Keeping Solar on the roof clean for longer.

[Rock-N-Ruth]

Ruth and I have 12 big solar panels on our roof, and have had them up there since 2018. We live in the Land of Enchanted Dust Devils, New Mexico. You would think living in the desert that you wouldn't see muddy splotches on the solar panels day after day, but we do.

Apparently at night, moisture settles on the flat surfaces that face the sky. Then the wind kicks up a bunch of fine dust that sticks to the moisture and becomes mud. Some parts of the year we would find ourselves up on the roof with a hose and a microfiber cloth. Until I tried treating the panels with RainX. I use the regular RainX treatment and give it a booster about every six months.

In most cases the moisture beads and makes little dust balls that the wind blows away. If we have a rain and dust storm, which will make a muddy mess on the panels, a spritz with the hose cleans them right off, no need to scrub or squeegee.

 

[nikitis]

Did you notice a decrease in power intake once adding the rainx?

Obviosly it improved it normally by keeping dust off, but curious to know if the rainx itself blocks any of the sunlight? I imagine it wouldn't but want to know if it did go down even slightly in your daily intake.

 

[Rock-N-Ruth]

Did you notice a decrease in power intake once adding the rainx?

Obviosly it improved it normally by keeping dust off, but curious to know if the rainx itself blocks any of the sunlight? I imagine it wouldn't but want to know if it did go down even slightly in your daily intake.

None whatsoever.

 

[nikitis]

Noted, thanks. I will do this myself then.

 

[Rock-N-Ruth]

Make sure you do it when the panels are cool.

 

[Ozbozz57]

Interesting idea with the Rain-X.