Dear Diary,There was a time when solar energy for the home was thought of as an
esoteric choice, but that is hardly the case anymore. With growing
popluar consciousness about meritor
Brake Caliper parts environmental issues as well as sky rocketing fuel costs, more and more people are turning to alternative
energy sources to power their homes and their lives. If youve already
made the switch and have invested in a solar energy system, youre going
to want to make sure that you maintain it to ensure that you are
reviving the maximum benefits in regards to your energy costs. One of
the most basic and important ways you can do this is by keeping the
system clean.
Over time, your system panels are going to get dirty. This natural
occurrence decreases the devices ability to absorb energy from the sun.
If you dont maintain them properly and let all that dirt and grime
accumulate, you are going to see quite a significant loss in your energy
efficiency. Dirty panels can reduce the power output of your system by
ten to fifteen percent. Now that youve read this, you might be thinking
about grabbing a dust mop and a ladder and heading to the roof right
now to take care of the problem, however, we strongly advise that you
leave your tools in the garage, stay where you are and keep reading.
Just like a furnace or radiator, your alternative energy system is a
complex machine and you are going to want someone with an in depth
knowledge of its workings to be performing all maintenance. Also, its
dangerous up there. Let someone else do the job.
Luckily, since this type of energy technology has now become fairly
common place, it isnt at all difficult to find companies who specialize
in solar panel cleaning. As a start, you could contact the company who
installed your system. They might do maintenance themselves or should be
able to recommend a company that can. Its probably worth it to
comparison shop on the service though. You can look up a few different
companies online and call to get quotes. The cost of the procedure will
vary depending on how many panels you have. Most companies will have a
flat rate for the first few panels with additional costs per additional
tile. If you have ten or fewer panels, you should be able to get the job
done for around a hundred dollars.
As stated earlier, dirty panels can lead to a ten to fifteen percent
decrease in your energy output, so its in your best interest to have a
solar panel cleaning at least twice a year. Its especially important
during season changes when there is a lot of pollen in the atmosphere.
At this time of year you will see a pretty big increase in the amount of
dirt and debris on the system. When you consider the impact a dirty
system can have on your electric bill, its plain to see that a solar
power cleaning pretty much pays for itself. You took the initiative to
make an investment in the system initially, so you clearly understand
value. Make sure that youre getting the maximum benefit on your
investment by properly maintaining your system.