What is Deionized Water and Why Does it Matter for Solar Panel Cleaning?

If you’ve invested money into a solar panel system for your home or business, it’s important to keep them clean. It’s not just about looks though - it’s about performance. However, not all cleaning methods are the same. One of the most important aspects of our cleaning process is the deionized water that we use during our service. In this post, we’ll explain what deionized water is, why it matters, and how we use it at Solar Clean NC to help your panels perform at their best. 

What is Deionized Water?

Deionized water, or “DI water” for short - is water that has been purified to remove virtually all of its mineral ions, such as calcium, sodium, and iron. These minerals are usually found in water from your tap or hose spigot and are responsible for annoying water spots and streaks when things dry. You may also be familiar with the term “hard water” which is water that is particularly high in calcium and magnesium. 

Why Tap Water Doesn't Cut It

At first glance, using a hose with water from the spigot might seem like the best way to clean your panels. Here’s the catch: when tap water dries, it usually leaves behind mineral deposits. This is especially true in areas with that hard water mentioned earlier. These deposits can build up over time and will lead to a coating on the surface of your panels. Even small amounts of mineral residue can cut into your system’s energy output, especially during the Summer months when solar production should be at its peak. 

Our Best Practices for Cleaning Solar Panels

We pride ourselves on our onsite filtration to keep our process streamlined and unique to Solar Clean NC. The process starts with a standard water supply such as water from your home’s spigot and then moves through a series of filters: 

• Sediment filtration removes large particles like sand or grit that could clog downstream equipment.
• Our carbon filters eliminate the chlorine and organic compounds to protect the next stage
• Reverse osmosis (RO) filter strips out the majority of total dissolved solids (TDS). Our RO process typically achieves around 90% removal of TDS
• Then, our deionization (DI) resin filter captures the remaining impurities, reducing the water to 0 TDS - leaving you with purified, spot-free water

This purified water is stored in our tanks and later delivered through our telescopic water-fed poles that extend to reach even the most difficult areas of your solar array. The brushes on our water-fed poles use gentle boar’s hair heads and we equip them with scratch-free scrub pads for safely agitating dirt. We use safe pressure settings to prevent any damage to your solar system. 

Our setup ensures we’re cleaning your panels safely and effectively with no harsh chemicals, no streaks, and no high-pressure jets.

Why Using Deionized Water Makes a Big Difference for Solar Panel Cleaning

Using DI water solves those issues by drying crystal clear - no streaks, spots, or buildup. That’s why we pride ourselves at Solar Clean NC for executing a professional solar panel cleaning for our customers. Here’s a few key benefits: 

• Spot-free drying: no white stains or streaks left behind
• Gentle and safe: reduces the need for heavy chemicals and detergents
• Protects panel efficiency: keeping panels clean makes sure they’re operating at peak levels 
  

Why We Use DI Water on Every Job?

We are committed to delivering top-tier solar panel cleaning services to homeowners and businesses across NC. That’s why we use deionized water at every job. It’s part of our promise to use the right tools and techniques to protect your investment and maximize your energy output - without damaging your panels or leaving behind a spotty finish. 

Whether you’ve got rooftop or ground-mounted solar panels for your NC home, we bring the same professional-grade solar cleaning process to every system we clean. As you can see from our process, we put a lot of effort into creating a streamlined process designed specifically for solar panel cleaning. If you are searching elsewhere for a solar cleaning provider, these are questions you should be asking before trusting someone with your solar investment. 

Ready to get those panels shining the safe and effective way? Contact us today with the form below to request a quote and schedule your next cleaning.