How to pigeon proof solar panels
When you have gone to the effort of investing in and installing solar panels on your roof you want to ensure that you get the maximum amount of electricity from your solar panels. So you may start seeing your roof differently and perhaps even become protective of it! One potential enemy of your solar panel system is the possibility of pigeons nesting under the panels.
Pigeons may seem harmless enough, but they could pose a couple of issues to your solar panels. Bird droppings are a factor as it can temporarily block part of your panel, but typically it isn’t a big issue as the panels will usually be cleaned when it rains. However, minimising this would be good, as pigeon droppings can be corrosive to the protective coating on the panels.
The bigger concern is birds such as pigeons nesting under your solar panels. This can cause damage to connections and cables, which could affect the efficiency of the solar panels or worse still, completely disable the system and leave you with a hefty repair bill. Your solar panels might offer a nice shaded spot to protect the pigeons from the elements which can be very attractive for them to nest in. So what can you do to prevent pigeons from nesting under your solar panels?
4 ways to pigeon proof your solar panels
There are several different courses of action you can take to protect your solar panels from pigeons without affecting your warranty:
- Wire mesh or bird netting – this can be installed around the outer edge of your solar panels as a protective shield around them to prevent birds from getting underneath the solar panels. These are easy to install and a low-cost option which will not affect the appearance of your solar panels, making this the most popular pigeon-proofing option. The mesh or netting also still enables airflow around the panels and the roof.
- Solar skirts – these are thin strips of material that can be installed on the outer edges of your solar panels to prevent birds from getting under your solar panels. The advantage of these is that they are made from durable materials that are weather-resistant and can last a long time. However, they are considerably more expensive than mesh.
- Spikes – spikes have been used in many places to prevent pigeons from landing on them with great success. Installing spikes around your solar panels would make it difficult for the pigeons to access the solar panels and can prevent them from landing near them. They aren’t the most attractive deterrent and may not be completely effective on their own, so may be best combined with mesh or netting.
- Fake predators – this may seem like a dated idea but technology is improving from the plastic predators of the past as a deterrent with ones that can move in the wind and high-tech automated models. Again, on their own they may not be enough, but combined with something else like mesh or netting they could provide a complete solution.
There are some other steps you can take like making your property unattractive to pigeons. This includes not putting food out for birds and ensuring any pet food and rubbish is securely stored so you aren’t encouraging them to your garden. You can also keep your garden tidy and make sure there are no other areas suitable for nesting.
The other important factor if you do have birds flying over your solar panels or have trees in the area is to keep them clear of leaves, bird droppings, dust, tree sap and even pollution. If you have a build up of leaves or sticks around the solar panels this could encourage birds to investigate your roof, so clearing this when necessary is important. The rain should adequately clean your solar due to them being on an angle, but if your solar panels are starting to look dirty or there hasn’t been much rain to clean them you may want to get someone to clean them for you.
