Does Cleaning Solar Panels Void the Warranty?

Why cleaning doesn’t void a solar warranty

A panel warranty is there to cover the panel itself. Most panels come with two: a product warranty for defects in how the panel was made, and a performance warranty for how much power it should still make after a set number of years. Neither one is about dirt, and keeping the glass clean is part of normal upkeep.

What a warranty usually doesn’t cover is damage. If the glass gets scratched, a panel cracks, or water gets forced into the wiring while it’s being cleaned, that’s damage from handling, not a defect, and a claim for it can be turned down. That’s why the method matters so much more than the cleaning.

There’s often a third warranty too: your installer’s workmanship warranty. It usually covers the install itself, like the mounts, the wiring and the spots where the racking attaches to your roof. Read that one as well.

What panel makers usually warn against

Many panel makers put cleaning guidance in their installation or owner’s manual. The details change from brand to brand, but the cautions tend to look alike:

• High pressure. No pressure washer. A hard spray can push water past seals and into the frame and wiring.
• Anything abrasive. Scrub pads, steel wool, scrapers and gritty cleaners can scratch the glass and any coating on it.
• Harsh chemicals. Strong solvents and cleaners can be hard on the glass, the frame and the seals.
• Standing, kneeling or leaning on panels. Weight on a panel can crack the cells inside, sometimes with no mark you can see on the glass.
• Cold water on hot glass. The cool of the morning or evening is easier on panels than the afternoon sun.
• Spraying up under the panels. Keep water on the glass and away from the wiring underneath.

Your own manual is the one that counts, so check it before anyone cleans your panels, us included.

How to find your panel maker’s cleaning rules

1. Find your panel brand and model. They’re usually in the paperwork from your installer, and on a label on the back of each panel.
2. Look up the manual. Many panel makers post their installation and owner’s manuals on their websites. Look for a section on cleaning or maintenance.
3. Read your workmanship warranty. Your installer’s paperwork says what they cover, and may say what they want you to do before anyone works on or around the system.
4. Leasing? Read your agreement. If you lease your panels or pay a company for the power they make, that company may own the system, and your agreement may say who can clean or service it.

Not sure? Ask your installer

If the manual is hard to follow or you can’t find it, call the company that put your system in. A few good questions:

• Does my panel warranty say how the panels should be cleaned?
• Is there anything you’d want me, or a cleaner, to avoid?
• Does my workmanship warranty say anything about other people working near the panels?
• Is there a soap or cleaner you’d suggest, or one I should never use?

Ask them to put the answers in an email, so you have them in writing if a question ever comes up later.

Can you clean solar panels yourself without voiding the warranty?

Panels on the ground or on a low mount you can reach are usually fine to look after yourself, as long as you follow your manual. Roof panels are a different story. The bigger risk up there isn’t the warranty. It’s the ladder and the roof, and a slip can hurt you and the panels. Our guide to how often to clean solar panels in Boise covers when to clean and the do-it-yourself basics.

What makes it harder in the Treasure Valley

• Hose and sprinkler water. When it dries on the glass, the minerals stay behind as white spots. On ground-mounted panels, turn the sprinkler heads away from the glass.
• Dust. Farm ground, gravel roads and all the building around the valley put a steady film on panels, and some of it bakes on.
• Dry summers. The long, sunny weeks when panels make the most power are also our driest, and a light rain mostly moves dust down to the bottom edge.
• Snow and gray inversion weeks. Let snow slide off on its own. Don’t climb up to clear it, and never scrape panels with a shovel or anything metal. Inversion weeks can leave a dull film by spring.

How we clean solar panels

We clean panels with soft brushes and pure, filtered water at low pressure. No harsh chemicals, no pressure washer and nothing that scratches the glass, and because the water has its minerals filtered out, it dries without spots.

We can’t speak for your warranty, though, because every panel maker writes its own terms. Have your manual’s cleaning section handy when you ask for a quote, so you can check it against how we work.

We carry general liability insurance, with proof available on request. You can book solar panel cleaning on its own or add it to an outside window cleaning, so the glass and the panels get done in one trip. We clean panels on commercial buildings too, across Boise, Meridian, Eagle, Nampa and the rest of the valley.

“Amazing communication, promptness and service! I appreciate the care and respect toward our home and the superior job done on my windows! What a treat!”

The bottom line

Cleaning by itself isn’t what voids a solar warranty. Damage from the wrong method is what to watch for. Read your manual, ask your installer if anything is unclear, and keep high pressure, scrub pads, harsh chemicals and feet off your panels. If you’d rather leave the roof to someone else, get a free quote or call or text (208) 484-5207, Monday through Saturday, 8am to 7pm.

Keep reading

• How Often Should You Clean Solar Panels in Boise?
• Does Rain Clean Solar Panels in Boise?
• Can You Clean Solar Panels With a Garden Hose and Tap Water?
• How Much Power Do Dirty Solar Panels Lose?