Why Bird Proofing Matters

Fire hazards: Bird activity beneath your solar panels can dislodge electrical components and birds may often peck and chew at wiring leading to system failure and risk of fire. Nesting materials beneath your panels can reduce airflow leading to excessive heating and also cause a significant fire hazard.

Property and System Damage: Pigeon droppings contain Uric Acid which is corrosive and whenleft on a soft metal such as the aluminium frame of a solar panel can cause permanent corrosive damage to the frame and may also erode protective coatings and anti reflective coatings from the glass face of modern solar panels. Nesting materials combined with pigeon poop will slowly fester, rot and compost beneath your panels causing permanent damage to your roof. Poop is capable of stripping the paint from roofing iron as well as deteriorating the iron itself and will slowly deteriorate anything that it is left on including roofing tiles ! Pigeon poop and loose nesting materials eventually wash into gutters contaminating water tanks, blocking down pipes and causing gutters to overflow potentially damaging fascias or worse, internal gutters may block overflowing into your roof space and ceilings.

Why Bird Proofing Matters

Birds nesting under or around solar panels can create several problems:

• Fire Hazards
• Property and System Damage
• Health Risks
• Reduced Efficiency

Professional bird proofing prevents these risks before they impact your system.

Health Risks: The amount of tightly packed nesting material and bird poop found at times beneath panels has to be seen to be believed and in most cases has been slowly festering in the heat and is absolutely putrid. The health risks associated with pigeons themselves carrying numerous diseases and their nests attracting other pests such as Bird Lice and Mites is serious and can cause severe illness and respiratory issues. Pigeon poop is a breeding ground for bacteria and parasites and can harbour diseases and fungi such as Salmonella which can become airborne when dried and finish up within your home or when it rains, run off into your gutters and water tanks.

Reduced Efficiency: Pigeon poop on solar panels will reduce your system’s efficiency as it’s density completely blocks sunlight significantly reducing the overall potential energy output. A flock of pigeons roosting nightly on, under and around solar panels will produce a surprisingly large amount of waste which will cover and shade your panels even more so than the usual dirt and dust would.

Do I Have A Pigeon Problem?

In most cases it will be fairly obvious if you have a pigeon problem, you may be able to clearly see excessive amounts of bird poop on your panels from ground level or you may hear activity on your roof from inside your home.

by installing bird If you notice pigeons frequenting your roof or you are regularly picking up messy nesting materials, the odd feather or broken egg shells from the ground around the perimeter of your roof it may be time to have an inspection. If you do have pigeons moving in, the sooner that there life is made less comfortable by installing bird proofing mesh which removes access to the nesting site, then the better chance you have of them leaving to find a new site sooner rather than later. Birds that have lived in the one location for a reasonable amount of time are often very stubborn and hesitant to leave even though they can no longer access beneath the panels, in most cases they do eventually realise that the nesting site is no longer available and there numbers gradually thin out as they move on.

Take Action Early

• Taking action early prevents small problems developing into bigger problems causing long term permanent damage and costly repairs.
• Costs associated in the clean up before the Bird Proofing Mesh is installed are much greater when pigeons are left for longer periods.
• While you panels are covered in pigeon poop your system is not functioning to best of its ability and costing you money.
• The quicker you remove access to there nesting site, the better chance you have of them going away.

Conclusion

Where pests are present Bird Proofing is essential in protecting your investment from serious damage and costly repairs while maintaining your system’s longevity and efficiency. Many solar manufacturers may not cover damage caused by pests and lack of maintenance which strengthens the importance of regular cleaning and maintenance checks to ensure not only peak performance from your system, but also the peace of mind in knowing that you investment is in top shape.

Ep SolarClean is your first stop for professional clean up and installation of Bird Proofing Mesh. I have completed a large number of successful installations on homes and businesses over the last few years using varied products and perfecting installation techniques that are impenetrable while still appearing neat with what I’ve found to be the best quality materials available.