar panels. You do need to clean solar panels after a wildfire in California. In fact, you should really be cleaning them every six months! Any sort of build-up on them can reduce their efficiency, and ash can reduce their efficiency by up to twenty percent. This can begin to negate the reasons you purchased them to begin with.

Safe and Effective Solutions to Clean Solar Panels

At ASF Clean Team, we have the proper equipment and supplies to ensure that your solar panels are as good as new after a wildfire in California. Did you know that you should never pressure wash your panels? That soap is bad for them? Even using a regular water hose to clean them can still leave behind residue that will prevent them from functioning properly. You don’t want that mixing with ash.

ASF Clean Team knows all the ins and outs of cleaning solar panels because we do it all the time. We are experts at caring for every part of a home’s exterior.  We will come to you prepared with the appropriate tools, water, and can even get things clean without the use of toxic chemicals ninety-nine percent of the time! We pride ourselves on doing things as naturally as possible for you, your family, and our environment. 

Our experts will come equipped with ladders, solutions appropriate for your solar panels, and water that is filtered so you don’t end up with hard water deposits after cleaning. Let us take all of the guesswork and potential extra work from getting it wrong out of the equation for you. We would hate to see you waste time and money trying to figure out what works to get clean solar panels if ash gets on them.

Insured Experts

We also have insured experts working on our team. This allows us to be on your property and roof without worry or concern over things going terribly wrong. Our employees are trained to be as safe as possible while caring for your home. You can kick back and relax while they work away to ensure your home is spotless and ready to go!

This also means you don’t have to climb any ladders to get to solar panels and risk your health. What would happen with family finances should you slip and fall while trying to clean your solar panels? Best case scenario you recover quickly from your injuries and your family is only mildly impacted by the incident. Don’t take the chance that it could be worse, and let our experts take care of things for you.

Make sure you are getting the most out of your solar panels after a wildfire in California by giving ASF Clean Team a call. Our team is trained and ready to go. We have the best tools, employees, and solutions to ensure that your solar panels are working in top condition all year long. Don’t wait until your warranty is voided because of damage from uncleaned solar panels. Reach out and schedule your bi-annual cleaning today. This will help you continue to save money long term. 

How Clean Solar Panels Boost Clean Energy

by with No Comment Window Cleaning

Ah, solar panels. You probably got them thinking they would help save money on your electric bill, and are better for the environment. Those points are true! But, you may have also thought they were something you could get and then forget about. This, unfortunately, is not true. If you want your solar panels to truly fulfill their purpose, you have to give them some attention in the form of cleaning. Why? Well, here’s how clean solar panels boost clean energy.

Why Clean Solar Panels are Important

When you first got your solar panels, you probably noticed amazing performance. But, as time has gone on, that output has slowly gotten less impressive. This is because your solar panels have progressively been collecting dirt, even if they’re positioned at an angle. And this is especially true in California, where we get limited rain, so solar panels get very dusty here. Think about any surface in your home. If you leave it alone without cleaning it long enough, it’s going to collect dust, no matter what angle. So, the same is going to happen with your solar panels.

Now think of your phone’s camera lens. If you have a fingerprint or dirt on it, your picture is going to be blurry until you clean it off. The same concept applies to solar panels. If there is a layer of dirt, they are going to have a harder time getting energy from the sun, which then affects your energy. But, with clean solar panels, they will be able to receive energy like they did when they were brand new.

Cleaning Solar Panels

So, now that you know how clean solar panels boost clean energy, how do you get clean solar panels? Unlike cleaning surfaces in your home or your phone’s camera lens, solar panels are pretty picky about how they like to be cleaned. You can’t just use any old cleaner, or even hose water, to clean your solar panels. Cleaning with the wrong materials can leave a residue or mineral buildup on your solar panels, leaving you with solar panels that are no cleaner than before.

So, how do you get clean solar panels if you can’t clean them yourself? Leave it to the professionals. At ASF Clean Team, we know that clean energy is important to you, so we use chemical-free cleaning methods to clean your solar panels (and everything else). We only use state-of-the-art equipment and very hot water to clean your solar panels. 

But how is this different from doing it yourself? Our equipment filters the water so there is no mineral buildup or residue left after the cleaning. It also dries clear, so there aren’t any spots left like after it rains or you use hose water. Your solar panels are left sparkling like they are brand new, boosting your clean energy.

Are you ready to boost your clean energy? Contact ASF Clean Team today to get a free quote. We service both residential and commercial buildings, and since your solar panels are outside, you don’t even have to be there when we come clean.

Never Use Hose Water on Solar Panels

by with No Comment Solar Panel Cleaning

You bought solar panels to save yourself money. But, you’ve started to notice that they’re not working as well as they did when you first got them. Well, that’s to be expected, because dirt’s going to build up on them just like it does on everything else. You’ve heard that a lot of times rain will clean off solar panels, but we all know how rare rain is in California. So how do you clean your solar panels? Maybe you could just use your hose to wash them off? Not so fast! Before you break out the hose — stop. We’re here to tell you why you should never use hose water on solar panels.

How Do Solar Panels Get Dirty?

Before you even want to know how to clean your solar panels and why you should never use hose water, you’re probably wondering how your solar panels even get dirty. Have you ever leaned against the side of your house and noticed dirt on your body? There is just always dirt in the air that will dirty your solar panels, not to mention the bird poop and debris, such as leaves. All of this creates a layer of build up on your solar panels, which can greatly affect their energy efficiency.

Why Can’t I Clean Them with Hose Water?

As convenient as it would be, you should not clean your solar panels with hose water. Think about it. Where does your hose water come from — not the same place as your purified drinking water. Hose water is unfiltered, which means it will leave behind mineral deposits like calcium. So while you may be getting some of the dirt off, you’re just replacing it with something else that will block the sunlight.

So can’t you just use soap with the hose water? Again, no. Think about your soap. Do you ever actually get all of the soap off something? That answer is probably no, even if you think you do. If you use soap to clean your solar panels, you’re going to have the same issue. Soap will be left behind, and your energy will not be any more efficient. There is just no good way to use hose water and get spotless solar panels.

The Right Way to Clean Your Solar Panels

Now that you know why you should never use hose water on solar panels, it’s time to learn how you should clean your solar panels. If you live in the Sacramento area, ASF Clean Team can help. ASF Clean Team offers both residential solar panel cleaning and commercial solar panel cleaning. We will come to your location and do the cleaning for you — you don’t even have to be there!

But how is our cleaning different from hose water, you ask? Well, our tools are made specifically for solar panels. This includes a filter, so you don’t have to worry about any calcium build up. And, your solar panels will dry clear, with no sticky residue like soap, bringing back maximum energy efficiency. 

Are you ready to get your energy savings back? Contact ASF Clean Team today.