Since 2014, the cost of installing solar panels on your property has dropped around 70%. Even though solar panels are still an investment, they're becoming more realistic for home and business owners. But there are a few things to be wary of when looking to install solar panels. One thing that many people overlook is the damage that birds can cause to your solar panel investment. Read on to learn more about bird damage and effective solar panel installation protection.
The Benefits of Solar Panels
With many Americans focused on reducing their carbon footprint, we must come up with ways to reduce our dependency on fossil fuels. Solar panels are a great way to do just that. Solar panels are specially designed to gather energy from the sun's rays and turn it into power we can use for our homes and businesses.
In addition to helping us preserve the environment, solar panels can help property owners save big on energy costs in the long run. Annual energy costs can total in the thousands of dollars, creating a huge financial burden. On warm, sunny spring days in many locations around the country, solar panels can produce more energy than the average home uses. That power can be sold back to utility companies.
You can also score tax credits when you install solar panels. In some cities and towns, you may get a rebate as an incentive to fit your property with solar power — not to mention the fact that you're adding a huge amount to the resale value of the property.
All in all, solar panels have a ton of benefits. But to reap these rewards, you need to care for your panels and ensure they'll be working for years to come. That starts with a plan for solar panel installation protection. You'll need to give the surface of your panels a thorough cleaning at least once a year, too. Also, get them inspected to make sure everything is working properly. This is one reason why it's so important to watch out for the destructive power of birds. After all, you don't want to waste your investment!
How Birds Can Damage Solar Panels
When you look at a roof with solar panels from the ground, you may think that the panels lay flat and are directly on the building. In reality, they are slightly raised on a set of rails. The space that these rails create between your roof and the installed panels is only a few inches. This creates a perfectly safe and cozy place for birds to build their nests — that is, until they start doing damage.
Here are a few of the ways that birds can damage your panels and the surrounding areas:
- • They leave debris: Because solar panels are only raised a few inches off of the roof in most cases, it can be difficult to clean beneath them. Birds leave debris and droppings. Since bird droppings are quite acidic, they may cause damage when not cleaned properly. Droppings also carry diseases and can cause respiratory problems when they dry.
- • Nests attract other pests: When birds move in, other destructive critters may feel welcome, too. Before you know it, you'll have squirrels chewing wires and bees building hives. Chewed electrical wires can lead to further issues like fires.
- • They can reduce your panels' efficiency: Solar panels work best when they're clean and fully exposed to the sun. Birds can perch directly on panels and leave waste on top of them. It's easier to clean the surface of panels than it is to clean below them. But it's still a job you don't want to have to do very often.
If you notice signs of nesting birds, it's best to take steps to avoid an infestation.
Prevent Birds From Making Their Home in Your Solar Panels With Solar Panel Installation Protection
You spent a lot of money on your solar panels, so solar panel installation protection is important. The space beneath a solar panel is an ideal home in a bird's mind. So you should strive to make the rest of your property less attractive to them. Remove food and water sources, and clean up any trash in your yard. Also, take care of any materials that birds can use for nest building. When you take preventative steps on the ground, it's less likely you'll have to get up there on your roof to remove the problem yourself.
Protect Your Investment With Proper Bird Control
Taking preventative measures can't prevent every nest and won't drive away every bird. But luckily, you can use a few methods to control bird populations around your solar panel installation. When you're getting solar panels installed, it might be a smart idea to have some bird control measures installed around the same time.
For example, you can get a professional to put in a solar panel protection kit. This kit includes bird netting that will keep birds from getting underneath your panels, all while protecting your panels from destruction. The best part is that this bird netting is barely visible from the ground, so it won't create an eyesore.
Your solar panels were a big investment, and you want to make sure they'll be working for years to come. After all, they can help you save money on energy costs and will help to preserve our environment. Of course, this means protecting your panels from any potential harm. With a solar panel installation protection kit, you can prevent unwanted nests. However, if you're still having bird issues, you may also want to look into bird spikes and other repellents like decoy predators, reflective tape, and mylar balloons. These will surely make your home seem less appealing to nesting birds!
At Bird Barrier, we understand what a problem birds can be for solar panel installations. If you want to learn more about how to protect your investment, contact us. We have years of experience developing the latest bird control technology and are happy to use our expertise to help you.
About Bird Barrier
Bird Barrier is a leader in innovative technology designed to prevent birds from landing, roosting or nesting. We specialize in urban bird control to remove birds humanely and effectively. Our website, birdbarrier.com, hosts a wealth of content to help people understand and identify bird control solutions for various problems with pest birds. Please contact us if you need help with a bird related problem. You may also benefit from our free guide, Bird Deterrents: The Complete Guide.
