Tips to Keep your Solar Panels Safe from Birds
The rooftop solar energy system is an ideal bird nesting spot for pigeons, sparrows, and other pest birds. Solar investment is worth it for you whether they are on a rooftop, wall mount, field, or floating solar system. However, they might seem to birds to be suitable perches or bird nesting sites.
But to birds, they might appear to be suitable perches or nesting grounds. Birds in the area can be prevented from soiling solar panels and making a mess that could reduce solar efficiency with effective precautions such as laser technology. Even the least shading leads to a decrease in solar efficiency.
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Important Points To Remember:
- Birds often choose to make a nest on the underside of solar panels because it provides excellent cover and warmth.
- A galvanized steel mesh is one of the most common and effective products for keeping birds away from panels.
- Another option for preventing birds from nesting under your PV solar is to use bird netting.
- Laser technology is the solution for protecting solar systems from birds nesting.
- Automated lasers can be fully customized and programmed, preventing birds from becoming habituated to and adapting to a specific pattern.
Birds often choose to make a nest on the underside of solar panels because it provides shade and warmth. As the panels give shelter from the blazing sun, predator protection, and a convenient entry and exit point, birds’ nesting process gets started in such places.
Although, installing solar PV systems is beneficial for homeowners as they help them to save on their high electricity bills for the future. Also, solar panel installation increases the value of your home. Moreover, solar energy is renewable and there are no harmful solar environmental effects. However, Unfortunately, the underside of the panels provides an ideal bird nesting spot.
Birds are very stubborn, especially if they’ve nested under solar panels. Also, getting rid of nests and droppings can be difficult because most solar panels are only 8 inches off the roof deck.
How Bird Droppings Impact Solar Panel Effectiveness?
Bird poop can reduce the efficiency of your rooftop solar. The photovoltaic cells in solar panels might undergo serious damage from the uric acid in bodily waste. This can result in problems like hot spots in which solar cells appear to be consuming energy rather than generating it.
Another problem is etching, a form of dropping that can even remain on panels after cleaning. Bird droppings should be instantly removed to avoid lasting harm but regular solar maintenance can be expensive.
How to Stop Bird Nesting under Your Solar Panels?
If you’re having issues with bird nesting under your solar panels or just want to be proactive about it, here are some useful tips.
1. Galvanized Steel Mesh for your Residential Solar Energy System
A galvanized steel mesh is one of the most common and effective products for keeping birds away from panels. The mesh clips to the sides of the solar panels and keeps the birds from getting underneath.
Also, the mesh is weather tested. As a result, it should withstand in the most severe storms and winds for a long time. Furthermore, the mesh allows air to move beneath the solar panels.
2. Get Bird Netting around your Solar Panels
Similarly, another option for preventing birds from nesting under your PV solar is to use bird netting. While there is netting around the solar, it acts as a barrier. Consequently, it prevents birds from entering their preferred spot.
A good and thick net enables light to get through is simple to build and covers the entire space, preventing the birds from landing.
The only disadvantage is that netting does not last as long as the mesh and hence must be examined and replaced regularly.
In contrast with mesh, when it comes to preventing birds from nesting, netting is always the preferable solution.
3. Decoy Animals for Threatening Birds
Further, the Animal Decoy is one of the most popular, yet effective method of keeping birds away from the panels. Most decoys are inexpensive and sometimes just the shape of an owl may suffice.
The only problem is that if the decoy remains static for a long period, the birds will consider it dead. As a result, you’ll have to shift it around, which may not be viable.
Moreover, another alternative is to use rubber snakes. Snakes are terrible for birds. So, they will avoid them. They are available for as cheap as $1. Spread the rubber snakes all over your roof & underneath your PV solar system. Also, they are hidden and have no visual impact on your home.
4. Bird Spikes for your Solar Panels
Bird spikes are another solution for getting rid of birds under solar. You can purchase them online. A homeowner can use bird spikes to prevent birds from building nests beneath the panels.
While stainless steel spikes only may not be sufficient and can be unattractive, they work well in conjunction with netting to stop birds.
Birds should not be able to land on your solar roof if you line the top of the roof with small spikes and add mesh to the panels.
Similarly, spikes are easy to set up, but they aren’t the most attractive of home decorations.
Likewise, Bird spikes come in a variety of sizes and are usually highly effective in deterring birds by making it uncomfortable for them to sit in their preferred location.
5. Always Keep your Home Garden Neat & Clean
Keeping your lawn clean is a good way to prevent birds from nesting on your solar panels. You should make sure there is no waste in your garden. This would be unattractive for the birds. Also, clean the area around your solar panels regularly to remove any trash that has gathered.
It’s also important to keep any bins around your home properly covered so that birds can’t get to them. For this plan to work, you must clear anything that birds might eat from your garden.
Maintaining the cleanliness of your panels is only one aspect of being proactive. Birds will be less likely to make nest in a solar panel array that is in good, clean, and working condition.
6. Clean your Solar Panels Regularly
Maintaining the cleanliness of your panels is only one aspect of being proactive. Birds will be less likely to make nest in a solar panel array that is in good, clean, and working condition.
7. Remove a Bird Nest Safely
If you find any birds nest around your solar energy system, you can remove it safely and legally.
Generally, destroying an active nest or home to a native bird species is unlawful. So be cautious before removing any nest.
8. Odors to Prevent Birds Nesting on Your Solar Panels
There are a variety of odors that can keep birds away from your rooftop panels. Garlic, cayenne pepper, and peppermint oil are all proven to be bird repellents, and they’re all organic.
What is the New and More Effective Technology to tackle Bird Nesting?
Laser technology is the solution for protecting solar systems from birds nesting. It has proven its effectiveness over time. An automated laser is one good approach to keep birds away from solar panels. Unlike humans, birds cannot see laser beams. It poses a considerably greater visual danger than just a dot when they see the entire beam moving toward them. Most birds find it unpleasant, and they nearly always flee right away.
Automated lasers can be fully customized and programmed, preventing birds from becoming habituated to and adapting to a specific pattern. Additionally, the laser can cover a large area and is quiet and clean. This results in less need for solar panel cleaning and less annoying noise.
Overall, Birds may seriously damage solar panels, and their waste can lower the effectiveness of solar panels. To protect your solar investment and guarantee that your solar panels are operating effectively, bird proofing is essential.
If you don’t think you’ll be able to get rid of the problem on your own, contact an expert. Just keep in mind that anything that reduces the effectiveness of your solar panels will eventually impact your wallet.
Solar SME offers its customers ongoing services of maintenance and other performance issues. Whenever you feel that the system is not performing well, you can report to our project manager about it. And we always try to resolve our customer’s issues on a priority basis.
So, Let’s go solar with Solar SME, Inc. and reshape your home energy system with lots of savings. Request A FREE Solar Quote for estimation.
