Drone Inspection

Drone thermal inspection. See what your eyes can't.

A thermal camera mounted on a drone finds hot spots, bypassed diodes, and cell-level defects in 20 minutes — work that takes a hand-held inspector half a day. We deliver a full thermal map, a marked photo of every problem panel, and a written report with module IDs ready for warranty claims.

(858) 808-6055 Request a quote

Aerial thermal image of a commercial solar array highlighting a hot spot in red

What's included in this service?

FAA Part 107 licensed drone pilot, full liability insurance
Calibrated thermal camera (Flir or DJI Zenmuse)
High-resolution visible camera flown in parallel for visual reference
Thermal anomaly classification (hot spot, hot module, hot string, hot bypass)
Module-level GPS pinpointing for warranty claim documentation
PDF report with marked photos and prioritized recommendations

When do you need this service?

Production has dropped without obvious cause
Module-level monitoring not installed
Annual O&M inspection on a commercial site
Insurance claim after hail or storm event
Pre-purchase due diligence on a used array
PPA performance dispute with original installer

What do homeowners ask about Drone Inspection?

Can you fly during the day?

Yes — thermal anomalies actually show better in midday sun under load. We schedule between 11am and 2pm with at least 600 W/m² irradiance for accurate results.

What does a hot spot mean for my panel?

A hot spot usually means a cracked or shaded cell that's drawing power from the rest of the panel. Mild hot spots reduce output a few percent. Severe ones can permanently damage the panel and create fire risk. Most are warranty-replaceable if caught early.

Is the drone allowed to fly over my house?

Yes. We file FAA airspace authorization where required (most San Diego County is uncontrolled), notify neighbors before launch, and stay within line of sight per Part 107.

Service area

Where do we offer Drone Inspection in San Diego County?

We provide drone inspection in every city and community in San Diego County. Pick your city for local climate notes and service specifics.

Central Drone Inspection in San Diego Central San Diego has dense urban tree pollen and mild marine influence. San Diego arrays typically need cleaning every 9 months — sooner if you are under heavy bird traffic from a neighboring property or near a park.

North Coastal Drone Inspection in Oceanside North Coastal homes range from 1970s beach stock in Encinitas to new-build HOA communities in Carlsbad — both affected by marine humidity year-round. Oceanside installs lean toward two-stage or variable-speed systems to handle long mild shoulder seasons efficiently.

North Coastal Drone Inspection in Carlsbad North Coastal homes range from 1970s beach stock in Encinitas to new-build HOA communities in Carlsbad — both affected by marine humidity year-round. Carlsbad installs lean toward two-stage or variable-speed systems to handle long mild shoulder seasons efficiently.

North County Inland Drone Inspection in Escondido North County Inland hits triple-digit summer heat with low humidity — opposite of coastal. Escondido homes need properly sized condensers and good attic insulation; undersized systems in this zone get called out for failure every July and August.

East County Drone Inspection in El Cajon East County summers bring desert dust from the I-8 corridor and Anza-Borrego pull-throughs. El Cajon arrays pick up heavy soiling fast — production drops of 20-25% are not unusual without quarterly cleaning. Hard-water spotting from sprinkler overspray is also common here.

South County Drone Inspection in Chula Vista South County panels deal with coastal salt to the west and Otay Mesa industrial dust to the east. Chula Vista homes typically need cleaning every 6-8 months — the layered film does not rinse off in rain and requires a full deionized soft wash.

See drone inspection in all 48 cities

Real feedback

Homeowners who hired us for this

We hadn't cleaned our panels in two years. They came out the same week, did the soft-wash deionized rinse, and showed me the production jump in our Enphase app the next day. About 11% more daily kWh. Clear price up front, no upsell.

Melissa R. Solar Panel Cleaning · Carlsbad

Got three quotes for a recurring maintenance plan. Solar Pros was the only one that actually explained the soiling math under NEM 3.0 and showed me data, not a sales pitch. Their plan price was fair and they pull production reports for me each visit.

David K. Maintenance Plan · El Cajon

Pigeons had nested under our panels for almost a year — droppings everywhere and our production was tanking. They installed the critter-guard mesh and did a deep clean in one visit. Cleaner roof, no more bird noise, production back to normal within a week.

Priya S. Bird Proofing & Cleaning · Encinitas

Serving San Diego County

Need drone inspection in San Diego County?

Call for a free quote. Most work scheduled within the week.

(858) 808-6055 Request a quote