Omega Owners Forum

Chat Area => General Discussion Area => Topic started by: tunnie on 24 June 2015, 20:14:46

Title: Washing Solar Thermal Roof Pannels
Post by: tunnie on 24 June 2015, 20:14:46
My house has two solar thermal panels, these have coolant in them. It's circulated by a pump near the boiler, I hear it activate in sunny weather. This coolant then heats water for the house, which is nice.

My question, should I clean them? They look a bit grubby, going by what the conservatory roof gets caked in, the panels must be similar.

The panels are flat, not tubes. They look like this Google photo:

(http://www.espenergy.co.uk/assets/content/solar-thermal/flat-plate-collector.jpg)

Surely a nice clean panel, would get a better heat conversion?

If I do, is just a sponge and soapy water suitable?

Thanks
Title: Re: Washing Solar Thermal Roof Pannels
Post by: Paddy Flannery on 24 June 2015, 20:20:10
Mate of mine has them and soapy water and a sponge is what he uses. I suppose a microfibre cloth would dry them well whilst not damaging the surface.  :y
Title: Re: Washing Solar Thermal Roof Pannels
Post by: Broomies Mate on 24 June 2015, 20:28:03
They are coated in a UV protective film (irony)  Don't use anything abrasive.  Baby Shampoo, maybe even car shampoo!  Definitely not washing up liquid or anything else that contains masses of salt!  :y
Title: Re: Washing Solar Thermal Roof Panels
Post by: Andy H on 24 June 2015, 20:33:26
Cleaning a solar thermal panel should be the same as cleaning any other piece of roof glazing.

Don't break the glass and don't fall off the roof :y
Title: Re: Washing Solar Thermal Roof Pannels
Post by: tunnie on 24 June 2015, 20:37:08
Haha. Thanks  :y

Chatting with some people in my road, we though of splitting the cost of a cherry picker/boom lift. As all our houses have them, added when built.

Noted on no soap, got loads of baby shampoo, so not a problem there :)
Title: Re: Washing Solar Thermal Roof Pannels
Post by: Kevin Wood on 25 June 2015, 00:14:11
Can't you get the window cleaner to do them, or hasn't he got a long enough pole? :-X
Title: Re: Washing Solar Thermal Roof Pannels
Post by: Phil L on 25 June 2015, 00:20:33
Maybe checkout a site like this....
www.yougen.co.uk/blog-entry/1786/Do+I+need+to+clean+my+solar+panels+to+maintain+efficiency'3F/
Title: Re: Washing Solar Thermal Roof Pannels
Post by: tunnie on 25 June 2015, 08:06:14
Quote from: Kevin Wood on 25 June 2015, 00:14:11
Can't you get the window cleaner to do them, or hasn't he got a long enough pole? :-X

I got quotes of £65+ vat just to wash the conservatory. So I do that myself.  :)

Bet it's 3 figures to clean a 3 story town house  :o

Quote from: Phil L on 25 June 2015, 00:20:33
Maybe checkout a site like this....
www.yougen.co.uk/blog-entry/1786/Do+I+need+to+clean+my+solar+panels+to+maintain+efficiency'3F/


Thanks. Will have a read  :y
Title: Re: Washing Solar Thermal Roof Pannels
Post by: Marks DTM Calib on 25 June 2015, 09:10:37
They are normally coated with Titanium dioxide so should be pretty much self cleaning.....if they are of any quality!

Title: Re: Washing Solar Thermal Roof Pannels
Post by: tunnie on 25 June 2015, 09:16:43
Quote from: Marks DTM Calib on 25 June 2015, 09:10:37
They are normally coated with Titanium dioxide so should be pretty much self cleaning.....if they are of any quality!

No idea on the make/brand, built with the house. Might have to dig through some paperwork. I can just see them from top floor skylights, but no identification on them  :(