If your solar panels look dusty, it does not automatically mean they need to be cleaned. In most of California, light dirt and pollen cause minimal energy loss and usually wash off on their own. Here’s when cleaning makes sense, when it doesn’t, and how to avoid wasting money or risking damage.

Lower solar production in winter is normal and expected. Shorter days, lower sun angles, and weather all reduce output this time of year. Here’s why it happens, what a typical seasonal drop looks like in California, and how to tell the difference between normal winter behavior and a real system issue.