Don't let wildfire smoke and tar damage your solar panels

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Central Oregon's summer and fall wildfire season wreak toxic havoc on our homes and communities in ways that are seen and unseen. This is no exception for solar panel owners. Wildfire smoke is more than just harmful to our health and our environment. Soot and tar ash from wildfire smoke bonds onto the specialized surface of solar panels. If the panels aren’t cleaned regularly of this toxic debris, it will cause permanent damage to your panels, decreasing your energy output and potentially even voiding your warranty. 

We all know that solar panels are a good financial and environmental investment. However, like any investment, they must be maintained to pay off. In addition to other pollutants like bird droppings, dirt, and debris, experts note that from just one fire season alone, sticky soot and ash toxins block 25% to 40% of sunlight! This significantly impacts your energy output and will only slightly improve with rain and snow. Rain and snow don’t effectively clean our cars, and they won’t effectively clean our solar panels either. 

Manufacturers recommend professional cleaning twice yearly with proper cleaning agents, which should not include popular dish soaps or glass cleaners, as these harsh solutions can actually increase the damage to your panels. Warranties on panels can be voided without proof of specified maintenance, similar to other consumer performance products such as oil changes for our vehicles' engines. It pays to keep your panels professionally cleaned and protected for superior performance long into the future.