What Damage Do Pigeons Cause To Solar Panels?

With 8.8 hours of sunshine a day on average, Brisbane is an awesome city for solar panels. There’s not much that’ll block that sun! But pigeon poop, well, yeah, that’ll do it.

Pigeon poop and all the nastiness that goes along with it isn’t the only reason you want to keep the little blighters away. They can do some serious damage in ways you might not have thought about. The good news is, there are bird proofing options out there to stop your solar panels looking like a pigeon coop.

Read on for the best ways of pigeon proofing solar panels.

Pigeons on Solar Panels – the Hidden Dangers

Sadly, solar panels are perfect for pigeon perching. They love nothing better than to perch on the edge and let go. The resulting droppings cascade down the panel and seriously interfere with its ability to generate power.

Pigeon poop is also corrosive and can etch the panels if it’s not cleaned off quickly. The long-term effects of this damage are not clear, but it’s better to avoid this.

Health Risks

Pigeon poop is seriously unsanitary. You don’t want it to accumulate around your house or anywhere that you or your kids could come in contact with. It’s also dangerous for people to breathe it in.

They’re not nicknamed flying rats for no reason. They might look cute to some, but their droppings can be lethal. It’s no easy task for a homeowner to remove them either. It’s better to play it safe and let professionals handle the cleaning and removal of pigeon poop from solar panels.

Fire Risks

Another issue is that pigeons like to nest under rooftop solar panels. When they build their nests, they introduce a lot of twigs and other junk. Chuck in a few kilos of poop and you’ve got yourself a fire hazard.

Temperatures can rise under there, not to mention the electrical fire risk. The extra heat can also affect how efficiently the system runs and the service life of the panels.

If you’ve got your panels mounted on a metal roof, the nests can cause other issues. Over time, they can begin to corrode the roof, giving you a huge headache down the line.

Pigeon Proofing Solar Panels

First of all, let’s get one thing out of the way. Pigeon proofing solar panels is not an easy task. It’s not as simple as installing a few spikes and a bit of a barrier.

It involves working at heights and requires proper gear and expertise. Not to mention protection against all the pathogens lurking in the built-up poop. However much DIY experience you have, this is a job you need to leave to the solar panel bird proofing professionals.

First Job – Remove Attractants

Like all living creatures, pigeons gravitate towards places with easy access to water and food. Don’t make your backyard a pigeon resort. First off, make sure that you’ve cleared out any food and water that’s attracting them to your property.

Professional Clean-up

Once you’ve made a less hospitable environment for pigeons, you’re ready to get the professionals in. Choose a solar repair company that specializes in solar panels and understand how solar cells work.

Although panels are pretty robust and will take a lot of flack from storms and hot sun, they need to be handled with care. Use a company that understands how to safely remove the detritus left by the pigeons without damaging your roof or your solar panels.

The company will supply their own tackle. This will help them to safely get onto your roof and work safely while they tackle the issue. They will also check for damage and advise you of any needed repairs.

Once the panels have been thoroughly cleaned, and all the nest junk removed, they’re ready for stage two. They can install specialist pigeon proofing for solar panels.

Options for Pigeon Proofing

There are a number of options on the market for pigeon proofing, but not all are equally successful. Electric shock repellents and gel repellents are available. They discourage pigeons and other wildlife from hanging around. The fact is, they’re just not that pleasant to use and their effectiveness is questionable.

Clearly, some sort of barrier is needed to stop pigeons from taking up home under your panels. A solid barrier will work, but it will also create a pretty much airless void under the panels. Heat and moisture will build up and could damage the panels.

Why Mesh Barriers Are Best

An effective barrier needs to be solid and breathable at the same time. Enter mesh barriers. They provide a strong, reliable solution that keeps the solar panels well ventilated.

Mesh barriers send a clear message to pigeons – you’re not wanted. It stops them from finding nooks and crannies to build their nests in. Also, it’s a kind and humane solution that does no harm to the birds.

What About the Birds?

Many homeowners worry about what will happen to the birds after they’ve been evicted from their solar panel home. Don’t worry.

The pigeons of Brisbane are highly adaptable. They can make their home anywhere they can find a nice tight space to build a nest. Plenty of other more appropriate options exist in the neighbourhood and they will relocate just fine.

Call in the Pigeon Proofing Pros

Pigeons on your solar panels are a real pain, but one that you don’t have to live with. Call in the professionals to get a mesh barrier installed. The pigeons will soon get the message and find another place to call home.

At SolarFix, we specialise in solar panel repair and pigeon proofing solar panels in the Brisbane area. We’d be delighted to inspect your solar panels and advise on the best way to keep our feathered friends out.

Contact us today to arrange an inspection visit for your solar panel bird proofing concerns.