Commercial Solar Panel Cleaning Equipment: Why Pressure Washing Solar Panels is Best
Commercial solar panel arrays play a pivotal role for businesses, offering an alternative energy source to maximize output and save money.
However, you can’t just install them and forget about them. Regular commercial solar panel cleaning is the difference between maximum energy output and poor results, leading to a wasted investment.
Since the technology arrived on the market, we’ve found that pressure washing solar panels is the most effective way to clean them. Washing solar panels with pressure washers allows you to blast away dirt buildup without harming the delicate electric setup underneath.
This guide reviews how to pressure wash solar panels. It includes a shopping checklist and an in-depth guide on how to clean solar panels with pressure washers for the best results.
Our team at Hotsy of Houston has helped warehouse managers, power washing companies, restaurant owners, and several other Texas businesses find the perfect pressure washer for solar panels.
We’ll provide you with a personalized recommendation that will help you optimize your energy efficiency and make your property shine.
Why Invest in Commercial Solar Panel Cleaning?
Before we dive into how to pressure wash solar panels, we need to discuss why it is essential.
After all, commercial solar panel cleaning costs may not be the first priority on your budget list. Investing in a high-quality solar panel pressure washer and other equipment will pay off massively for your business. Washing solar panels with pressure washers and similar tools can extend their lifespan, boost energy efficiency, and increase your curb appeal.
Maximize Efficiency and Performance
Energy output is one of the primary reasons businesses install solar panels. When solar panels are covered with dust or dirt, their production can drop by 5% to 30%. In other words, cleaning solar panels with pressure washers might save you thousands of dollars on your energy bills, which makes commercial solar panel cleaning costs far easier to accept.
Prolong Panel Lifespan and Maintaining Warranty
Cleaning with a high-quality solar panel pressure washer will also do wonders for the panels themselves. While solar panels are built for the outdoors, they still need upkeep.
Many product warranties for your solar panels require cleaning. If you don’t learn how to pressure wash solar panels, they could become damaged, and without a warranty protecting them, you’ll be left with nothing but expensive shards of glass.
The Aesthetic Side of Things
Washing solar panels with pressure washers isn’t only about performance. Think about all the visitors to your property—customers, vendors, tenants, and employees…the last thing you want is to give a bad first impression.
By learning how to clean solar panels with pressure washers, you’ll put the best face forward for your business. After all, if your solar panels are that shiny and tidy, customers will assume the rest of your products and services are of a similar quality.
How Much to Clean Commercial Solar Panels?
Neglecting solar panels is a losing game.
Let’s talk budgets. How much to clean commercial solar panels can you expect to pay?
The answer depends on whether you are in-house cleaning and pressure washing solar panels or outsourcing them.
Typical Commercial Solar Panel Cleaning Costs
Depending on the type of cleaning, professional companies cleaning solar panels with pressure washers will generally cost between $5 and $20 per panel. This is before additional fees, labor, and overhead built into the price.
As such, you may spend hundreds or even thousands of dollars outsourcing pressure washing solar panels on your commercial property.
Does it Make More Sense to Buy Your Own Commercial Solar Panel Cleaning Equipment?
Over time, the costs to hire a company for pressure washing commercial solar panels can become exorbitant. Can you pressure wash solar panels in-house instead? How much to clean commercial solar panels would that cost in comparison?
Renting a pressure washer for solar panels is often very affordable. Depending on your local market and how long you plan to use the solar panel pressure washer, you can be in and out for just over $100.
Alternatively, buying equipment outright gives you more options. Once you learn how to clean solar panels with a pressure washer, you can use those skills elsewhere on your property.
Purchasing a pressure washer will cost a few thousand dollars, but if you invest in the right machine, it will last far longer than the typical 20- to 30-year warranty on your solar panels, saving you thousands.
What Can You Use as Your Commercial Solar Panel Cleaning Equipment?
Solar panel pressure washers are your best bet for getting the job done quickly and effectively. A high-quality pressure washer for solar panels will streamline your entire process.
Can You Pressure Wash Solar Panels?
Can you pressure wash solar panels? Aren’t they delicate?
The answer is that you can–in fact, solar panel pressure washers are highly effective if you know what you’re doing.
But you can’t just pick any machine and start blasting. You need to learn how to pressure wash solar panels safely, which includes getting the correct settings to eliminate dirt without damaging the underlying technology.
Let’s break down the different types of pressure washers to help you choose the right one.
Optimal PSI and GPM Ratings
Finding the best commercial pressure washer for solar panels starts with sizing. This is defined by PSI (pounds per square inch) and GPM (gallons per minute), which cover the force and volume of water, respectively.
Solar panel pressure washers must be lightweight. PSI ratings at or under 1000 and GPM in the 1 to 2 range are ideal. As you learn how to pressure washer solar panels, you must also position yourself far away to avoid damage.
Water Temperature, Mobility, and More
Sizing is the first step but not the last thing to consider in a pressure washer.
Solar panel pressure washers are reliant on temperature. While there are hot water and cold water pressure washers available, you want to avoid heat. Cold water will prevent thermal shock to the panels.
The engine type is situation-dependent for pressure washing solar panels. Between gas vs electric pressure washers, use gas if you don’t want to worry about plugging in a machine. Electric models are preferred indoors or in areas where noise pollution is a concern.
