Symptom
Microcracks (solar panels)
Invisible hairline fractures in solar cells. Caused by pressure-wash impact; reduces output long-term.
Hairline fractures in the silicon cells of a solar panel, typically caused by pressure-washer impact, hail, or thermal shock (cold water on sun-hot glass). The cracks are too small to see with the naked eye — panels look fine — but they reduce the panel’s output over time as corrosion creeps into the cells.
Why we don’t pressure-wash panels: even a 1500-PSI jet at 45° is enough to induce microcracks in tempered panel glass. We use a soft-brush + deionized-water system at hose pressure, which is what panel manufacturers recommend for warranty-compliant cleaning.