Solar panels are a great way to lower your carbon footprint and your reliance on the national grid, but there are a few things that you need to consider if you’ve just had your solar panels installed or you’re looking to get solar panels installed. One of those things is making sure that you’ve invested in solar panel bird proofing. Without it, you are likely to find that you run into a few issues!
Why is pigeon proofing solar panels important?
You might think that having to pigeon proof your solar panels sounds ridiculous, or maybe even mean if you’re thinking of the spikes that are often attached to buildings. But there is good reason to pigeon proof your solar panels, such as:
Pigeons (and birds generally) can decrease the solar panel efficiency
Birds are messy creatures, and when nesting under solar panels, or even if you have pigeons nesting nearby, you’re likely to suffer from their mess. Bird droppings and nesting material may begin to cover your solar panels, and this has a direct impact on how well your solar panels can perform, subsequently reducing the amount of money and energy they help you to save.
Bird proofing solar panels can help to prevent solar panels getting damaged
Pigeon proofing solar panels can help to prevent birds from damaging your solar panels. Pigeons and other birds are common culprits when it comes to damaged solar panels; bird droppings are highly acidic, and can erode even high quality materials like those used to build solar panels.
Pigeons nesting under solar panels also have a tendency to bite through wires, which can prevent your solar panels from working at all and then you will need to pay for a solar panel removal service. The mounts of a solar panel system are strategically placed so as not to damage the roof so a professional services is required to remove and reinstall damaged panels. Likewise, their claws can scratch the surface of the solar panels themselves, which can lead to the system not being able to generate power.
Pigeons nesting are likely to return year after year
A lot of animals will return to the same space to nest. Once upon a time, this was less of a problem when birds used to just sit on roof tiles. But now that having solar panels is so common, if they find somewhere safe to nest, there is a chance that you’ll have regular pigeons nesting each year.
What solar panel pigeon proofing options are there?
If you want to pigeon proof solar panels, you should discuss your bird proofing with solar panel proofing experts to determine which is the best bird proofing for you. The options you will be faced with will be:
Solar panel pigeon mesh
Bird mesh or pigeon mesh is a common bird proofing technique that stops nuisance birds from interrupting your solar pv system or thermal solar system. A lot of solar panel services will offer bird mesh installation to help you to keep your solar panel array clean and safe.
Solar panel is installed around the solar panels to stop pigeons nesting under solar panel systems. The mesh seals the area underneath solar panels to prevent pigeons nesting.
Solar panel bird netting
Solar panel protection can also come in the form of netting that stops pest birds from nesting under solar panels. The netting is installed around the solar panels, acting as a barrier. Pigeon proofing services may offer either bird mesh or bird netting – both work very well.
Solar panel bird spikes
These are common in city centres, and most people will be familiar with them. They’re not as effective at preventing pigeons from nesting, but they do help. They are available in multiple sizes and they make it uncomfortable for birds to sit on your home.
Many people choose to opt for alternative measures so that they do not cause birds discomfort, and because the spikes are quite visible.
The solar skirt
You can, from some solar panel companies, opt to have a skirt installed around your solar panels. This is a black edging added around the solar panels that works in much the same way as netting or mesh, but it is more permanent and less likely to be damaged. Typically, skirts are made from aluminium.
How to counteract birds without bird proofing
If you can’t afford to bird proof just yet, but you need to tackle birds getting in the way, there are a few things you can do.
Wash your solar panels more regularly
If pigeon droppings are affecting the efficiency of your solar panels, solar panel cleaning will help. You can do this yourself, or you can hire a solar panel company to clean them for you.
Keep your garden clean
A clean garden is less likely to attract pigeons as there’s less food and nesting materials around for them to collect. This, in turn, leads to pigeons and birds looking elsewhere to nest.
Hire a pest control company
If pigeons really will not leave your solar panels alone, you might want to invest in a pest control company to protect your solar panel array from the birds. You might need to install bird proofing after this, to maintain the bird-free state, however.
Don’t leave pet food or bird food out
It goes without saying that if you’re leaving bird food out on a table, no matter if bird netting is going to stop pigeons from visiting. Likewise, if you leave pet food out for your pets or other wild animals, this is likely to attract pigeons and other birds who may then take to nesting under solar panels.
Opt for the cheaper methods
Alternatively, opt for the cheaper methods of bird proofing, which is usually bird spikes. Bird netting’s cost will largely depend on the size of your solar panels, as will bird mesh. Bird spikes are less expensive, but they are often considered to be unsightly.
