Everything You Need to Know About Solar Panel Cleaning
Why regular cleaning protects performance, prevents damage, and supports your solar investment.
If you’ve invested in solar, you expect reliable performance and long-term savings—but like any part of your home, your panels need occasional care. Lichen, dust, and fine debris might seem harmless, but they can reduce output, create damaging hot spots, and silently shorten your system’s lifespan.
In this guide, we explain the real impact of solar soiling, the risks of hot spots, how shading affects power performance, the importance of safe cleaning, and how professional care can extend the life of your panels and protect your warranty.
The Hidden Threats to Your System’s Performance
Solar panels are built to last, but dirt, organic growth, and shading can quietly reduce their output over time. Even small patches of lichen or dust can trigger hot spots—localized areas of overheating that not only reduce efficiency but can also lead to lasting structural damage.
What Are Hot Spots and Why Do They Matter?
A hot spot is a section of a solar panel that overheats due to inconsistent electrical flow. This typically happens when part of the panel is shaded, cracked, or otherwise compromised.
When a cell is shaded, it produces less energy than surrounding cells. The unshaded cells push current through the shaded cell, which resists the flow and turns the energy into heat. This localized heating can reduce overall power by more than 50% across that panel string.
Common Causes of Hot Spots Include:
Lichen, moss, or debris casting shade
Bird droppings or leaf litter
Cracks or micro-cracks in solar cells
Faulty solder joints or bypass diodes
Dust build-up, especially near the panel edges
Thermal imaging shows that even minor growth can cause a noticeable temperature spike.
Over time, this excess heat can:
- Crack or degrade solar cells
- Melt solder connections and damage bypass diodes
- Reduce system lifespan and output
- In severe cases, become a fire risk—especially in Australia’s hot, dry conditions
Colorbond Roof Cleaning
Using a low pressure soft wash system, from ground level or ladders, Hunter Pressure Cleaning will quickly remove layers of dust, dirt, cobwebs, bird and insect droppings, mould, mildew, & algae leaving the roof bright and clean.
As a specialist roof cleaner I will not use high pressure that will remove paint, making your roof look uneven. Ask for a quote today.
Tile Roof Cleaning
Pressure cleaning tile roof can remove the top colour layers, and force water between the tiles and into your roof cavity.
roofs to remove lichen growth will damage the surface and void manufacturers warranty.
Hunter Pressure Cleaning provides a low pressure "soft wash" to your roof that will revitalise it's appearance. You will be amazed at the transformation.
Comprehensive Roof Care Solutions
Solar Panel Cleaning
Hunter Pressure Cleaning are expert solar panel cleaners.
Keep your panels working at peak capacity by ensuring they are free of dust, droppings and lichen. Lichen growth on panels can lead to "hot spots" that can damage or destroy the panel.
Clerestory Window Cleaning
Clerestory windows are gorgeous and bring warmth and light to your home. Let me take the hassle out of maintaining your windows by cleaning them when I am up there!
Fill in the quote request to begin your journey to a beautifully clean home! You will wish you had done it sooner.
Gutter Cleaning
Hunter Pressure Cleaning provides a prompt, safe and insured gutter cleaning service.
We remove leaf litter, debris and plants from gutters and valley pans, and when finished will complete a visual check for any problems and inform you with photographs.
Get started today!
Contact Details
Hunter Pressure Cleaning
Business Hours
Open today | 07:00 am – 07:00 pm |
