El Modena might be one of the more tucked-away corners of Orange, but it gets just as much sun as the rest of OC—and that means solar power is a smart investment. The problem is, even when everything’s working right, dirty panels can take a chunk out of your energy savings. We’ve cleaned solar systems in this area long enough to know that tree cover, dust, and pollen are a regular thing, especially after spring and fall wind events.
One customer near Prospect Avenue called us in early summer after noticing a weird drop in their system’s performance. From the ground, the panels looked fine. But once we got up there, it was clear. A thin film of grime was covering nearly every panel. It wasn’t obvious from below, but the output numbers didn’t lie. We cleaned everything, and a few days later they called back to say the system was back to producing like new.
Why Solar Panels Get Dirty in El Modena
This neighborhood is full of mature trees—oak, eucalyptus, pine—and while they make the streets beautiful, they also drop a steady stream of pollen, sap, and leaves year-round. Add in some dust from nearby roadwork or backyard landscaping, and you’ve got buildup that sits on solar panels and slowly blocks the sun.
We see it the most on older homes with low-pitch roofs or flat panel arrays. Panels that don’t shed dust naturally collect even more. Homes near Cannon, Chapman, and down toward Esplanade all deal with the same issue—dirt that creeps in slowly but makes a big impact on energy production.
What Happens If You Don’t Clean Them?
Most solar panels don’t stop working when they’re dirty—they just work less efficiently. That means your system is producing less power, and your electric bill starts creeping up. You might not notice it right away, but over a few months, that lost power adds up.
We’ve cleaned systems in El Modena that were running 20 to 25 percent below their potential. After a basic cleaning, the numbers came right back. No hardware changes, no new parts. Just clean panels doing what they were meant to do.
How Often Should You Clean Solar Panels in El Modena?
Twice a year is solid for most homes in this area. Spring and fall are great times—before summer heats up and after the winds settle. If your roof sits under large trees or you’ve got birds nesting nearby, you might want to schedule more often. Some of our customers in older parts of the neighborhood do it three times a year just to keep output consistent.
Rain doesn’t clean panels properly. It helps a little, sure, but it mostly just moves dirt around. Then it dries up and leaves spots. That’s especially true if you’ve got hard water from sprinklers hitting the roof too.
What We Use and Why It Works
We don’t pressure wash. We don’t use soap. And we don’t leave streaks. Here’s how we do it:
- Deionized water that dries clean with no spots
- Soft solar-safe brushes that don’t scratch or damage panel coating
- No detergents, so there’s nothing to attract more dirt later
- Before and after photos so you can see the results
We’ve worked on tile, shingle, flat, and steep roofs throughout El Modena. Whether your system is ground-mounted or stretched across the entire house, we have the equipment and experience to clean it safely and properly.
HOAs? We Know the Drill
Some streets in El Modena fall under small HOA-managed pockets, especially closer to newer construction or developments. If your board needs proof of insurance or anything else, we’ll handle it directly. No back and forth. Just fast, smooth service that meets the rules and keeps things easy.
Small Business and Church Panel Cleaning
We also clean panels on churches, schools, and small businesses in and around El Modena. If your building has rooftop solar and hasn’t had it cleaned in a while, chances are you’re not getting full value out of it. We’ll work around your schedule—early mornings or non-peak hours—to avoid any disruption to visitors or staff.
Real Story From a Local Homeowner
A family near El Modena High School gave us a call after their solar app showed their panels weren’t generating like before. They hadn’t cleaned them since installation. When we got on the roof, we found ash and grit layered at the bottom of every panel—probably from a windy week in March. We gave everything a soft brush-down and rinse with filtered water. Within a week, their system was producing 18% more power. Simple as that.
Now they have us back every April and October—nothing fancy, just regular upkeep that keeps everything running right.
Trying to Clean Them Yourself?
You could try. But most folks find it’s not as easy as it looks. Regular hose water leaves hard water spots. Dish soap leaves residue. And walking around on the roof with a bucket isn’t always the safest move, especially on older tiles.
We’ve had customers call after using squeegees, car wash mitts, or even leaf blowers. Usually they end up with streaks or scratches—and then call us to make it right. If you’ve got the right setup, go for it. But if not, we’re happy to handle it for you.
What You’ll Get With BJ’s
- Fast quote based on panel count and access—no games
- On-time appointment with a heads-up before arrival
- Friendly, local crew that knows the neighborhood
- No mess, no damage, and no sales pitches
- Photos and notes after each cleaning if we see anything that needs attention
You don’t even need to be home if we’ve got roof access. We’ll send you everything when the job’s done.
When Should You Schedule?
If your panels haven’t been cleaned in the last six months—or if your energy numbers are off—it’s probably time. Most homes in El Modena benefit from cleanings in early spring and again before the holidays. You can also reach out after high wind events or heavy pollen season if things look especially dusty.
We also offer reminders if you want to stay on a regular schedule. No pressure. Just a quick message when it’s time.
Get a Quote Today
Use our contact form here or give us a call. Let us know how many panels you’ve got and what kind of roof setup you have. We’ll get you a flat-rate quote and a time that works for your schedule.
Solar is meant to save you money. We’ll help you keep it that way—with clean panels that perform better and last longer.