The 10-point solar panel checklist before you pay anyone to clean

What is on the list

1. 01Look for the dust line under each row

   A chalky band along the bottom edge of every panel is caliche and cedar dust baked in by Hays County sun. That band alone shades cells and drags output down.

2. 02Check your app for a mid-day plateau

   Healthy panels peak at noon. If your production curve flattens or dips at the top, the glass is dirty long before the inverter reports a fault.

3. 03Scan for bird droppings near the ridge

   Grackles perch on the ridge cap. A single dropping can knock a whole string down because one shaded cell throttles the panels wired with it.

4. 04Look under the array for nesting

   Kyle and Plum Creek roofs get sparrow nests in the 4-inch gap under the panels. Nesting traps heat and chews wire insulation.

5. 05Find hard-water spotting

   White rings mean sprinklers or a hose rinse dried on the glass. Mineral spotting etches anti-reflective coating if it sits through a summer.

6. 06Check for pollen and oak film in spring

   Live oak pollen turns into a sticky yellow film that rain smears instead of removing. It needs a wash, not a rinse.

7. 07Inspect edges and seals for pitting

   After a hail season, look for chipped glass corners or lifted frame seals. Note them before anyone cleans, so damage is documented.

8. 08Note your panel count and roof pitch

   Count panels from the ground and note whether the roof is walkable or steep. That is all the info needed for an exact flat-rate quote.

9. 09Never pressure wash, never use soap

   Pressure strips anti-reflective coating and forces water past the seals; detergent leaves a film that bakes on and attracts more dust. Both void most panel warranties.

10. 10Never walk the panels themselves

    Standing on glass causes micro-cracks you cannot see and cannot claim. Panels get cleaned from the roof deck or a ladder, harnessed, by hand.