Does Solar Panel Cleaning Actually Increase Energy Production?
Yes, cleaning dirty solar panels can increase energy production, but the size of the improvement depends on how dirty the panels were before cleaning.
A lightly dusty system may show little noticeable change. Panels covered with heavier dust, pollen, bird droppings, or other buildup have more production to recover.
Why Do Dirty Solar Panels Produce Less Power?
Solar panels need sunlight to reach the solar cells.
Dust and other material on the glass can absorb, reflect, or block some of that sunlight. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory confirms that this buildup, known as soiling, reduces solar energy production.
The amount of loss varies considerably from one system to another.
How Much More Power Will Clean Panels Produce?
There is no honest percentage that applies to every house.
The result depends on:
How dirty the panels were
How long they have gone without cleaning
Bird droppings or other heavy buildup
Panel angle
Weather
Shade
System condition
Time of year
NREL has documented meaningful production improvements after cleaning heavily soiled systems, but the results vary by location and contamination.
Be cautious with a solar cleaning company that promises every homeowner a specific production increase.
Doesn't Rain Clean Solar Panels?
Rain can remove some loose dust, but it does not necessarily leave the glass completely clean.
NREL has found that some types of buildup can remain even after repeated rainfall.
That is especially noticeable with material such as bird droppings or dirt that has adhered to the glass.
How Can You Tell if Cleaning Helped?
If your solar monitoring app provides daily production data, compare performance before and after cleaning.
Do not compare two random days without considering weather. A cloudy day after cleaning could produce less electricity than a sunny day when the panels were dirty.
A better comparison uses days with similar:
Sunlight
Temperature
Shade
Time of year
Your solar monitoring can also help identify a system problem that cleaning will not fix.
Will Cleaning Fix a Poorly Performing Solar System?
Not always.
Dirty panels are only one possible reason production may be lower than expected.
Other causes can include:
Shade
Failed equipment
Electrical problems
Inverter issues
Panel damage
System design
Seasonal changes
If the panels are clean and production is still unusually low, a qualified solar company may need to inspect the system.
How Does Cheetah Clean Solar Panels?
Cheetah's solar panel cleaning service uses purified or deionized water and a non abrasive brush on the panel surface.
Our filtration equipment connects to the homeowner's water supply and removes minerals from the water before it reaches the panels.
We do not promise every customer a specific percentage increase because the amount of recoverable production depends on how dirty the system was to begin with.
Is Solar Panel Cleaning Worth It?
It depends on the condition of your panels.
If the glass already looks relatively clean and production is normal, the immediate energy gain from cleaning may be small.
If there is noticeable dust, bird droppings, or significant buildup, there is more potential for cleaning to restore production that was being lost to soiling.
The simplest answer is:
The dirtier the panels are, the more opportunity there is for cleaning to make a measurable difference.
For professional solar panel cleaning in Arizona, call Cheetah Solar Panel Cleaning and Pigeon Control at (623) 300-1924.
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