Solar Panel Bird Guard: What It Is & How It Works
There’s a lot to think about when you install a solar energy system for your home. As you consider power requirements, the look of your roof, and what maintenance will entail, don’t forget another vital responsibility that comes with your new solar panels: keeping pests away.
Bird-proofing and guarding against other critters and pests is an essential part of solar panel maintenance. Thankfully, solar panel bird guards effectively keep pigeons and other pests away from your panels so that you can continue to enjoy clean energy without the hassle of calling pest control.
Many homeowners don’t realize that birds and other pests can pose such a risk to their solar energy systems. It’s important to know what you’re getting into before you install solar panels on your roof. Learn more about what solar panel bird guards are and how they work with this guide.
Why Do Birds Pose a Threat?
The gap between your panels and your roof acts as a convenient shelter for any neighborhood birds. Pigeons and other pests can do a lot of damage if they work their way under your solar panels. While one or two birds might seem harmless, the problem only worsens over time as creatures start nesting in and around your panels. Below are just a few of the problems birds can cause for your solar panels.
Poor Ventilation and Overheating
When birds take residence beneath your solar panels, they bring a lot of junk with them. Twigs and other nesting materials, broken eggshells, feathers, and other debris build up over time beneath your panels.
Unfortunately, this empty space beneath your panels serves a purpose: ventilation. If air can’t flow beneath your solar panels, the system can overheat. Too much debris from birds and nests blocks airflow and can damage your system over time, especially in warmer climates and seasons.
Harmful Stains
Bird droppings can be corrosive, which means they can damage your solar system components and the surrounding materials of your roof. When birds make a home beneath your solar panels, you’re more likely to find droppings and other unpleasant stains on and around your solar energy system.
Even if nothing harms your panels, the stains themselves can decrease your system’s productivity and keep you from making the most of your solar panels. Bird-proofing keeps your system clean, efficient, and powerful.
Roof Damage
Birds can also cause problems for the roof itself. Debris buildup from nests, feathers, and other materials can lead to leaks and other expensive roof damage. This debris can also block your gutters and create drainage issues, which can, in turn, create serious issues like mildew and foundation damage. Keeping birds away from your solar panels helps keep the rest of your roof—and your entire home—safe.
The Problem Only Grows
Many types of birds, including pigeons, try to return to areas where they’ve nested before. If a pigeon makes a home beneath your solar panels, and you don’t take care to get rid of it promptly, it’ll likely come back time and time again. As the bird reproduces, your problem will only grow.
Bird infestations can get out of hand quickly, especially if you’re dealing with non-migratory birds that don’t leave as the seasons change. Without prevention or protection in the form of a bird guard, even a small bird problem can turn into a massive ordeal that costs you a lot of time, money, and energy.
What Is a Bird Guard?
There are plenty of ways to deter birds from your solar energy system. You can keep your yard clean and properly seal trash to avoid attracting pigeons and other birds. You can also take down bird feeders or install pigeon guards around feeders. However, the most effective solution is to prevent birds from getting beneath your solar panels at all.
The answer to what solar panel bird guards are and how they work is simple. Bird guards consist of sturdy mesh that attaches to your solar panels, shutting off entry to birds who would otherwise get beneath the panels to create a nest. By cutting off access entirely, bird guards eliminate the risk of nests, debris buildup, overheating, and every other problem that birds can cause for your solar energy system.
Durable Materials for Secure Protection
Durability is a crucial aspect of bird guards. At Solar Restore, we use galvanized steel wire mesh for our bird-proofing solutions. This creates a strong and sturdy bird guard that can withstand heavy wind, rain, dust, and other elements, as well as pecking and scratching from curious pests.
Professional bird guards attach securely to your solar panels, providing strong and lasting protection. Additionally, steel bird guards won’t rust, which means they can continue to protect your solar panels for as long as they remain on your home.
Expert Installation for a Discreet Solution
Pest control is more important than your home’s appearance, but that doesn’t mean you have to settle for unsightly solutions just to keep your property safe. Another benefit of bird guards is that the materials can seamlessly match the frame of your solar panels. This creates a consistent and professional look that keeps your home looking clean and neat. Bird guards are an excellent solution for discreet protection that doesn’t create an eyesore on your roof.
Professional Bird-Proofing Is the Way To Go
Bird guards offer a straightforward bird-proofing solution, but it’s still important to invest in professional installation. A solar panel expert knows what they’re doing when they install bird-proofing mesh, so they’ll be able to ensure your bird guards stay in place and continues to protect your solar energy system over time.
A pest control expert might know how to install bird mesh, but they probably won’t know their way around your solar panels. They risk damaging the panels or the roof beneath them. Moreover, mistakes during installation can void your solar energy system’s warranty and create a lot of trouble for you down the line.
A solar panel expert will know how to install your bird guards without damaging your solar panels or voiding the warranty on your system. Professional installation is the safest choice to protect your panels and overall roof and solar energy system.
Don’t let birds ruin the productivity and performance of your solar energy system. When you need to bird-proof your solar panels in Arizona, trust the experts at Solar Restore. Our experienced team will set up your bird guards quickly and safely so that you can enjoy your solar energy system with peace of mind.
