Solar · Updated 2026-04-25
Do I need to clean my solar panels on the Long Island coast?
Inland Long Island arrays clean themselves with rain. South-shore and East End coastal homes within ~½ mile of saltwater typically benefit from one professional cleaning every 1–2 years.
NREL field studies show typical Northeast residential soiling losses of 2–5% per year, with most of the loss restored by routine rainfall. Long Island's distinguishing factors are spring tree-pollen (heavy in April–May) and salt-aerosol fallout in shore-facing homes (Bay Shore, Sayville, the East End beaches), both of which can hold a thin film that rain alone won't remove.
Common follow-up questions
How do I tell if my panels actually need cleaning?
Compare your monitoring app's late-summer production to NREL PVWatts for August and September. If you're more than 5% below PVWatts and the modules look visibly hazy or have salt rings, cleaning will likely recover meaningful kWh. If production matches PVWatts, save the money.
Can I clean panels myself with a hose?
Cool, soft-water rinse with a long-handled soft brush from the ground is generally safe — but never use pressure washing, harsh detergents, abrasive pads, or hot water on cold glass. Most module manufacturers (LG, REC, Q CELLS) explicitly void the warranty for high-pressure cleaning. Walking on the array for cleaning is also a major safety and warranty risk.
What does professional cleaning cost on Long Island?
Typical pricing is $15–$25 per module ($300–$500 for a 20-module array), often bundled with a visual inspection and a thermal-camera scan to spot hot-spotting cells. Coastal homes that schedule a cleaning + critter-guard inspection together usually save on the trip fee.
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Need help with this on Long Island?
NovaLee Solutions is a licensed roofing, solar, and electrical contractor serving Suffolk County and all of Long Island. Our crew is GAF-certified, Tesla-Powerwall-certified, and Suffolk County master-electrician licensed.