Solar Panel Snow Removal

If you have solar panels, no matter if they are residential or commercial, if you do not keep them clean of snow, then you are losing electricity. We will come to your location and tell you what will need to be done. If it is a direct access, then we can remove the snow directly. If snow is built up around and or in between them on the ground, obstructing our access, then we will clear the snow around them as well.

Though it might seem counter-intuitive, solar panels are actually a great investment in snowy regions because colder temperatures will generally increase productivity. Heavy snow buildup may temporarily reduce solar array electricity generation, but a well-designed system will optimize production and lead to lower electricity bills.

Homeowners with solar in snow states actually benefit from their panels’ increased productivity. As temperature decreases, the efficiency of the modules actually increases because the material properties in the panels operate more effectively. In fact, the increased reflection of light off-white snow can also result in increased output from panels in the winter.

Snow and winter conditions can affect solar panels in several ways. Firstly, and perhaps most obviously, by limiting the light reaching the solar panel. This can happen in three ways.

With dark mornings, and early sunsets, the amount of daylight hours in winter are drastically reduced which severely impacts how much light your solar panels have to operate on. It is even more important that your panels are working as efficiently as possible for the few hours a day that they receive direct sunlight.

Finally, snow can accumulate directly on your solar panels and this will have the biggest impact on your electricity production. Even as little as half an inch of snow resting on your solar panels can put them in permanent darkness, hardly producing any electricity at all. Removing the snow as quickly as possible, while avoiding any damage to your panels, is the only way to maintain electricity production.

Snow drifts down the panels and on to the roof and guttering. This is not ideal at all because the weight of the snow places stresses on the guttering that it was not designed to take. Then the snow accumulates on the panels and can in many cases inhibit power generation if it does not stop it altogether as illustrated below.

The final option is to wait for it to thaw. However, waiting for a thaw is risky due to the pressure placed on guttering fittings. Too much standing snow can cause gutters to collapse. It is, therefore, advisable to use a professional company to remove the snow.

Large amounts of snow sliding off your roof is not only dangerous for your family, but it could potentially damage your property and landscaping.

Snow Guards, Snow Rail, or Snow Pad can stop the snow from coming down in an avalanche but can leave snow to stop production of electricity.

At Monkey Cleaning Services, we utilize NO ROOF RAKE, NOTHING METAL OR ANYTHING LIKE IT. These common residential roof rakes contain metal, which will cause damage to your solar panels. If you come into contact with any electrical connections or damage a solar panel, you risk the chance of electrocution due to the fact that roof rake handles are aluminum and they are a good conductor of electricity, plus you are standing in the snow, which is also a good conductor of electricity.

Please do not attempt this yourself. It is inherently dangerous to climb up the solar panels yourself. If you attempt to clean them yourself, the snow and ice buildup can be very heavy and dangerous if it falls on you, causing injuries or even death. Icicles can also cause piercing or impalement injuries or even death.

Residential panels on average are 65 inches by 39 inches. Commercial panels on average are 77 inches by 39 inches. That is a lot of snow to remove after snowstorms. Let us come do the work for you.