by developersHow To Prevent Birds From Nesting Under Solar Panels
Solar panels are a great way to reduce your home’s carbon footprint and embrace renewable energy. Many new homes have them fitted as standard to meet government energy efficiency targets, while owners of period properties choose them as an investment to help lower their electricity bills without compromising on energy usage.
As popular as solar panels are with people, they are equally beloved by pest birds, particularly pigeons, but also other birds, such as gulls, starlings and crows. All these birds like to nest under solar panels and use them as shelter away from predators and bad weather conditions.
With extensive experience carrying out pigeon proofing for solar panels across Edinburgh, the team here at Edinburgh Environmental Services understand how important it is that you pigeon proof solar panels on your home as quickly as possible. That’s why we’ve created this guide to help you understand the importance of solar panel bird proofing and how we do it.
Why Is Solar Panel Bird Proofing Important?
Birds, such as pigeons and even smaller birds, like starlings, can cause serious problems for homeowners with solar panels. Some common issues caused by pest birds roosting under solar panels include:
- Reduced Efficiency: Birds can significantly reduce solar panel efficiency, as their droppings are corrosive and can block sunlight, reducing the energy output of your panels.
- Roof Damage: As well as solar panels, birds can also damage the space underneath panels, knock off roof tiles, and block gutters with debris, such as falling nesting materials.
- Added Cost: Bird damage can require costly repairs to your solar installation and roof, and you may also need more regular cleaning to keep bird droppings off your panels.
- Fire Risks: If birds peck at electrical wiring under your solar panels, then this could cause a potential fire hazard.
- Health Hazards: Bird droppings carry diseases, including histoplasmosis, psittacosis, and salmonella, which can become airborne if the guano dries on your roof.
- Sleep Deprivation: Birds can be noisy when moving around on your roof, and this can cause sleeping issues for anyone directly under the roof.
- Further Infestation: Wild birds often carry parasites, including bird mites, which could potentially enter your home.
During breeding season, it’s illegal to remove nests and eggs, which is why it’s best to prevent pigeons from gaining access to the underside of your panels before they build nests. This way, you can keep your panels free from unwanted guests and stop a potential bird problem before it begins.
The Best Solar Panel Pigeon Proofing Products
There are 2 main types of bird proofing for solar panels: bird mesh barriers and bird spikes. More information about them is included below.
Bird Mesh
One of the most common ways to keep birds away from solar panels is to install mesh barriers. Bird mesh looks similar to bird netting, but is stronger and more rigid. Bird mesh creates a physical barrier that stops birds getting into gaps between your solar panels and your roof.
Bird Spikes
Bird spikes can be a simple way to deter birds, as they make the area look uncomfortable and unsuitable for perching on. Made from either stainless steel or plastic, bird spikes aren’t dangerous to birds, but simply make your roof an unpleasant place to be. Birds are highly territorial, and will look for a new location if they find your roof inhospitable.
The Importance Of Professional Installation
While some homeowners might want to consider carrying out their solar panel pigeon proofing themselves, this is usually a mistake.
One of the key reasons this is so dangerous is that fitting bird proofing requires accessing your roof. Working at heights is a skill, and one which Edinburgh Environmental Services staff have worked hard to earn, taking courses in health and safety to protect themselves, your property and the general public.
If you go up onto your roof without the correct safety equipment and knowledge, you could fall and hurt yourself. You could even fall onto someone below and injure them.
During your fall, or even while up on the roof, you could dislodge roof tiles. You may also damage your solar panels while fitting your bird proofing products. Bird mesh barriers in particular require correct attachment to stop pigeons nesting under your panels and to ensure that your panels are damage free.
If your solar panel bird proofing doesn’t work, then you will probably end up spending double the amount you would if you’d just worked with trusted experts like Edinburgh Environmental.
Removing the poorly fitted DIY bird proofing materials and then professionally installing ones will mean it takes longer to pigeon proof your solar panels, which will increase the cost of the project.
It’s also important to remember that all wild birds in the UK, including pigeons, are protected by the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. This law forbids you from killing birds, damaging their nests or removing their eggs during breeding season.
When you work with experienced experts, we can tell you the best time of year to pigeon proof solar panels and ensure that our work is carried out legally and safely.
How Edinburgh Environmental Services Stops Pigeons Getting Under Solar Panels
At Edinburgh Environmental Services, we work hard to ensure that all our solar panel bird proofing is carried out to the highest possible standards.
To provide a long lasting solution for our clients across Edinburgh and the Lothians, we use high quality materials and our extensive knowledge of bird behaviour to ensure every job we complete is successful and fully protects your solar panels from nuisance birds.
Our team have access to scaffolding and other specialist equipment to ensure they work at heights safely.
So, you can rely on us to fit bird control solutions that will stop birds nesting under the space beneath your solar system and protect your solar investment.
Alongside pigeon proofing for solar panels, we also offer a range of other bird control solutions, including commercial bird proofing services, pigeon control and more.
To book your consultation, contact us on 0131 560 6441 and our team will get to work deterring birds from your solar system.