It is a truth (almost) universally acknowledged that having your own solar panels in this sunburnt country of ours will make your power bill cheaper, and give you that warm sense of greenie superiority.

But most people with solar panels actually have no idea how much energy they’re producing, whether they’re getting the most out of their system, or how much electricity their household actually consumes. So, here are my tips on how to get the most from your panels.

The first thing that’s drilled into us when we pay the thousands of dollars to put solar on our roof is that we have to keep them clean. It makes sense: a dirty panel is an inefficient panel. However, unless you live in an extremely dusty area, with no rain, and birds who not only have gastro-intestinal difficulties but an outright vendetta against you; you’re probably fine.

If you can easily get on your roof, just hose them off once a year or so before summer, and maybe rub them down with a soft cloth or sponge if there are any stubborn stains. If you can’t get up there, some window washers offer solar panel cleaning as a service. But the rain will probably take care of them for you anyway.