How often should I clean my solar panels?
It depends on where you are. Panels near the coast, farms, dusty roads or trees, and low-tilt panels, build up grime faster and usually benefit from a clean every year or two. Others need it less. Our guide on when to schedule solar maintenance goes through it.
Can dirt really damage solar panels?
Yes. Built-up grime makes cells run hot. Left long enough, it burns them and the panel has to be replaced. On a commercial roof in Gawler, built-up dirt overheated the cells until they burnt, and the whole system needed replacing. Regular cleaning and checks would have caught it.
Isn't rain enough to keep panels clean?
Rain helps, but it doesn't shift baked-on grime or bird mess, especially on low-tilt panels.
Can I clean the panels myself?
We don't recommend it. Walking on panels can crack cells, roofs are a fall risk, and damaged panels can still carry live current.
Do you use a pressure washer?
No. We use soft brushes and water. No pressure washing or abrasive scrubbing.
Will you check the system while you're up there?
Yes. We do a visual check every clean and flag anything that needs attention. For a deeper look, add a thermal drone inspection.
Do you clean commercial arrays and systems other companies installed?
Yes to both. Commercial roofs are often where dirt does the most damage, because nobody's looking at them. The Gawler system is a good example.
