Solar Panel Cleaning Sunshine Coast

Salt spray from the ocean settles on panels in Mooloolaba, Coolum Beach, Sunshine Beach and Caloundra and mixes with morning dew into a film. Inland in Buderim, Sippy Downs and the hinterland, pollen, dust and leaves from nearby trees are the bigger issue. Birds love the edge of a solar array.

Rain helps, but on low-tilt panels it often just moves dirt to the bottom edge, where it builds up along the frame.

Solar glass is built to let as much light through as possible, and it has coatings and seals that do not like rough treatment. That is why we clean panels with deionised water and soft brushes, and nothing harsher.

Tap water carries dissolved minerals. When it dries on glass it leaves spots and a thin residue, which is exactly the film you are trying to get rid of. Deionised water has those minerals removed, so it dries clean without spots or residue.

We do not use harsh chemicals, detergents or high pressure on panels. Detergents can leave a film that attracts dust, and high pressure can force water past seals and into frames. A soft brush lifts salt, dust and droppings while protecting the glass coating, the frame and the seals around it. For more background, read our guide on what to consider before cleaning solar panels.

It depends on where your home sits and what is around it. Homes close to the beach in places like Mooloolaba, Coolum Beach or Caloundra collect salt film from sea spray and morning dew. Bird droppings are common wherever panels sit near trees, water or a favourite perch, and they do not wash off in normal rain.

Dust from building work around new estates, such as parts of Sippy Downs and Little Mountain, settles on panels too. Overhanging trees drop leaves, pollen and seed pods that collect along the bottom edge of the frame.

The simplest check is your monitoring app. If generation on clear, sunny days drops compared with similar days earlier in the year, dirty panels are worth ruling out. A look from the ground or an upstairs window helps too. If you can see film or droppings, it is time for a clean.

Solar cleaning means working at height, so safety is planned before anyone goes up. We look at the roof type, pitch, height and the layout of the panels, along with how to get onto the roof and where to work from.

Where the job calls for it, we use appropriate height safety equipment and set up before starting. Some panels can be cleaned with water-fed poles from a safer position. Others need careful roof access, and steep or high roofs may need extra planning.

We also take care of the roof itself. Tiles, roof sheets, flashings and cabling are walked around and treated with care. If anything looks damaged or unusual on the way, such as cracked glass or loose cabling, we point it out so you can decide what to do.

A dirty roof above the panels can wash grime back onto them. Many customers combine solar cleaning with roof cleaning and gutter cleaning. Glass around the home can be done with window cleaning using the same pure water.