From pigeons to falcons, birds are better dead or elsewhere than under your panels.
If you have solar panels or are considering them, you may have heard about the plight of pigeon nesting and the damage they can cause.
Birds, but primarily pigeons love to nest year-round in the UK and the space between solar panels and roofs offers an attractive location for shelter and nesting. If you were a pigeon, we’re sure you’d prefer hiding under a solar panel over being exposed to the elements.
Not only can their movement disrupt connections and solar panel function, but their chronic fouling is corrosive so over time can lead to permanent damage.
Thankfully, there is a perfect solution in the form of pigeon-proofing solar panels and Heatable offers this extra service with all new Heatable solar panel installations (unfortunately, we do not offer retrofitting).
PS We offer MCS-certified solar panel installation nationwide. Simply answer these questions, get your fixed price and arrange your free design.
How Can Pigeons Impact Your Solar Panels?
Believe it or not, pigeons are responsible for a wide range of problems that can impact solar panels, including the following:
Birds/Pigeons Are Noisy
Birds live in flocks and love to communicate with one another, as a result when they nest under your solar panels you are very likely to be able to hear them throughout the day and night. And that’s not even mentioning the foul language they use.
This can be extremely disruptive, not only to yourself but potentially to your neighbours too.
This is especially true if they end up congregating near a bedroom, in which case sleep disturbance may occur. It will feel like a constant pigeon party outside your bedroom door.
Birds Are Messy
Pigeons and other birds can create a lot of mess that can be inconvenient and potentially hazardous to remove.
These are some of the major types of mess pigeons can create:
Fouling
Feathers that they shed
Food scraps that they bring with them
Nesting materials
True, your kids have many of the same problems (barring the feathers), but they can do the dishes in return.
Related solar guides:
Pigeons Carry Pathogens & Mites
You may be aware that pigeons carry diseases, primarily in their faeces, which can be hazardous to human health, particularly if the faeces are ingested (probably more a concern for your toddler than for you, but still a concern).
Pigeons also carry and transport certain types of mites that can also cause issues, especially if they make their way into your home, resulting in infestations.
They Can Decrease Solar Panel Efficiency
The presence of pigeons, as well as the mess they create, can result in a decrease in the efficiency of your solar panels and therefore you could see a drop in the power generated by them.
The dirt and faeces can quickly build up and become deposited on your panels reducing the level of sun exposure they receive and therefore the amount of electricity they can generate.
This is especially true if you have double-sided/bi-facial solar panels (like the ones offered by Heatable). You may love nature, but you didn’t get solar panels to provide pigeons with a potty.
They Can Damage Your Solar Panels
Pigeon and bird faeces are acidic and so can cause corrosion, therefore if it deposits on your solar panels it can cause significant damage to them, specifically to their surface, as well as wires and connections.
Additionally, birds love to scratch around and can use their beaks to gnaw through wires and other components. It would make them great bomb disarmers, but poor roof companions when you have solar.
What should you know before buying solar? Have a flat roof? Read all about flat roof solar and if you have a conservatory, it is possible to have solar on a conservatory roof too.
What is Pigeon Proofing?
As the name suggests pigeon-proofing your solar panels involves taking steps to prevent pigeons and/or other birds from nesting under your solar panels and more generally deter them from your solar panels completely.
There are many different techniques that can be employed to achieve this, often executed by solar panel companies themselves, or other specialist companies. However, all of them are an improvement over sitting on your roof and swatting away pigeons with a broom.
In general, pigeon-proofing involves the installation of a barrier around the perimeter of your solar panels to prevent pigeons and other birds from accessing the underside of the panels.
As a result, pigeons will not be able to use your panels for sheltering or nesting activities and so will continue their search for shelter elsewhere. Probably your neighbour’s house, who hasn’t read this article.
In addition, many people also choose to install anti-roosting spikes above the panels or on the roof area to prevent pigeons from perching on top, or near the solar panels.
Types of Pigeon Proofing for Solar Panels
Unfortunately, there is no gold standard when it comes to pigeon-proofing solar panels, nor is there any particular brand that stands out as the best.
