Why the South West keeps your panels busy

Living in Devon, Cornwall, Somerset or Dorset comes with a particular mix of weather: mild, damp and famously changeable, with more sunshine hours than most of the country gets credit for. That combination is good news for solar generation, but it also means your panels are constantly collecting something. Coastal salt spray, spring pollen, agricultural dust, tree sap and the occasional Saharan dust deposit all settle on the glass and quietly chip away at performance.

The good news is that solar panels are remarkably low-maintenance. A little attention at the right moments of the year will keep them working near their best, and it takes far less effort than most homeowners expect. Here is what to think about season by season.

Spring: pollen, dust and storm leftovers

From late March, the South West turns yellow. Oak, ash, birch and grass pollen form a fine, slightly sticky film on the glass, and because it holds moisture, it can linger well beyond the pollen season itself. You may not notice much of a drop in output, but a hazy film of pollen can knock a few percent off generation across the whole array — and that adds up over a summer.

Spring is also the time to inspect what winter left behind:

• Look for cracked or discoloured glass, particularly after a winter of gales.
• Check that mounting clamps and rails still look sound, and that no tiles or slates have slipped around the fixings.
• Clear gutters that sit above or beside the array, since overflow stains the panels and encourages moss.
• Cut back shrubs and saplings that have crept upwards, before they start shading the array in earnest.

Late spring, once the worst of the pollen has fallen, is an ideal moment for the first proper clean of the year.

Summer: timing your clean and keeping the glass intact

By June, the sun is high and your panels are working hardest. It is tempting to clean on the hottest, brightest day, but that is the worst time to do it. Cold water on hot glass can cause thermal shock, and water evaporates so fast that it dries into streaks before you can rinse it away.

Aim for early morning or early evening instead. Use a soft brush on an extension pole, plenty of water, and a rinse with a hose rather than a pressure washer — high-pressure jets can force water past the frame seals and damage the laminate. Never use abrasive pads or washing-up liquid, which leaves a residue that attracts more dirt.

If you live in an area with a hosepipe ban, check local restrictions before you start, and consider a water butt or a professional clean using purified water. Summer is also the moment to check shading: a tree that was modest in April can cast a long afternoon shadow by July.

Autumn: leaves, low sun and a look at the numbers

Autumn brings fallen leaves, moss and the first real drop in sun angle. Because the sun sits lower in the sky, a clean panel matters more — grime that barely registered in June can noticeably reduce output in October.

• Clear leaves from around the base of the array and from any roof valleys above it, so they do not dam water against the frame.
• Prune back trees, but leave it late enough that you are not encouraging fresh growth that will shade the panels next spring.
• Compare this month's generation figures with the same month last year. A sudden dip usually points to dirt, shading, or a fault worth investigating.

An autumn clean, once the leaves have mostly fallen, sets you up well for the darker months ahead.

Winter: frost, salt and storm checks

Snow and frost usually slide off tilted panels quite quickly, and you should never scrape ice from the glass or pour hot water over it. Coastal homes in Cornwall and Devon face a different issue: salt spray, which leaves a stubborn film that rain alone often fails to shift. A gentle rinse on a mild, sunny day makes a real difference.

After any named storm, take five minutes to look at the array from ground level. Check for lifted panels, debris trapped behind the frame, and any new shading from damaged branches. Do not climb onto the roof yourself, particularly on wet slate or tile, which is genuinely dangerous in winter.

Building a routine that actually sticks

A practical rhythm for most South West homes looks like this: a quick monthly glance at your inverter or monitoring app, a clean and inspection in late spring, and a second clean in autumn. Arrays near the coast, under trees, or close to farmland may benefit from a third visit.

Unless you have a single-storey roof you can safely reach from the ground, it is usually worth calling in a professional. They will have the reach, the purified water and the insurance — and they can spot a failing clamp or a hairline crack long before it becomes an expensive problem. Look after your panels gently and consistently, and they will repay you steadily, season after season.