Clean It Up

UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: andyralph on October 15, 2022, 02:33:29 pm

Title: Solar panel cleaning
Post by: andyralph on October 15, 2022, 02:33:29 pm
Hi all any advice on best brush for cleaning solar panels thanks andy
Title: Re: Solar panel cleaning
Post by: Smudger on October 15, 2022, 02:49:40 pm
Standard w/c brush for most

Something stiffer if covered in lichen

P/w does a great job too

Darran
Title: Re: Solar panel cleaning
Post by: the king on October 15, 2022, 05:54:20 pm
Soft flocked is Best But as above ^^stiff works better when lichen is on it gardeners supper scraper works well too
Title: Re: Solar panel cleaning
Post by: Splash & dash on October 15, 2022, 06:14:53 pm
We usually use a wider brush if it’s hundreds of panels , if it’s just domestic use the same one as for Windows supreame stiff .
Title: Re: Solar panel cleaning
Post by: zesty on October 15, 2022, 07:09:59 pm
Rarely do it now as I hate it, but started to pressure wash them if lichen is involved. Much the same a smudger.

A stiff brush won’t touch lichen, any window cleaning brush will perform well on standard lightly dirtied panels.
Title: Re: Solar panel cleaning
Post by: reflection on October 15, 2022, 07:27:44 pm
Do they have to be turned off while you are cleaning them
Title: Re: Solar panel cleaning
Post by: Splash & dash on October 15, 2022, 07:40:24 pm
Do they have to be turned off while you are cleaning them


You cannot turn off solar panels they  are live all the time   You can only isolate the supply to the  property.
Title: Re: Solar panel cleaning
Post by: zesty on October 16, 2022, 07:41:57 am
I rarely bother with them now, as panels have now been around for years and years, they are often so unbelievably dirty I can’t be bothered. Unless they are easy to access.
Title: Re: Solar panel cleaning
Post by: Ggh on October 16, 2022, 11:05:55 am
Rarely done with wfp anymore.
Try a Ksolara FK4.
Title: Re: Solar panel cleaning
Post by: Splash & dash on October 16, 2022, 01:20:42 pm
Rarely done with wfp anymore.
Try a Ksolara FK4.


Rarely done with wfp ????some solar farms arn  but the vast majority are  still done this way I live in the most densely covered area for solar panels in the country  trust me the majority are still done with wfp
Title: Re: Solar panel cleaning
Post by: DJW on October 16, 2022, 02:46:50 pm
I avoid them now, once you realise no wfp brush in the world will remove Lichen. Gardiners scraper is too narrow, needs to be about 4x wider for solar panels.
Title: Re: Solar panel cleaning
Post by: Splash & dash on October 16, 2022, 03:40:20 pm
I avoid them now, once you realise no wfp brush in the world will remove Lichen. Gardiners scraper is too narrow, needs to be about 4x wider for solar panels.


A squeegee Chanel without a rubber works well as a scraper one pass and the liken is gone if it’s damp when you do it .
Title: Re: Solar panel cleaning
Post by: Smudger on October 16, 2022, 04:26:01 pm
I avoid them now, once you realise no wfp brush in the world will remove Lichen. Gardiners scraper is too narrow, needs to be about 4x wider for solar panels.


A squeegee Chanel without a rubber works well as a scraper one pass and the liken is gone if it’s damp when you do it .

Shhhhh that’s my secret weapon
Title: Re: Solar panel cleaning
Post by: Ggh on October 16, 2022, 06:21:59 pm
Rarely done with wfp anymore.
Try a Ksolara FK4.


Rarely done with wfp ????some solar farms arn  but the vast majority are  still done this way I live in the most densely covered area for solar panels in the country  trust me the majority are still done with wfp

No they’re not. There’s a place for manual cleaning but many O and M companies specify’machine clean’ these days. Things have moved on.
Title: Re: Solar panel cleaning
Post by: Splash & dash on October 16, 2022, 06:32:50 pm
Rarely done with wfp anymore.
Try a Ksolara FK4.


Rarely done with wfp ????some solar farms arn  but the vast majority are  still done this way I live in the most densely covered area for solar panels in the country  trust me the majority are still done with wfp

No they’re not. There’s a place for manual cleaning but many O and M companies specify’machine clean’ these days. Things have moved on.


