Solar Panel Cleaning in Santa Rosa & Sonoma County
Pollen, dust, smoke residue and bird droppings cut into what your panels produce. We clean rooftop arrays and build netting and deterrents that keep birds from nesting underneath.
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Solar panel cleaning
What does solar panel cleaning cover?
The glass on each panel, cleared of dust, pollen, leaves and bird droppings, with the debris that collects along the frames picked out. In our reviews it usually comes paired with roof or gutter cleaning, since the crew is already up there. Bird netting or other deterrents can be added when nesting is the real problem.
- Rooftop solar arrays
- Bird droppings on the glass
- Pollen and dust film
- Smoke and ash residue after fire season
- Leaves and needles caught at the frames
- Bird netting under panels
- Frames and deterrents against nesting
- Panels done with the roof and gutters
Good to know
Why do birds matter so much on a solar roof?
They nest in the sheltered gap under the panels and leave droppings on the glass, and droppings are the patchy kind of dirt that does more than cost output. That’s why the work includes bird abatement: we can “build netting, frames, and other deterrents to keep birds from building nests” on and around your roof and panels.
Before a solar cleaning
- Find the panel maker’s cleaning instructions in the owner’s manual, if you still have it.
- Write down recent production numbers from your monitoring app so you can compare afterward.
- Look for signs of nesting: twigs, feathers or droppings below the edge of the array.
- Skip climbing up with a hose yourself. A wet roof is slippery, and panel glass shouldn’t take a pressure nozzle.
- Call (707) 940-7875 with the number of panels and whether birds have been a problem.
The rules
How should solar panels be cleaned?
Gently, and the way the panel maker says. A PV operation and maintenance guide from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory says to follow the manufacturer’s recommendations, clean with plain demineralized water and a mild detergent the manufacturer recommends, and avoid high-pressure water, brushes, solvents, abrasives and harsh detergents.
0.5%/dayoutput loss NREL’s guide reports where bird populations are large
The same guide explains why droppings get singled out: uneven soiling can lead to localized hot spots on a panel, not only lost output. For birds, it lists netting that seals the space under the panels down to the roof, spikes along the top edge of the array to stop roosting, and removing nests with the nesting season in mind. Read NREL’s PV operation and maintenance guide. Your own panel manual has the last word for your system, since makers write their own cleaning instructions.
How the job runs
From dusty glass to clean panels
- LookDave sees the array, the roof around it and any sign of birds before quoting.
- ProposalOne written proposal covers the cleaning and any netting or deterrents.
- ClearLeaves, needles and loose debris come out from around the frames.
- CleanDroppings, pollen and dust come off the glass, and the panels are rinsed.
- ProtectNetting, frames or deterrents go in where birds have been the problem.
From a customer
What do customers say about their panels?
Mostly that it got done along with everything else on the roof. John C. had his rooftop and solar panels cleaned and said the crew “showed up on time, very professional, personal.” Steve F. listed solar panels with his gutters and skylights, and Dorota W. had hers done with gutters, windows and screens, calling the work “excellent and thorough.”
“Had my rooftop and solar panels cleaned. Showed up on time, very professional, personal, and affordable.”
Gold and Diamond members get solar panel cleaning as part of their yearly visits.
FAQ
Solar Panel Cleaning Questions
Won't the rain clean my panels for me?
Partly. NREL’s guide says heavy rain cleans an array almost completely, but light showers clean much less and can leave dust stuck where the droplets dried. Bird droppings and the film from smoke and pollen tend to hang on, and a long dry Sonoma County summer gives dust months to build up before the first real storm.
Can you put bird netting around my solar panels?
Yes. We build netting, frames and other deterrents so birds can’t nest under the panels and cause problems on the roof. The gap between the panels and the shingles is sheltered, and once a nest goes in, droppings and debris follow. What goes where is written into the proposal after Dave has seen the array and the roof around it.
How often do solar panels need cleaning here?
It depends on what’s around them. NREL’s guide suggests scheduling a cleaning after pollen season ends, and Sonoma County adds oak and bay leaves, redwood needles and smoke from fire season to the mix. One option is pairing it with a yearly roof or gutter visit. Comparing production numbers before and after shows what it does for your system.
Can you clean the panels and the roof on the same visit?
Yes. Steve F. had his roof cleaned and treated along with his gutters, skylights and solar panels, and wrote that the crew went about “applying the chemicals safely.” Doing it all at once saves a second trip up the ladder, and moss or needles that come off the roof don’t end up on panels you just paid to have cleaned.
Why are my panels producing less than last year?
Dirt is one possible reason, and an easy one to rule out. NREL’s guide notes that soiling reduces an array’s output, and uneven soiling can cause hot spots. Shade from trees that have grown, inverter trouble or a failing panel are questions for your solar installer; a cleaning only fixes the dirt.
Service area
Where do you clean solar panels?
Rooftop arrays across Sonoma County, from the Santa Rosa office on Banyan Street and the Windsor office on Bell Road. Homes with panels in Sonoma, Sebastopol, Healdsburg and Petaluma are all within reach, and so are homes in Napa and Marin counties. Give us the address and panel count when you call (707) 940-7875.
Related services
While we're up on the roof
Talk to Dave's team
Panels dusty, or birds moving in?
Call (707) 940-7875 and tell us how many panels you have and what’s on them. Dave will come look and put the cleaning and any bird work into one written proposal.