SOLAR PANEL MONITORING
Professional Solar Panel Cleaning and Inspection
Dust, pollen, and bird droppings build up fast in our dry climate, and light rain rarely washes them off. Our techs clean your panels by hand on the roof, check your system while they are up there, and send you before and after photos. We clean any residential solar system, no matter who installed it.
When to Clean
Signs Your Solar Panels Need Cleaning
Dirty panels still work, they just turn less sunlight into power. These are the most common things we find on roofs across San Diego County.
Bird droppings
Droppings bake onto the glass and block light from the cells underneath. Rain won’t remove them, and birds nesting under the array add more.
A gray film of dust
Wind, construction, freeways, and open land leave a dull layer that builds between rains, and our long dry seasons give it months to settle.
Pollen and leaves
Spring pollen and debris from nearby trees collect along the panel edges and frames, where water can’t clear them.
Ash after fire season
Wildfire smoke leaves a fine ash on everything outdoors, including your panels. It’s a good reason to schedule a cleaning any time of year.
Water spots
Sprinklers or a past hose down with tap water leave mineral spots behind once the water dries.
Lower output in your app
If your system makes less power on clear days with no other cause, dirty panels are a common reason. Monitoring helps you spot it.
Wondering how much a cleaning helps? Read Will cleaning my panels boost energy output?
What’s Included
A Cleaning and a System Check in One Visit
A window washer cleans the glass. A solar company also checks the system it’s attached to. Here’s what every SolarTech cleaning includes.
- Hand cleaning on the roofOur techs get on the roof and clean each panel with soft brushes, soap, and purified water. No pressure washers and no harsh chemicals.
- System checkWhile they are up there, they make sure every panel is secure and the racking and wiring look right.
- Damage and debris checkThey look for cracked glass, chipped frames, nesting birds, and debris trapped under the array.
- Before and after photosYou get photos of your system before and after the cleaning, plus a note on anything that needs attention.
Safe for your warranty. Our cleaning method won’t void your panel manufacturer’s warranty.
Cleaning Schedule
How Often Should You Clean Solar Panels in San Diego?
Most San Diego County homes do well with one or two cleanings a year. Rain comes mostly in winter, so panels can go months without a rinse. Where you live in the county and what surrounds your home matter more than the calendar.
Coastal Communities
From Oceanside to Imperial Beach, salt air and marine layer moisture leave a film on the glass that holds dust.
Typically once or twice a year
North County Inland
Groves, farms, and open land around Escondido, Valley Center, and Fallbrook add dust, pollen, and more birds.
Typically twice a year
East County
Santa Ana winds, dry hills, and fire season bring dust and ash to El Cajon, Santee, Ramona, and Alpine.
Typically twice a year, plus after big wind events or fires
Central San Diego and South Bay
Freeway and airport grime mixes with city dust into a sticky film that a passing shower won’t clear.
Typically once or twice a year
Clean more often if trees hang over your roof, birds nest nearby, or you live close to construction, farmland, or a freeway. A Solar Care Plan includes professional panel cleaning, so you don’t have to keep track.
DIY or Professional
Can You Clean Solar Panels Yourself?
You can, but most panels sit on a roof, and the wrong tools can do more harm than the dirt.
Doing it yourself
- Climbing on the roof is the biggest risk, and wet panels are slippery.
- Pressure washers and stiff brushes can damage the glass coating and seals.
- Tap water from a hose leaves mineral spots as it dries.
- You only see the top of the panels, so problems underneath go unnoticed.
Cleaning with SolarTech
- Techs who work on solar roofs every day.
- Soft brushes, soap, and purified water for a clean finish without spots.
- A system check and damage check during the same visit.
- Before and after photos, and a method that won’t void your panel warranty.
If you rinse your panels between cleanings, stay on the ground, use a soft brush and a gentle hose setting, and do it early or late in the day when the panels are cool.
Solar Care Plans
Get Cleaning Covered With a Solar Care Plan
Instead of booking one cleaning at a time, a Solar Care Plan keeps your system on a schedule. Cleaning, inspection, and faster service all come in one plan.
- Professional panel cleaning included
- Annual system inspection and performance review
- Priority scheduling for service calls
Customer Reviews
What Homeowners Say About Our Service Technicians
Real reviews from customers whose systems we've repaired, upgraded, and maintained.
4.6 out of 5 stars based on 1572 customer reviews.
CONTACT SOLARTECH
Request Your Solar Panel Cleaning Today
Contact your Solar Care specialist today by submitting the form or by calling (619) 485-5521, or by filling out the form
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Frequently Asked Solar Questions
Contact SolarTech Support
Phone
(619) 485 5521
service@solartechonline.com
Most homes in San Diego County do well with one or two cleanings a year. Homes near groves, farmland, freeways, construction, or overhanging trees may need more, and a cleaning after a wildfire or a Santa Ana wind event is always worth it.
Yes, when panels are dirty. How much depends on how much dust, pollen, or droppings have built up. The easiest way to see the difference is to compare your production in your monitoring app before and after a cleaning.
Our techs get on the roof and clean each panel by hand with soft brushes, soap, and purified water. We never use pressure washers or harsh chemicals. Every cleaning also includes a system check.
No. Our cleaning method won’t void your panel manufacturer’s warranty.
Yes. We clean any residential solar system, no matter who installed it.
Yes. Solar Care Plans include professional panel cleaning, an annual system inspection and performance review, and priority scheduling for service calls. Compare Solar Care Plans.
You can, but we don’t recommend climbing on the roof. If you rinse your panels between cleanings, stay on the ground, use a soft brush and a gentle hose setting, and never use a pressure washer, abrasive pads, or harsh cleaners.
Yes. We clean ground-mounted solar arrays as well as roof systems, and we also service solar pool heating panels.
Solar panel cleaning is available for homes throughout San Diego County. If you live in another area we serve, our other solar service and maintenance options are still available.