Back in , over 2 million Australian homes went at least partially solar with rooftop solar panels. That number is going to grow exponentially as more Australians commit to a more eco-friendly and affordable energy source.
Unfortunately, rooftop solar panels do come with one pesky problem: birds, particularly pigeons, love to nest around and under solar panels.
The good news is that bird-proofing solar panels is easier than you might think. We have compiled a number of methods that are easy to implement and won&#;t cost a huge additional cost.
Read on to learn more about protecting solar panels from birds and birds nests.
Pigeons prefer to nest in high areas where they can keep an eye on food and water sources at all times. Because their babies stay in the nest longer than most bird species, they also require ample protection. The space beneath your rooftop solar panels makes a perfect nesting place for pigeons and their families.
Other birds may also make a home under your solar panels. However, pigeons tend to be more comfortable sharing their space with humans than other species. The good news is that our pigeon proofing methods work for all birds so you won&#;t have to worry about any feathery friends nesting on your roof.
You might be thinking, &#;Why not let them be?&#; After all, we are proud to coexist with animals of all kinds here in Brisbane.
That being said, you&#;re going to want to encourage birds, especially pigeons, to nest somewhere other than your solar panels. Why? Let&#;s take a look at the three primary reasons that pigeon proofing your solar panels is a must.
Of course, where you find pigeons, you will also find pigeon droppings. This is especially the case after the babies have hatched and started wandering from the nest. When you have four or five pigeons on your roof, you&#;re going to have quite a bit of excrement up there.
The problem is that pigeon droppings are more acidic than most bird droppings. As they build up, they can start to corrode the hardware that keeps your solar panels running properly. Because the space between your solar panels and your roof is narrow, it isn&#;t easy to get in there and clean out the droppings on a regular basis.
The adult pigeons likely won&#;t just leave their droppings beneath your solar panel. They may deposit droppings when they take flight, as well. When they&#;re taking off and landing on your roof again and again, many of those droppings are bound to end up on the surface of your solar panels.
If droppings build up on the panels, themselves, you may run into an energy problem. If anything is blocking your panels, they won&#;t be able to take in as much sunlight throughout the day. This will lower your overall energy intake, making it harder to build up the reserves you need to power your home.
You may be thinking that if the pigeons have already made a home on your roof, you might as well leave them there. After all, they&#;ll leave when their babies grow older, right? Sort of.
Pigeons may leave for a short period of time, but they&#;ll come back if they can. Once two pigeons have found a comfortable place to nest once, they&#;ll return the next time they&#;re getting ready to lay eggs. The best thing you can do is contact your local wildlife control to have the pigeons safely relocated before bird-proofing your solar panels.
Need help repairing solar panels after removing those pesky birds? Contact us for solar panel repairs in Brisbane.
Once your roof is nest-free, it&#;s time to implement bird-proofing solutions. These two solutions work well together to keep your solar panels free of nests and keep your solar panel surfaces bird-free. Let&#;s take a look.
A solar skirt is a simple device that blocks off the area between your roof and the edge of your solar panels. Mesh materials work best because they allow heat to escape from beneath your solar panels while keeping birds out. Wire and plastic mesh panels will do the trick.
If you still have birds hanging around on your rooftop, you may want to install bird spikes in strategic places. Bird spikes are thick and flexible, which means that they discourage birds from perching on them but do not cause them physical harm. Bird spikes can keep pigeons and other birds from landing on (and leaving droppings on) your solar panels.
Taking a nesting spot away from a bird may not be your cup of tea. However, we&#;re here to let you know that the birds have plenty of other options for nesting! In fact, nesting beneath your solar panels isn&#;t the safest option for them, and it&#;s best to encourage them to leave.
Bird-proofing solar panels will help you get the most out of your switch to solar energy. Need more than just solar panel protection? If you have damaged or malfunctioning solar panels on your hands, we&#;re here to help.
Whether you want to start with an inspection or dive right into repairs on your Brisbane residential solar panels, our licensed solar experts are perfect for the job. Contact us and let us know what services you&#;re interested in. Our friendly representatives will be in touch soon.
As you may have already heard, solar panels can supply all your electricity demands with the right installation. While there are several advantages to solar panels, it is also necessary to maintain them to get the most out of them. Birds that build their nests under solar panels can cause serious damage to the panels and their efficiency. That is why bird-proofing your solar panels is critical.
What are the impacts of birds on solar panels?
Birds can be loud and messy
Birds like to nest behind solar panels because they create a hollow area underneath them. Pigeons, for example, maybe noisy and filthy. Furthermore, pigeons are more likely to nest as a result of the noise that accompanies them. Because of the scratching, scurrying, and chirping, the restless nights will be aggravating for the people who live in that house.
It reduces the solar panel&#;s efficiency
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When bird droppings cover a solar panel, the panes do not have enough access to the sun's energy. Furthermore, because of bird drippings on the panes, the amount of dust and filth that adheres to them grows.
Birds can cause damage to your solar panels
Birds, particularly bigger birds like pigeons and crows, can damage solar panels. They have the potential to affect both the inner and outside of solar panels. This can even cost you more money when it comes to repairing them. Most bird droppings have a high acidity level. The acidity may corrode wiring and even harm the surface of your solar panels. Bird droppings aren't the only problem; they also bite and scrape the solar panels' cables.
How can you make your solar panels bird-proof?
Bird-proofing solar panels are the act of constructing a barrier around the perimeter of your solar panels to prevent pigeons from making nests beneath them. The major reason for keeping your solar panels bird-proofed and maintained is that they are a huge investment. It is a waste of money if the panels are not properly maintained and utilized. Birds will search for a new home once the panels have been bird-proofed and they can no longer access the underside of the panels.
Bird-proofing services and other methods are available for bird-proofing your panels. These services include the following:
Is it expensive to get your solar panels bird-proofed?
The cost of these services is determined by five primary elements,
It's critical that you choose the best bird-proofing options for your solar panels.
What are some of the bird-proofing options?
Wire mesh for birds
One of the most common types of bird-proofing products is bird mesh wire. It connects to the edge of your Solar Panels to keep birds out of the area beneath them. This approach is quite successful and maybe clipped straight into the panels without voiding the guarantee.
The bird mesh solution is a non-intrusive and appealing option. It does no harm to your panels and is kept in place by a nut and washer, making it simple to remove.
Anti-roosting spikes
Birds are unable to perch nearby using this strategy. This, on the other hand, is not very appealing. The spikes, on the other hand, maybe affixed to any place on the panels and are a compassionate and reliable way to keep pigeons away from your solar panels.
Solar Bird blockers
Bird blockers act in a similar way as bird meshes. However, they match the color of the Solar Panel. As a result, they are undoubtedly more appealing to the eye. This choice is more durable, as well as UV resistant. They don't require any screwing or drilling into the panels. Most significantly, they are composed of recyclable HDPE. Therefore, they are an excellent ecologically beneficial solution.
Make certain to aid in determining which form of bird-proofing is best for you and our needs. Waiting until there are more and more bird nests under your panels can result in a loss. This will simply make you regret not making a hasty decision to maintain your panels when necessary.
Contact us to discuss your requirements of solar panel bird proofing mesh. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.