Solar panel installers often forget to mention the problems and damage birds can cause when they nest underneath. For example, when birds such as pigeons decide to nest under solar panels, the build-up of guano and nesting materials will reduce the effectiveness and potentially cause your solar panels to stop working.
At Vermicure Pest Control, we provide bird protection for solar panels across Leeds, Wakefield and Doncaster. Our specialist bird-proofing technicians are fully licensed to exclude birds using techniques such as solar spikes.
If pigeons are nesting under your solar panels, call us on 07951 157254 to discuss your options.
Why should you stop birds from nesting under solar panels
Investing in solar panels can save you massive amounts of money in the long term. Therefore, when pests decide to call your solar panels home, they risk causing damage, stopping them from working, or even reducing their effectiveness.
- Damage: the build-up of dirt, debris, nesting materials and guano can all cause damage to your solar panels. Resulting in costly repairs and maintenance to ensure they continue to work. Furthermore, pests such as squirrels gnaw on cables stopping solar panels from working altogether. Bird mites can also be spread from the nests birds make under your panels, which can cause damage to your skin and leave you with a major cleaning job in your home.
- Reduce effectiveness: over time, pigeons living under your solar panels will cause guano (bird poop) to accumulate. A layer of guano over your solar panels will reduce the effectiveness, meaning a decrease in power generated.
- Noise: birds are boisterous during the early hours of the morning. You’ll likely hear a scratching noise under your solar panels, which keeps you or your neighbours awake.
- Breeding: if pigeons are under your solar panels, they will continue to breed exponentially. A small pigeon problem can become a severe infestation in no time. If that is the case, the removal cost increases and the damage to your solar panels could be unrepairable.
Vermicure Pest Control provides expert advice and guidance for solar panel bird-proofing and can install bird spikes and alternative bird-proofing measures at a very reasonable price. Call us on 07951 157254 to discuss an affordable solution for solar panel protection.
Solar panel bird proofing installation process
Survey
We will visit your home or request photos so we can provide a quote for the work. We’ll assess the number of panels that need to be proofed, if scaffolding is required, and the infestation level. For heavy infestations, a guano disinfection clean is recommended.
Preparation
Once the work has been agreed upon, we’ll remove all pigeons, nesting materials, eggs, and young from under your solar panels. Many cowboy installers miss this step and trap live birds under the panels with no way of escaping, which is cruel and illegal.
Installation
We’ll install spikes around your solar panels, ensuring your warranty remains intact by not drilling through the sides. The installed materials will prevent pigeons, squirrels and other pests from living underneath.
Decontamination
Finally, we’ll ensure your solar panels are left squeaky clean and free from any bird mess. Bird mess contains diseases transferable to humans, so your solar panels must be washed before a powerful disinfectant is applied.
Avoid cowboy solar panel installation
Finding the right company to bird-proof your solar panels can be challenging. It may be tempting to go with the cheapest supplier, but ask yourself what quality of materials they will use and if they are trained and licenced in bird exclusion.