Solar Panel Cleaning for North DFW Homes

Why dirty solar panels make less power

A solar cell can only turn light into electricity if the light reaches it. Anything sitting on the glass, from a fine layer of dust to a single bird dropping, blocks part of the sun. The industry calls this soiling.

How much does it matter? Research from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory and others puts typical U.S. soiling losses somewhere around 1.5 to 6 percent a year, with bigger losses where rain is scarce and dust is heavy. That range is honest, and it's a lot smaller than the "25 percent more power" claims you'll see in ads. Those come from extreme cases.

A few situations push losses well past the average:

• Bird droppings. Dust spreads thin, but a dropping blocks part of a cell completely. Shaded spots on a cell can drag down output out of proportion to their size.
• Pollen film. Spring pollen is sticky. It forms a layer that grabs more dust every windy day.
• Low-tilt panels. Flatter arrays don't shed dirt as easily when it rains, so grime builds up faster.
• Nearby construction, dirt roads or heavy trees. More grit in the air means more on your panels.

Our pure-water method, from the roof or from the ground

Solar glass carries an anti-reflective coating that helps it capture light. Pressure washers, stiff brushes and harsh cleaners can wear that coating down, and many panel makers warn that damage from them may not be covered by the warranty. That's why our method is deliberately gentle.

The water

We use the same filtration system that cleans high windows. It hooks to your outdoor spigot and strips the water down to under 10 TDS (total dissolved solids), usually close to zero. North Texas tap water carries a few hundred parts per million of minerals, which is exactly what leaves chalky spots on glass as it dries. Purified water has almost nothing to leave behind, and it uses very little water overall.

The brush

Water flows through a soft nylon and boar-hair brush at the end of the pole. The bristles loosen pollen, dust and droppings without scouring the glass, and the steady flow of pure water carries everything off the panel's lower edge.

Roof or ground?

There are two ways we reach your array. Working from the roof usually gives the better clean, because the technician can see every panel up close and brush at the right angle. When the roof isn't the right place to stand, we clean from the ground with a water-fed pole that reaches about 40 feet. We'll tell you which approach fits your home when we quote it.

Does rain clean solar panels?

Partly. A heavy, steady rain rinses off loose dust. But studies suggest it takes a fair amount of rain to actually clean a panel, and a light shower often just turns dust into a muddy film that dries right back on. Bird droppings and sticky pollen usually survive the rain completely.

North Texas weather makes this worse. Our driest stretch tends to land in late summer, with August averaging only about two inches of rain, right after the Saharan dust that drifts in during June and July. So panels can go through the sunniest, highest-production part of the year with the least natural rinsing.

North Texas pollen, dust and storms: when to clean

For most homes in North DFW, one or two cleanings a year is enough. Modeling from national-lab research found that a single cleaning a year trims soiling losses, and a second cleaning trims them a little more. The timing matters more than the count:

1. Late spring, after the oak pollen. Oak, elm and pecan pollen peaks from March to May. Cleaning once it settles clears the sticky layer before the long summer days.
2. Late summer, after the dust and the dry spell. A clean in August or September lifts the Saharan dust and the grit that a dry month leaves behind.
3. After a big storm. Spring storms can drop leaves, twigs and splatter across an array. If your production dips after one, it's worth a look.

Some homes need more. If you live next to active construction, as many families in Northlake and Justin do, near a dirt or gravel road, under big trees, or anywhere birds like to perch, consider cleaning every few months.

Solar panel cleaning and window cleaning together

The same pure water that leaves panels spot-free is what we use on your second-story glass, so the two services fit together naturally. Ask us to quote your panels alongside an exterior window cleaning, and if hard water has spotted your lower windows, read about hard water stain removal.

Every quote is custom, based on the number of panels, how they're mounted and how dirty they are. Our cost guide walks through what affects pricing, and our plans show how recurring window customers save on every visit.