How Do I Clean Remove Snow From Roof-Mounted Solar Panels? | BCS Cleaning Specialists

Solar panels are a fantastic, planet-saving, feel-good creation. But if they can’t see the sun and the sun can’t see them, there’s not going to be a whole lot of solar panel action going on. One of the biggest challenges for keeping solar panels ready for sun-worship can be winter, with the never-ending onslaught of snow, rain and ice determined to shroud them in mystery.

Depending on the kind of house or roof you have and your ease of access, there are several things you can do to remove the precipitous precipitation:

1. If you know you have the weather for it just around the corner, wait for the snow to melt off. Depending on your roof’s pitch and which direction it faces, this can happen surprisingly fast.
2. Spray the panels with a hose. Be mindful of the ambient temperature if you’re going to try this – you want to melt the snow, not turn it into an encrusted sheet of ice. And if the temperature difference between the hose water and surface is too great, you can potentially crack the solar panels. So employ this method with caution and care.
3. Sweep the panels clean with a broom if you have easy and safe access to the roof. Be careful not to inadvertently damage them by using bristles that are too stiff – you want to brush the snow, not scrape it.
4. A leaf blower connected to a PVC pipe or a long plastic air hose is a creative way to melt or blow snow off your panels.

Solar panels can be a blessing from the gods of renewable energy, but they also present unique maintenance challenges. If you’d rather get professional help to deal with your snow situation, give the experts at BCS Utah a call today at 801 561 1730.