Investing in solar energy offers many benefits. Solar energy reduces your reliance on the grid, thus reducing energy costs, which helps you save money in the future. Additionally, solar energy increases property value and reduces greenhouse gas emissions, helping you achieve your environmental sustainability goals.
Despite the efficiency and benefits of solar energy, pests or other unseen critters can nest in gaps between the panels and the roof or chew on the panels, compromising the lifespan, safety, and efficiency of your investment. Fortunately, with the appropriate pest control knowledge and preventive measures, you can protect your solar energy investment for maximum benefits.
Arrays Attract Critters
Most homeowners and commercial property owners opt to install solar arrays on roofs or above ground. However, despite being high off the ground, the arrays are at risk of damage or attack from small animals, such as rodents, squirrels, rats, pigeons, house sparrows, or raccoons that nest or shelter in the space between the roof and the arrays, causing severe damage. The spaces created by the rack supporting the panels between the arrays and the roof are necessary to accommodate other solar equipment and wiring and to enable airflow beneath the installation.
However, when critters reach the panel, they find a warm, inviting space where they can shelter from adverse weather conditions and predators. Unfortunately, when these animals nest in these spaces, they can trigger unwanted damage that reduces the efficiency, safety, and longevity of your solar energy system.
Types of Critters That Can Be Problematic for Your Solar Arrays
The common pests that can infest your solar arrays in the Bay Area and Northern California are:
Squirrels, Mice, and Rats
Rodents are the biggest threat to your solar energy, especially the squirrels, because they can use their climbing abilities to easily access the roof of your house where solar panels are installed. Northern California and the Bay Area are home to three types of tree squirrels, including:
- Eastern fox
- Eastern gray
- Western gray
The tree squirrels are not the only threat to your panels. Even the California ground squirrels can climb to the roof and nest under the panels. These rodents are attracted to any food source. So, if you have leftover dog food, bird feeders, open garbage, apple trees, or berry bushes in your compound, you will attract many squirrels or other rodent types. When these rodents reach your property, they can easily access the roof with the solar panels. The gaps in the array rack become ideal nesting spaces for pests.
Unfortunately, squirrels infest your home and interrupt solar energy production in the period of the year when solar arrays produce the highest amount of energy. The grey squirrels start breeding in the early spring and the middle of the summer. If the pests have sheltered in your panel, many young squirrels will be born between March and April and between July and August, when you are set to enjoy high green energy production.
Unfortunately, even the young squirrels have incisors that keep growing, and within a short time, they will be chewing on anything that resembles a stick that they can find on your roof. Unfortunately, the solar wires or inverter connections can look like sticks, so they end up being chewed for nesting material. Gnawing on the insulation exposes the power conductors, resulting in issues such as short circuits, electrical fires, or reduced energy production or efficiency. Short circuits stop your energy system from running, while some damage to the solar wires can reduce energy production. In severe cases, the damaged wire connections and exposed conductors can trigger electrical fires.
The damages can lead to increased repair costs; in some cases, you could be required to replace the entire solar array system. So, instead of acting when it is too late, you should look out for signs of pest infestations in your panels and take the necessary measures. Typically, squirrels will leave behind a clump of debris beneath the panels. If you notice this, you should know that they have nested in your array and might have caused several damages that could make your system faulty. So, contact a reputable solar installation company or service to inspect your panels for any damage and advise on measures to prevent pests from returning. Taking early action can prevent an electrical fire or the need to replace the entire solar electrical system.
Birds, Like Pigeons
Another menace to your solar arrays is the pigeon, which nests in many cities across California and nationwide. The nonmigratory nature of pigeons makes them a menace to the human population around cities, especially when they nest on your solar panels. These birds live in large groups and are characterized by dark, light grey, or black patterns on the plumes and wings.
Unlike some pests that breed only during certain seasons, pigeons can breed year-round, posing a major challenge if they have taken shelter on your solar panels. The offspring bred throughout the year normally nest close to their birth location due to instinct, leading to large numbers of birds on your roof and under the array.
Birds are not like rodents that damage solar wires and MC4 connectors. However, they leave biological and corrosive effects. Bird droppings contain high levels of uric acid that are highly corrosive. So, when the droppings fall onto the metallic rack, the roof, or the stones, they cause corrosion. The droppings can fall onto the ladder leading to the roof or onto the ground next to the roof, weakening the ladder's metal and making the ground slippery. In such cases, the risk of accidents is high.
Additionally, the droppings can sometimes contain harmful bacteria, such as hantavirus, which can be transmitted to humans and cause severe disease. Again, droppings and nest-building material can accumulate on your gutters, leading to blockage of storm gutters. The accumulation of water in the gutters can cause leaks in the roof and walls, compromising the structural integrity of your entire building.
House Sparrows
Adult male house sparrows come with a special coloring of brown, gray, or white chestnut, while a female adult or juvenile house sparrow comes with a dull gray or brown color. Unlike other birds, house sparrows are tiny and shelter in small spaces, as these spaces accommodate their size. These birds shelter in small spaces where predators cannot easily reach.
