Solar guides you can watch.
Short video walkthroughs of the solar checks and maintenance steps every San Diego homeowner should know. Each guide comes with step-by-step instructions and a clear line on when to call a pro.
What solar maintenance can you do yourself?
Do a 60-second visual check from the ground
You don't need to climb the roof. A pair of binoculars from the driveway tells you most of what you need to know.
When NOT to rinse your panels with a hose
A hose rinse seems harmless. Done wrong, it bakes mineral deposits onto your glass permanently.
What to do after a wildfire ash event
Santa Ana ash can drop production 15–30% in days. Quick, careful response keeps panels from etching.
How often to clean by SD region
Coastal arrays need it more than inland. Backcountry needs it after dust storms. Here's the cadence.
When should you stop and call a professional?
Six signs that the problem is past DIY. Turn the system off and pick up the phone — running a system with these issues turns cheap repairs into expensive replacements.
- A single panel reads near-zero production while its neighbors run normal
That's a hardware fault — broken bypass diode, failed microinverter, or cell-level damage. Cleaning won't fix it. Needs inspection.
- Visible burn marks, discoloration, or hot-spot etching on the glass
Hot spot damage. The cell underneath is degraded and can crack the encapsulant. Needs thermal scan and likely panel replacement.
- Standing water or sagging in the panel frame
Frame seal failure. Water inside the laminate destroys cells fast. Pull the panel for inspection — do not power-wash.
- Persistent bird nesting or chewed wiring under panels
Cleaning without bird proofing is wasted money — they'll be back in 30 days. Need critter guard mesh installed.
- Cracked or shattered panel glass
Stop using the system at the affected string until inspection. Live exposed cells in rain are a shock and arc-fault risk.
- Burning smell, smoke, or arcing from rooftop conduit or junction box
Cut DC and AC disconnects immediately and call. Solar electrical faults can ignite dry roof material. Don't wait.
What solar incentives and external resources are worth knowing about?
NREL Solar Soiling Research
Field data on how dust, pollen, and atmospheric film reduce panel output across US climate zones.
CPUCCPUC Net Billing Tariff (NEM 3.0)
Current California net metering rules — explains why production losses cost more under the post-2023 tariff.
SDG&ESDG&E Solar & Net Energy Metering
San Diego-specific solar interconnection, billing, and rate plan information for residential customers.
CSLBCSLB Solar Contractor License Lookup
Verify that any contractor working on your solar array holds a current C-46, C-61/D-38, or related California license.
Still stuck? Call a real technician.
If the guide didn't solve it, we probably can. Flat-rate diagnostic, same-day service across San Diego County.