Solar panel cleaning and health checks
Purified water applied by drone, with a visual and thermal check of every panel and a before-and-after report you can keep for your warranty records.
Solar panel cleaning and inspection by drone
Based in Exeter and working across Devon. We clean and inspect solar panels, roofs, buildings and wind turbines from the ground, so nobody climbs on your roof and nothing scrapes your panels.
- CAA-registered operator
- Fully insured
- Pure water, no harsh chemicals
What we do
Solar cleaning is our core work. Our inspection drones also survey roofs, buildings and turbines, and find faults you can't see from the ground.
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Roof inspections
Slipped tiles, flashing, gutters and valleys, photographed close up.
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Building inspections
Façades, cladding, chimneys and high-level stonework without scaffolding.
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Thermal inspections
Hot spots on solar panels, heat loss and damp from the air.
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Wind turbine inspections
Blade, tower and nacelle checks for farm and small-scale turbines.
See the difference
The same roof before and after a clean. Drag the slider to compare.
Before
After
Why clean by drone?
Traditional cleaning means ladders, poles or someone kneeling on your roof. A drone does the high, awkward work from the ground.
| Devon Aeroworks drone | Ladder and water-fed pole | Pressure washer | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nobody working on the roof | Yes | Often needs ladders | Usually on the roof |
| No brushes scraping the glass | Soft spray, no contact | Brush can drag grit | Can damage seals |
| Reaches 3+ storeys and large barns | Yes | Limited by pole length | Needs access equipment |
| Purified water, no streaks | Yes | Usually | Tap water leaves marks |
| Aerial and thermal check included | With a health check | No | No |
What is dirt costing you?
Bird droppings, pollen, lichen and farm dust block sunlight. Rain alone doesn't shift them. Set your system size and how dirty the panels look to estimate the electricity you're losing each year.
Small debris can cause lasting damage
Panels don't just lose output when they're dirty. A single bird dropping or clump of leaves can harm the panel itself.
Solar cells are wired in a chain. When one cell is covered, it stops producing power and starts resisting the current from the cells around it. That trapped energy turns into heat, creating a hot spot that can reach well above the temperature of the rest of the panel.
Left in place, hot spots can discolour and crack cells, damage the backsheet and shorten the working life of the panel. They are invisible to the eye. A thermal camera shows them at once.
- Cleaning removes the cause
- A thermal scan finds damage that's already started
- Our report marks the exact panel for your installer
Cleaning that protects your panel warranty
Most manufacturers set out how their panels may be cleaned. Pressure washers, stiff brushes, harsh detergents and walking on the panels can all put a warranty claim at risk.
We check your panel make before we clean and follow the manufacturer's guidance. After every job you get a dated report with before-and-after photos, which is useful evidence of regular maintenance if you ever need to claim.
How we clean safelyCan void a warrantyHigh-pressure jets
What we doLow-pressure spray
Can void a warrantyHard water and detergents
What we doPurified water, no harsh chemicals
Can void a warrantyWalking or kneeling on panels
What we doNobody on the roof
Can void a warrantyAbrasive brushes and scrapers
What we doNo contact with the glass
Can weaken a claimNo record of maintenance
What we doDated photo report every visit
Choose how much we check
Every visit includes a visual check of your panels before we start. The Solar Health Check adds a full thermal scan and written report.
Solar clean
From £150 for most homes
A thorough drone clean with purified water.
- Visual check for damage before cleaning
- Low-pressure, purified water clean
- Before-and-after aerial photos
Solar Health Check
From £200 clean and check
Cleaning plus a full inspection of your system, so you know it's working as it should.
- Everything in the solar clean
- Thermal scan for hot spots and faulty cells
- Close-up check of frames, fixings, cables and bird guards
- Inverter reading before and after cleaning
- Written report with any faults marked panel by panel
Care plan
Save 10–15% on every visit
Regular cleaning on a schedule that suits your site, for homes, businesses and farms.
- Once or twice a year, or more on farms and coastal sites
- We remind you and book the next visit
- A maintenance history for your warranty
How a job works
Get your quote
Fill in the online form. Homes get a price range straight away, and we confirm it in writing.
We check the site
We review your roof on satellite imagery, check the airspace and plan a safe take-off spot.
Clean and inspect
We set up a safe working area and clean with purified water. Most homes take a couple of hours.
Your report
You receive before-and-after photos, any faults we spotted, and when your next clean is due.
From the air
Homes, farms, workshops and ground-mounted arrays across Devon.
Where we work
We're based in Exeter and cover everywhere within about 25 miles as standard.
- Exeter
- Exmouth
- Sidmouth
- Honiton
- Cullompton
- Tiverton
- Crediton
- Newton Abbot
- Teignmouth
- Dawlish
- Torquay
- Paignton
- Totnes
We also take on work across the rest of Devon, East Cornwall and West Somerset. Larger commercial and solar farm jobs can be further afield.
Working in partnership
We work with two local Exeter firms, so your solar system is covered from installation and electrical work through to cleaning and inspection.
Exeter's Electrician
NICEIC-registered electricians based just outside Exeter. They cover domestic and commercial installations, repairs, electrical safety reports (EICRs), EV chargers, and solar and battery installs. If our thermal scan finds an electrical fault, they can put it right.
exeterselectrician.co.uk (opens in a new tab)Ark Assets Renewables
The solar branch of Exeter's Electrician. They design and install solar panels, battery storage and smart energy systems for homes and businesses across Exeter and Devon.
arkassetsrenewables.co.uk (opens in a new tab)Common questions
How often should solar panels be cleaned?
For most homes, every 12 to 18 months. Farms, coastal properties, industrial sites and anywhere near trees or nesting birds usually need cleaning two to four times a year.
Won't the rain clean them?
Rain washes off loose dust, but not bird droppings, lichen, moss, pollen film or farm dust. Low-angle and flat roof panels hold dirt even more, because water runs off slowly.
Is drone cleaning safe for my panels?
Yes. We use low-pressure purified water and nothing touches the glass. That's gentler than brushes or pressure washers, and nobody stands on your roof.
Will cleaning affect my warranty?
We follow the manufacturer's cleaning guidance, which protects your warranty. You'll also get a dated report with photos as a record of maintenance.
Do I need to be home, or provide water?
No. We bring our own purified water and power. We just need access to a safe spot to set up, usually a driveway or garden. We'll confirm the details when we book.
What happens if the weather is bad?
We can't fly in strong wind, heavy rain or poor visibility. If the forecast is against us, we'll rearrange at no charge.
Get your free quote in two minutes
Tell us about your panels and access. Homes see a price range straight away. Businesses and farms get a written quote within two working days.