If you need extra mobility or don’t have access to a water source, such as on a solar farm, a trailer can be a huge help. Here at Hotsy of Houston, we can help you avoid the hassle of a homemade pressure washer trailer setup. We sell and rent customizable pressure washer trailers in Houston that can tackle any job.
Buying vs Renting
Between buying and renting, which works best for your business?
You’ll need to analyze your long-term needs. Are you a small retail store with a few solar panels on your roof? A rental a few times a year may be all you need. On the other hand, a bustling restaurant, large factory complex, or budding power washing company will save money by buying a machine outright.
Remember that if you buy a solar panel pressure washer, you can often use it in other situations, like pressure washing parking lots, fleet pressure washing, and pressure washing factory floors.
However, rentals are simpler if you don’t want to worry about extra upkeep and fees like pressure washer repair costs, pressure washer storage, and maintaining a pressure washer.
If you need help deciding, ask our team! We’ve helped businesses figure out the best fit for their cleaning needs. We can even help you weigh pressure washing business start-up costs or how to quote pressure washing jobs if you’re just getting started.
Essential Detergents and Accessories
Learning how to pressure wash solar panels is easy, and you can make the process even easier with the best pressure washer accessories.
Extension wands are an excellent way to reach high areas without climbing. We also recommend soft brushes and scrubbing attachments to clean the panels quickly.
Pick up some wide-angled nozzles, as this will lower the effective PSI and keep the panels themselves safe.
While usually deciding what kind of soap to use in a pressure washer has plenty of nuances, that isn’t quite the case for solar panels. The best soap for pressure washers will be something light, often not soap at all. Deionized water is usually your best bet to ensure the coating on solar panels remains fully intact.
Trust Hotsy of Houston to Set You Up For Success!
Businesses across Southeast Texas rely on Hotsy of Houston for the equipment needed to pressure wash commercial buildings. We’ve helped local organizations like Ag-Pro, Sonic, and Bobcat.
As the area’s only authorized Hotsy dealer, we’re the best place to find quality industrial pressure washers in Houston. We pair our industry-leading machines with best-in-class friendly customer support, giving you the guidance you need to handle your cleaning needs.
We offer sales and industrial pressure washer rental in Houston, allowing you to choose a machine that works for your budget. You can also count on us to answer all your questions, like how to rent a power washer or which pressure washer detergent to use.
If you already have a machine that needs a bit of TLC, we’ve got your back. We offer on-site evaluations and comprehensive industrial pressure washer repair in Houston and the surrounding areas to ensure you avoid any costly downtime.
How to Pressure Wash Solar Panels: Step-by-Step Guide to Pressure Washing Solar Panels
Once you have your recruitment, it’s time to teach you how to pressure wash solar panels. Learning how to use a pressure washer is simple. Just put on some PPE to wear when pressure washing, and you’ll be ready to clean.
Step 1: Visual Inspection of the Panels
Begin by looking over the panels. Any cracks, chips, faulty connections, or biological gunk should be noted.
This includes spotting and removing any hazards in the surrounding area. You want to ensure your staff and yourself are safe while cleaning.
Step 2: Choose the Right Pressure Washer and Attachments
We advise you to have a quality solar panel pressure washer and accessories. Remember, low PSI and a wide nozzle are ideal. You can also use an extension wand to reach high areas.
Step 3: Rinse Panels With Low-Pressure Cold Water
You’ll begin by rinsing the panels with your wide spray nozzle from 24 inches or more away. Start low on PSI and slowly increase it.
Use gravity as an aide, starting at the panel’s top so the water flows downward.
Step 4: Apply a Non-Abrasive Cleaning Solution
You won’t have to worry about how to add soap to a pressure washer here specifically. Instead, if you have a specialty cleaner, you can apply it after the initial rinse. Don’t allow it to dry onto the panels before rinsing it off, as this will leave marks that can hamper energy efficiency.
Step 5: Gently Scrub to Remove Stubborn Stains
You can scrub any remaining stains, such as bird droppings or caked-on dirt, using a soft brush or attachment. With a specialty cleaner and water, removing these stains will be easy.
Step 6: Perform a Final Rinse to Remove Soap Residue
Perform a final low-pressure rinse to remove any remaining cleaner.
Step 7: Dry and Inspect the Panels
As you rinse, check for any remaining stains; you may need to restart the process.
You can let the solar panels air dry or use a squeegee tool to ensure no streaks are left behind.
Ideal Frequency for Cleaning Solar Panels With a Pressure Washer
Now that you know how to pressure wash solar panels, how often should you do it?
For general-purpose jobs, quarterly cleanings are a great starting point. However, if your area is dry, dusty, or heavily polluted, you will need monthly cleanings to clear the gunk.
Wrapping Up Our Guide to Pressure Washing Solar Panels
Pressure washing solar panels is the fastest and most effective way to remove dirt, dust, and biological residue from your array. However, you need the right mix of commercial solar panel cleaning equipment–otherwise, the array could be in danger.
That’s where Hotsy of Houston is here to help. We provide high-quality machines and personalized guidance to give you peace of mind.
We’ve helped thousands of local businesses across industries, including pressure washing farm equipment, cleaning grease traps, restaurant pressure washing, cleaning commercial vent hoods, warehouse pressure washing, cleaning cooling towers, and pressure washing meat markets.
So whether you want an industrial cold water pressure washer in Houston for solar panels or an industrial hot water pressure washer in Houston for other jobs, we’ve got you covered. Stop by our Pasadena location or give us a call for a free quote today!
