Solar panel cleaning
Purified water and soft brushes, never a pressure washer. Only where it is worth it; if it isn't, we will tell you.
Solar panel cleaning and servicing in Bristol
Solar panel cleaning, servicing, repairs and bird proofing in Bristol, using purified water and soft brushes rather than the pressure washers many local firms offer. Roof-nesting gulls are the other local problem: their droppings don't rinse off in the rain, and we fit mesh once any nest is empty.
How we cover Bristol
We take servicing work anywhere in the UK, and that includes Bristol and the area around it. We are based in Warrington and we don't have an office in the South West. As with any job, we ask what the system is and how the roof is reached before booking a visit.
Start with a photo of the panels on WhatsApp or a call on 0800 772 3611.
What Bristol roofs mean for upkeep
Say no to the pressure washer. A lot of the firms offering panel cleaning around Bristol are pressure-washing and general property-maintenance companies. A pressure washer can force water past the panel seals and damage the cells, and using one is a well-known way to void a manufacturer's warranty. We clean with purified water and a soft brush on a pole, from the ground wherever the roof allows, and we don't walk on your panels.
Gulls nest on the roofs. Bristol has a well-studied population of roof-nesting lesser black-backed gulls; University of Bristol researchers tracked them for three breeding seasons. Gulls and pigeons both foul panels, and droppings don't rinse off in the rain the way dust does. Birds are the most common genuine reason a home array needs cleaning.
Proofing around the nesting season. Wild birds' nests are protected by law while they are in use, so a nest on or under your array can't be cleared until the birds have gone. After that, bird proofing closes the gap round the edge of the array so they can't move back in underneath.
Business roofs. National Grid's own report on its South West network says business activity is concentrated around Bristol and Bath. On large flat or low-pitched business roofs, rain runs off slowly and residue builds up, so those arrays are likely to need two planned cleans a year rather than one, ideally with one done alongside an inspection.
What we do in Bristol
Bird proofing
Mesh round the edge of the array so gulls and pigeons can't get under it. Typical home: £400 to £800.
Health checks and repairs
A routine home service costs around £200 to £300. A replacement inverter typically costs £1,200 to £2,000 fitted, including on systems we didn't fit.
Commercial roofs
Planned maintenance for warehouses, units and offices, with risk assessments and method statements before anyone goes up.
Your network operator in Bristol
How grid approval worksIn Bristol the wires belong to National Grid Electricity Distribution, whose South West area stretches from Bristol and Bath down to Land's End. They look after the cables and substations; they don't send your bills.
Cleaning and bird proofing are nothing to do with them. Replacing an inverter or adding a battery can be, and we handle that side for you.
Questions from Bristol customers
Who cleans solar panels in Bristol?
DB Energy does, for homes and businesses in Bristol, including systems another company installed, using purified water and soft brushes. We are MCS certified (NIC-601172) and a RECC member (00075024), based in Warrington, and we reply to every enquiry within two working days.
Someone has offered to pressure-wash my panels. Is that OK?
No. A pressure washer can force water past the panel seals and damage the cells, and it is a well-known way to void a manufacturer's warranty. Purified water and a soft brush does the job without either risk.
Does bird proofing keep gulls out as well as pigeons?
Yes. The mesh closes the gap between the panels and the roof, so no bird can get underneath to nest, whatever its size. It goes on when no nest is in use, because active nests are protected by law.
Do you really cover Bristol from Warrington?
Yes. We take servicing work anywhere in the UK, and we plan each visit around the job, so the first step is the same as anywhere: send us a photo or ring 0800 772 3611 and we will tell you what it needs.
Send us a photo of your panels
If someone has offered to pressure-wash your panels, send us a photo before you say yes. The same goes for gull droppings, a nest underneath or an error light on the inverter.