What materials or equipment do I need to clean solar panels at home?

To clean solar panels at home, you’ll need the following core equipment, tailored for safety and efficiency:

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1. Water-fed telescopic poles

• Purpose: Reach panels on rooftops or elevated areas without ladders.
• Options:
  
  • Manual poles (e.g., 13–27 ft fibreglass poles with angle adaptors) for smaller setups.
  • Modular pole systems (e.g., SOLA-TECS 8) for adjustable reach.
• UK suppliers: Streamline Eco-Lite (17–27 ft), Xline Systems, and Window Cleaning Warehouse offer poles compatible with pure water systems.

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2. Specialised brushes

• Nylon-bristle brushes: Gentle on panels and effective for removing dust/bird droppings (avoid wire brushes).
• Rotating brush heads: Improve scrubbing efficiency for stubborn grime (e.g., Xline’s rotating WFP brushes).
• Soap dispensers: Optional for detergent use (e.g., Unger dispenser paired with Streamline brushes).

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3. Water filtration systems

• Essential for pure water cleaning: Removes minerals to prevent streaking/limescale.
• Types:
  
  • Portable filters: For small-scale use (e.g., 6m Reach Water Filter at ~£230).
  • Van/trailer systems: Larger setups with 500–1,000L pure water tanks (e.g., Xline trailer systems).

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4. Cleaning robots (for high-end needs)

• hyCLEANER solarROBOT: Remote-controlled robots (Compact: ~£24k; Pro: ~£33k) for commercial-scale cleaning.
• Pros: Minimise manual labour, ideal for large arrays.
• Cons: High cost; impractical for most homes.

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Practical UK-specific advice

• Frequency: Clean every 3–6 months, or after heavy pollen/dust storms.
• Costs:
• DIY kits: £70–£200 (pole + brush).
• Filtration add-ons: £200–£2,000+.
• Mistakes to avoid:
• Using hard water (causes limescale).
• Cleaning during peak sunlight (risk of thermal shock).
• Applying excessive pressure (may damage panels).

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Recent UK considerations

• Efficiency loss: Dirty panels can lose 15–50% output, important given rising energy costs.
• Water restrictions: Use rainwater harvesting or recycled water in drought-prone areas.
• Safety: Comply with UK ladder safety guidelines (e.g., HSE’s “SAFE” acronym: Secure, Angle, Foot, Grip).