Most Virginia homeowners need professional cleaning once or twice a year, but it depends on your specific situation. If you’re near highways, farms, or have lots of trees around your house, you might need it more often. Virginia gets decent rainfall—about 43 inches per year—which helps rinse panels naturally. But rain can’t remove sticky stuff like bird droppings, tree sap, or the thick pollen we get every spring. Areas that get less rain, like parts of Shenandoah Valley, typically need more frequent cleaning. The best way to know? Watch your energy production through your monitoring app. If you see a 10-15% drop compared to similar weather conditions from previous months, it’s time for a cleaning. Your panels will tell you when they need help.