We used to have the main contracts for our area Evan on large solar farms I gave it up in the end hated doing it , a lot of the sites ware we are cannot be done with machines  due to insufficient space between the rows , they are still cleaned by WFP now by another company , also all  domestic and most ones on farm buildings are still done the same way , we still have a few private jobs like this  and a few schools .
Title: Re: Solar panel cleaning
Post by: Perfect Windows on October 17, 2022, 11:12:44 am
I recall being asked to sub a 15,000 panel site. £3,000. 20p a panel. I considered it for about 30 seconds and turned it down. Someone still turns up occasionally and does it, presumably at or around that price.

Vin
Title: Re: Solar panel cleaning
Post by: Bungle on October 17, 2022, 11:20:54 am
I avoid them now, once you realise no wfp brush in the world will remove Lichen. Gardiners scraper is too narrow, needs to be about 4x wider for solar panels.


A squeegee Chanel without a rubber works well as a scraper one pass and the liken is gone if it’s damp when you do it .

Shhhhh that’s my secret weapon

The risk of scratches would be high wouldn't it?
Title: Re: Solar panel cleaning
Post by: Splash & dash on October 17, 2022, 12:23:04 pm
I recall being asked to sub a 15,000 panel site. £3,000. 20p a panel. I considered it for about 30 seconds and turned it down. Someone still turns up occasionaly and does it, presumably at or around that price.

Vin

Lol that would be solar steve clean clear solar solutions 😂😂😂😂 we dealt with the company’s directly but hated doing it it’s soul destroying work so gave it up
Title: Re: Solar panel cleaning
Post by: Splash & dash on October 17, 2022, 12:24:14 pm
I avoid them now, once you realise no wfp brush in the world will remove Lichen. Gardiners scraper is too narrow, needs to be about 4x wider for solar panels.


A squeegee Chanel without a rubber works well as a scraper one pass and the liken is gone if it’s damp when you do it .

Shhhhh that’s my secret weapon

The risk of scratches would be high wouldn't it?
Using an alloy channel it’s fine
Title: Re: Solar panel cleaning
Post by: Slacky on October 17, 2022, 01:23:15 pm
The price per panel for solar cleaning is remarkable these days compared to Solar Steve's 20p a panel days....
Title: Re: Solar panel cleaning
Post by: Splash & dash on October 17, 2022, 06:06:32 pm
The price per panel for solar cleaning is remarkable these days compared to Solar Steve's 20p a panel days....


We no longer charge per panel I charge on how easy or difficult access is and what’s on the panels , we did 16 panels on a house a few weeks ago covered in liken had to have a scaffold tower to get to it didn’t want the job so quoted £500 plus the tower  plus vat , guy said it’s got to be done so do it . Nice little  earner .
Title: Re: Solar panel cleaning
Post by: Bungle on October 17, 2022, 06:19:45 pm
The price per panel for solar cleaning is remarkable these days compared to Solar Steve's 20p a panel days....


We no longer charge per panel I charge on how easy or difficult access is and what’s on the panels , we did 16 panels on a house a few weeks ago covered in liken had to have a scaffold tower to get to it didn’t want the job so quoted £500 plus the tower  plus vat , guy said it’s got to be done so do it . Nice litter earner .

 :o £37.50 a panel! Did you keep a straight face when you told him how much?
Title: Re: Solar panel cleaning
Post by: Slacky on October 17, 2022, 06:32:56 pm
Ive had £20 a panel but not £37....  ;)  ;)  ;)
Title: Re: Solar panel cleaning
Post by: Splash & dash on October 17, 2022, 06:45:11 pm
The price per panel for solar cleaning is remarkable these days compared to Solar Steve's 20p a panel days....


We no longer charge per panel I charge on how easy or difficult access is and what’s on the panels , we did 16 panels on a house a few weeks ago covered in liken had to have a scaffold tower to get to it didn’t want the job so quoted £500 plus the tower  plus vat , guy said it’s got to be done so do it . Nice litter earner .

 :o £37.50 a panel! Did you keep a straight face when you told him how much?


