When looking at installing Solar PV at your home or business, protecting your panels from nesting birds probably isn’t high on the list of questions you ask your installer. But it should be.
Reputable Kent Solar installers like PBA Electrical & Renewables Ltd will tell you about the risks of not having bird proofing.
In this blog I will speak about why you should have bird proofing and a bit more about the systems we install.
Looking for the best solar installer in Kent – PBA Electrical & Renewables of course!
What animals will nest under my panels?
- Pigeons - first off, did you know that pigeons nest all year round? This meaning that they require protection when they are nesting in all weather conditions. The warmth of the solar panels and the perfect pigeon shape gap between the panels and your tiles is an open invitation for our little head bobbling friends.
- Smaller species of birds such as sparrows will also nest under the panels during their nesting season.
- Squirrels – the adorable creatures live up high and scaling a roof is a piece of cake for them.
What are the risks of animals nesting under my Solar panels?
The main risk is damage to your Solar PV system. Over time a large number of pigeons will create a build-up of corrosive foul excrement. This is a breeding ground for dangerous pathogens and will create a horrible mess that will land into your gutters and onto your patio and gardens.
Squirrels love to chew! The temptation of exposed cables and warmth will be heaven to them! Once they decide to make a nest by gnawing and chewing the damage can be devastating! Floods and fires can be caused by squirrels gaining access to roof voids.
How can I prevent animals from nesting under my Solar panels?
PBA Electrical & Renewables offer free mesh bird proofing in Kent with any Solar PV system we install. It is worth noting when receiving a quote from an installer that bird proofing is included. If you decide after the install is complete to add in bird proofing there is the cost of scaffolding to incur.
Types of bird proofing
We use 2 systems – mesh and skirt.
The mesh system we use is 100% recyclable, stops animals from nesting and also prevents wind-driven leaves from collecting under panels.
Solar skirt is aesthetically more pleasing than mesh, it covers rails and fixings whilst not affecting airflow.
Both options work very well, and bird proofing is just a given when it comes to Solar installations carried out by us.
If you would like to discuss adding solar to your home or business in Kent and want free mesh bird proofing, then speak to PBA Electrical & Renewables Ltd today.