However, please note that it's essential that certain practices are avoided since they can invalidate your solar panel warranty, in general, these commonly include the following:
Avoid any solutions which require adhesion to the panels with glues or bonding agents
Avoid any solutions which require drilling of the panel frames
Shooting the birds with live ammunition or a home-made catapult
Additionally, some of the full enclosure systems can increase the solar panel temperature and cause overheating which results in reduced performance.
Therefore, it's important to make yourself aware of the potential pitfalls of the proofing systems you are considering.
With that said, here are the main forms of pigeon-proofing used in the UK:
1. Anti-Roosting Spikes
Anti-roosting spikes prevent the pigeons from perching on your roof and/or solar panels.
Although they do not create a physical barrier, they are considered a humane solution and often make the area less appealing to birds and pigeons and thus potentially less likely to nest in the area.
Apparently, if they can’t promenade around cooing like idiots, they will snub hiding under your panels, too.
2. Bird Mesh Wire
Bird mesh wire does create a barrier and is installed to the entire perimeter of the solar panels preventing pigeons from accessing the underneath area of the panels. This gives them the room to promenade and coo, but no reason to stay longer.
It is considered one of the most effective methods of solar panel pigeon proofing and can be clipped to your panels so that your warranty remains valid.
Clips are also ideal since it means they can easily be removed when it comes time to clean or service your panels.
3. Bird Blockers
Similar to wire mesh, bird blockers create a barrier around the parameters of your solar panels to prevent access.
However, they differ in that they are designed to be less visually intrusive or distracting.
Commonly, bird blockers also require no screws and are made from recycled HDPE.
4. A Solar Skirt
The solar skirt or solar edging is a newer solution to pigeon-proofing and creates a barrier around the perimeter of the solar panels.
Solar skirts are typically constructed from aluminium and finished with paint in order to match the solar panels colour e.g. black.
Typically a solar skirt is the most expensive option but creates a seamless look for maximum aesthetic appeal.
Still, learning about solar? Check out our guides on how many solar panels you need and how solar car charging works.
Pigeon Proofing Solar Panels Costs
The costs involved in pigeon-proofing will vary depending on the size of your solar array, as well as the height of your roof, the type of proofing system employed and the labour costs in your area.
In general, it will cost between £40-£60 to have bird mesh wire fitted per solar panel.
However, you should note that it is much cheaper to pigeon-proof your panels at the time of installation. The installers will also shoo away any pigeons for you during the installation. This is typically free of charge.
If you wait until pigeons have actually started to nest and cause damage, then you should expect to pay more for additional services.
The pigeons themselves, nesting material and other debris will need to be dealt with and thoroughly cleaned prior to the installation of the proofing system.
Additionally, it's cheaper to have the pigeon-proofing installed at the time of installation since the access and safety equipment required is already in place and being used. It’s also cheaper than losing your solar panels to destruction.
PS Did you know that solar panels can be installed on garage roofs and that smart meters are recommended for use with domestic solar arrays.
What is Included in Solar Panel Pigeon Proofing Services?
At Heatable, we offer pigeon-proofing as an additional service with all new solar panel system installations. If you want, you could order the pigeon-proofing a la carte, but aesthetically, this won’t be an improvement to your roof.
However, it's important to note that pigeon-proofing will likely be more expensive to retrofit since you need the necessary safety and access equipment whereas, with a new install, that’s already being used to install the new system.
In the event that you have existing solar panels that need to be pigeon-proofed, the following steps will be taken:
They will clean the panels and roof area thoroughly to remove as much pigeon faeces, nesting material and other debris as possible.
Next, they will apply a chemical agent known as a biocide to kill any mites or other pathogens that may be present.
Finally, the pigeon-proofing is installed, ideally, this will be a mesh barrier surrounding the entire perimeter of your solar panels.
If you require pigeon-proofing, either as part of a new installation, get in touch with Heatable today to find out more.
Still learning about solar panels? Explore our helpful guides on various topics, including solar panel grants, payback periods, the mechanics of solar energy, determining the number of panels you need, and solar car charging solutions.
Next Steps For Your Solar Journey:
When planning to install solar panels for your home, there are several important factors to consider. Make sure to refer to the following guides to help you make informed decisions:
To dive deeper into these topics, head over to our advice section, check out our YouTube channel for informative videos, or read a customer case study to see how others have benefited from their solar installation.
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