Didn’t want the job  but at that price it was a lot sweeter I do this all the time now with liken covered  panels some won’t pay it but most will as they cannot get anyone else , we did one job that solar Steve quoted the  woman £1200 plus vat , it was 40 muinit drive each way  from our base  but only 12 panels , she was delighted with £500 plus vat thought it was an absolute bargain, I now suggest they phone Steve and get a written quote off him  forward it to us and we will see if we can beat his price 😂😂😂😂 works every time .
Title: Re: Solar panel cleaning
Post by: Splash & dash on October 17, 2022, 07:01:35 pm
This is the one solar Steve quote £1200 for forgot to get any before pictures , oh and I was wrong it’s 9 panels not 12 😂😂 even better price .(http://www.cleanitup.co.uk/smf/1666029683_17D15FF4-D561-4F02-B23D-CBE9A2CBD7C5.jpeg)
Title: Re: Solar panel cleaning
Post by: Bungle on October 17, 2022, 07:09:06 pm
This is the one solar Steve quote £1200 for forgot to get any before pictures , oh and I was wrong it’s 9 panels not 12 😂😂 even better price .(http://www.cleanitup.co.uk/smf/1666029683_17D15FF4-D561-4F02-B23D-CBE9A2CBD7C5.jpeg)

Quick, get the pole down for a photo of a shiny panel  ;D never stay shiny do they! Typical income is £650 a year from solars. Are these people paying £1,000's for them to be cleaned barmy?
Title: Re: Solar panel cleaning
Post by: Bungle on October 17, 2022, 07:12:34 pm
This is the one solar Steve quote £1200 for forgot to get any before pictures , oh and I was wrong it’s 9 panels not 12 😂😂 even better price .(http://www.cleanitup.co.uk/smf/1666029683_17D15FF4-D561-4F02-B23D-CBE9A2CBD7C5.jpeg)


Quick, get the pole down for a photo of a shiny panel  ;D never stay shiny do they! Typical income is £650 a year from solars. Are these people paying £1,000's for them to be cleaned barmy?

How much for the lean to roof?
Title: Re: Solar panel cleaning
Post by: Splash & dash on October 17, 2022, 07:22:01 pm
This is the one solar Steve quote £1200 for forgot to get any before pictures , oh and I was wrong it’s 9 panels not 12 😂😂 even better price .(http://www.cleanitup.co.uk/smf/1666029683_17D15FF4-D561-4F02-B23D-CBE9A2CBD7C5.jpeg)


Quick, get the pole down for a photo of a shiny panel  ;D never stay shiny do they! Typical income is £650 a year from solars. Are these people paying £1,000's for them to be cleaned barmy?

How much for the lean to roof?

We only did the panels , I have no idea what they produce power wise per year .
Title: Re: Solar panel cleaning
Post by: Shrek on October 17, 2022, 07:44:19 pm
This is the one solar Steve quote £1200 for forgot to get any before pictures , oh and I was wrong it’s 9 panels not 12 😂😂 even better price .(http://www.cleanitup.co.uk/smf/1666029683_17D15FF4-D561-4F02-B23D-CBE9A2CBD7C5.jpeg)

Quick, get the pole down for a photo of a shiny panel  ;D never stay shiny do they! Typical income is £650 a year from solars. Are these people paying £1,000's for them to be cleaned barmy?

Typical ? My panels are paying me around £1500 a year . Depends what tariff the person is on…
Title: Re: Solar panel cleaning
Post by: Bungle on October 17, 2022, 08:10:33 pm
Just a quick Google search @ Shrek. I hadn't got a clue. Just wanted to know if it was cost worthy for the customer.
Title: Re: Solar panel cleaning
Post by: Ggh on October 18, 2022, 07:07:41 am
Some people getting 2k a year and going up.

Don’t forget your pasma.
Title: Re: Solar panel cleaning
Post by: Shrek on October 18, 2022, 07:46:41 am
Just a quick Google search @ Shrek. I hadn't got a clue. Just wanted to know if it was cost worthy for the customer.

I’m getting around 1.5k a year for a 3kw system installed about 10 years ago , the next one up is 4kw which will make even more money on the original tariff. These days , you could be right as the tariff has completely dropped for new installations