Your solar panels might look fine from the ground—but if they’re covered in dust, pollen, ash, or droppings, you could be losing 10–30% of your energy efficiency without even realizing it.
At Banner & Shield, we specialize in keeping solar systems operating at full power. Here’s how to tell if it’s time for a professional solar panel cleaning—and what dirty panels might be costing you.
Sign #1: Your Power Output Has Dropped
Noticing higher energy bills or lower performance on your solar monitoring app? A dip in output without a hardware failure is often caused by debris buildup that’s blocking sunlight. Even light dust or water spots can have a measurable impact.
What it's costing you:
More grid usage → higher bills → longer ROI timeline on your solar investment.
Sign #2: There’s Visible Debris or Discoloration
Check your panels for:
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Dust film or haze
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Tree pollen or sticky residue
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Bird droppings or insect nests
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Ash or wildfire fallout
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Hard water stains after rain
Even partial shading on a single panel can drag down the efficiency of your entire array.
Sign #3: You’ve Never Cleaned Them (Or It’s Been Over 6 Months)
If you’ve never scheduled a solar cleaning—or it’s been more than 6–12 months—chances are you’re losing efficiency right now. Solar panels are not self-cleaning, despite what you may have heard.
In dry or wildfire-prone regions, cleaning should happen every 3–4 months.
Sign #4: You Tried to DIY… and It Didn’t Help
Climbing on your roof with a hose and squeegee? Not only is that dangerous, it can void your panel warranty or scratch the surface. Many DIY attempts leave streaks or mineral buildup that worsens performance.
Professional cleaning uses:
Sign #5: You Just Went Through a Dust Storm, Fire Season, or Pollen Surge
Local conditions have a huge impact on panel cleanliness. Watch for post-weather events like:
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Wildfire smoke/ash
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Heavy spring pollen
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Nearby construction dust
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Hard rains with sediment
After these events, a proactive cleaning helps avoid long-term degradation.
Seasonal Maintenance Tips
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Spring & Fall: Ideal times for a full solar wash
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After storms or high winds: Always check for debris
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Quarterly (businesses): For maximum ROI and uptime
Solar Panel Cleaning in Your Area
If you’re searching “solar panel cleaning near me,” you’re in the right place. Banner & Shield offers professional solar panel cleaning services for homes, commercial properties, HOAs, and solar farms.
Ready to reclaim lost energy?
