Home / Solar panel cleaning
Solar panel cleaning in Pakistan
Dust and smog are not the same thing. This page separates what washing can recover from what it cannot, and shows stored PVGIS tilt scenarios rather than a smog percentage we do not measure.
Dust settles on the glass as deposited soiling. Airborne smog scatters and absorbs light before it reaches the panel. Washing can recover the deposited part; it cannot recover the light lost to smog. Days since washing are shown as context only, because they do not establish a loss percentage.
City tilt scenarios and modeled winter yield
| City | Latitude | Standard tilt | Winter tilt | Summer tilt (heuristic) | Nov–Jan standard kWh/kWp | Nov–Jan winter kWh/kWp | Measured local soiling loss (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lahore | 31.52 | 32° | 47° | 17° heuristic | 403.98 | 437.81 | Not available |
| Multan | 30.16 | 30° | 45° | 15° heuristic | 425.36 | 463.69 | Not available |
| Faisalabad | 31.45 | 31° | 46° | 16° heuristic | 411.14 | 447.94 | Not available |
| Islamabad | 33.68 | 34° | 49° | 19° heuristic | 399.04 | 432.77 | Not available |
| Peshawar | 34.02 | 34° | 49° | 19° heuristic | 390.66 | 423.15 | Not available |
| Karachi | 24.86 | 25° | 40° | 10° heuristic | 454.47 | 496.83 | Not available |
| Gujranwala | 32.19 | 32° | 47° | 17° heuristic | 400.98 | 435.84 | Not available |
Source: JRC PVGIS 5.3 user manual. PVGIS returns long-term modeled averages, not measured city smog.
The summer column is a clearly labelled heuristic (rounded latitude − 15°). We do not show a summer energy benefit for it, because no summer-tilt response is stored.
10 kW November to January, Lahore and Islamabad
| City | Tilt | Nov | Dec | Jan | Nov–Jan total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lahore | Standard (rounded latitude) | 1,368.5 | 1,373.9 | 1,297.4 | 4,039.8 |
| Lahore | Winter (latitude + 15°) | 1,468.1 | 1,508.6 | 1,401.4 | 4,378.1 |
| Islamabad | Standard (rounded latitude) | 1,335.9 | 1,368.7 | 1,285.8 | 3,990.4 |
| Islamabad | Winter (latitude + 15°) | 1,432.3 | 1,504.4 | 1,391.0 | 4,327.7 |
Assumptions: 10 kWp crystalline silicon, south-facing, two fixed tilts, 14% model system losses, PVGIS-ERA5. Rows scale linearly from the stored 1 kWp responses. These are model averages and not a guarantee for any single winter.
Soiling: measured locally, not available to us
We do not publish an observed smog or soiling percentage for any Pakistani city, because no measured local dataset has been supplied to us. The calculator instead asks for your additional soiling percentage as an assumption applied on top of the modeled baseline, defaulting to zero.
Source: NREL: scientists studying solar try solving a dusty problem.
The NREL article above explains soiling research in general. It is not Pakistani measured data, and we do not attribute local figures to it.
Safety and qualified work
- Follow the panel and mounting manufacturer's instructions; they govern cleaning and inspection.
- Use a qualified technician for connectors, wiring, thermal imaging or structural work.
- A sprinkler request is a question to ask about, not a recommendation; water quality, drainage, roof load and hard-water spotting all matter.
- Never work on a live array or walk on panels without the right training and equipment.
Ask about cleaning or inspection
Panel cleaning
Ask ProChuno to help you find a cleaning service for deposited dust and soiling on the glass.
Qualified thermal and connector inspection
For connectors, wiring, thermal hot-spots or structural checks, ask for a qualified technician.
Monthly maintenance enquiry
A recurring maintenance arrangement is a request to ask about; it is not a contract or a promise of a schedule.
Sprinkler suitability enquiry
Whether a sprinkler suits your roof is a site-specific question, not a recommendation from us.
Questions about solar cleaning
Does dust really reduce solar output in Pakistan?
Deposited dust and airborne smog both cut output, but they are different things. Soiling builds up on the glass and can be washed off; smog scatters light and cannot be washed away. We do not publish a Pakistani soiling percentage because no local measured dataset is available to us.
Should I wash my solar panels every week?
No fixed interval suits every roof. Rain helps, but dusty spells, nearby fields or industry can leave a film that rain does not clear. Track your own output and clean when it drops, rather than treating days since washing as proof of a specific loss percentage.
Can a sprinkler be used to clean rooftop panels?
A sprinkler request is something to ask a qualified installer about, not a recommendation we make. Water quality, drainage, roof load, electrical safety and hard-water spots all matter. Manufacturer instructions and a site check come first, especially near connectors and mounting structures.
Does tilting panels more in winter increase output?
PVGIS models show that a steeper winter tilt can raise November to January output at several Pakistani cities, because the sun stays lower. It is an illustrative geometry comparison, not an optimum or a structural recommendation. Check mounting, wind load and roof condition with a qualified professional before changing tilt.
Who should clean or inspect my solar panels?
Ask a qualified technician, and for connector, wiring or structural work insist on one. Manufacturer instructions govern the panel and mounting system. This page is a request to find out about cleaning or inspection; it is not a claim that ProChuno or every listed installer provides those services.
Estimate cleaning recovery in the calculator Browse installers