🧼 What Happens When One Panel Is Dirty? The Hidden Cost of Not Cleaning

🌪️ Quick Reality Check:

Solar panels are built tough — but they’re not self-cleaning.
Especially in Nigeria, where we deal with:

Dusty harmattan winds
Bird droppings
Tree sap
Industrial soot
Pollution near highways

Even one dirty panel can drag down your whole system’s performance. Here’s why:

⚡ How Solar Panels Are Wired

Most systems are wired in series or series-parallel. In a series:

All panels are connected like a chain.
If one panel underperforms (due to dirt or shade), it limits the current of the whole chain.
It’s like a group project — one lazy member slows down the team.

🧪 How Much Power Can You Lose?

Dirt Level	Energy Loss
Light dust (harmattan)	2–5%
Bird droppings (1 panel)	10–15%
Heavy grime or moss	20–30%+

If you ignore cleaning for months, expect your 5kW system to act more like a 3.5–4kW system 🤦🏽

📉 Real Consequences of Dirty Panels

Reduced daily energy harvest
Batteries not charging fully
Generator or NEPA use increases
Wasted investment

🛠️ Jeho Ashar’s Smart Prevention Strategy

We design systems with bypass diodes to reduce losses from dirty or shaded panels.
We educate customers on a simple cleaning schedule.
On large systems, we offer monthly maintenance packages that include inspection and panel cleaning.

🧽 How Often Should You Clean Your Panels?

Location Type	Clean How Often?
Urban (roof-mounted)	Every 1–2 months
Rural/dusty area	Monthly
Coastal (salt/spray)	Monthly
High-tilt frames (20°+)	Less often, rain helps

💡 Use soft brushes + water only. No soap, no pressure washers.

🧠 Real Tip: Schedule Cleaning After Rain

Rain helps loosen dirt, so it’s easier to clean right after — especially during rainy season.

🛑 What NOT to Do

Don’t walk on panels
Don’t use bleach or detergents
Don’t wait until you notice your power has dropped — monitor regularly!

🧾 True Story from Jeho Ashar

Client in Ibadan saw a 30% drop in solar performance after 5 months.
Panels were covered in harmattan dust and pigeon droppings.
After cleaning?
Instant recovery — and no need for inverter upgrade like he feared!

🔚 Final Takeaway

A clean panel is a productive panel.
Neglecting one panel might seem small… until it costs you thousands in lost energy and frustrated nights.

With Jeho Ashar Energy, we not only install — we help you protect your investment.