House sparrows breed between March and August and lay approximately three to six eggs over the breeding duration. The eggs then hatch after fourteen days and leave the nest two to three weeks later.
Despite the tiny size of these birds, house sparrows can build a nest that is twenty times their size. The tiny spaces underneath your panels are a perfect nesting habitat. However, these will not chew your solar wires or peck on the panels to find nesting material, though their droppings, feathers,m and nesting material debris can cause storm gutter blockage, compromising the structural integrity of your house and roof.
Consequences of Solar Panel Pest Infestation
Pests can severely damage your solar array investment. Electrical fires and electrocution can threaten your life and the lives of your loved ones, not to mention damage your entire home. The spaces between the panels and the roof are designed to facilitate smooth airflow, improving your system's efficiency. Debris accumulation and nests in these spaces block airflow, causing the panels to overheat, which results in inefficiency and reduced energy production. Also, with the dry leaves and feathers under the solar, exposed conductors can easily ignite an electrical fire.
Another disadvantage of pest infestation on your solar array is increased maintenance costs. Solar panels offer several operational benefits, including:
- They require little maintenance compared to other forms of power generation
- They have a low degradation rate, hence a long lifespan of at least 25 years
However, when your panels are infested with pests, long-term maintenance costs increase significantly due to frequent replacement of damaged wires, panels, or the roof. In some cases, the damage renders the panels inoperable, forcing you to replace them before their projected lifespan ends. Therefore, if you want to optimize your solar energy, you must invest in pest control.
Post Control Using Solar Array Critter Guards
Pests can cause severe consequences and prevent you from enjoying the benefits of your solar energy system investment. Therefore, after investing in solar panels, you must ask yourself questions:
- Are there squirrels, pigeons, or house sparrows in your area?
- Is your solar power system situated in a wooded area?
- Are there trees or food sources near the system that could attract rodents and birds?
If your answer is yes, you will need proactive pest control measures, such as installing critter guards or removing all elements that could attract pests to shelter under solar arrays in the area. Because you cannot cut down all trees, including apple trees and berry bushes, or change the roof, investing in critter guards for your panels is the best way to control pests and protect your investment.
Critter guards are the most effective pest control method for your panels. If you have already installed the panels, you only need to purchase the critters. Before you can purchase the guards, talk to a reliable solar energy installer, preferably the company that installed your panels, to understand the available critter guard types and the one that best suits your system. If your area has many wild animals and you plan to install solar panels, the solar installation company can install critter guards once they install the panels.
- Types of Solar Critter Guards
California has two main critter guard types. One is the wire-mesh critter guard, which comes with special clips that attach to the solar panel rack. These guards are cost-effective and efficient for pest control when properly installed, and they are flexible, as you can bend them during installation. Nevertheless, they require considerable bending for proper installation, which can make the fitting process lengthy and tedious.
The other type of critter guard is the adhesive barrier. It comprises an aluminum barrier fitted with adhesive tape that adheres to the panel frames. Adhesive barriers are easy to fit; they do not require extra parts and are more visually appealing, especially if your roof is maxed out. The downside of these guards is that they are expensive, costing twice as much as wire mesh critters. During installation, you must wipe the panels to ensure the adhesive tape adheres properly. Again, these guards cannot be reused, meaning you must replace them every time your solar installer performs maintenance on the system.
Even though critter guards are available on the market for you to install yourself, it is best to work with a professional during installation. Installing the guards on your own increases the risk of injury, as you could fall off the roof, and you could install the physical barriers incorrectly, failing to control the pests.
- Why Critter Guards are Appropriate for your Solar Panels
If you want to install panels, upgrade them, or protect already installed panels from pests, you should consider physical barriers, such as critter guards. They help reduce long-term maintenance costs while protecting the wires and connections beneath the module. When installing the panels for the first time, partnering with a local solar installer for the system and the physical barrier is the best decision. It means the company will perform repairs and maintenance on the system throughout its lifespan and will recommend critter guards that do not require replacement during each service. If your choice of solar panel installer does not offer critter guards, they should refer you to another solar company that excels at pest control.
Find a Reputable Solar Panel Installer Near Me
Installing a solar energy system on your property is a big investment that saves you energy costs and improves your property value. However, after installation, you should safeguard it from pests that could shorten its lifespan or render it ineffective and unsafe. One common threat to the longevity and effectiveness of your solar array is critters, such as squirrels, pigeons, and house sparrows. If you are dealing with this challenge or want to be proactive in pest control, you should consult a solar panel installer to understand your options.
At Sun Solar Electric, we will install your panels and provide the right protection for your investment, ensuring optimal efficiency, low maintenance costs, and an extended lifespan. Call us at 707-238-8874 to discuss available pest control measures for your panels and select the most suitable for you in the Bay Area and Northern California.
