How Nature Can Damage Your Solar Panels

So, you’ve just had your new solar panels installed and feel better for doing your part to help save the environment, when you suddenly hear scratching coming from your roof. 

You look up and realise a new family of pigeons has moved in under your solar panels. Frantically, you search the internet for a slution. Well, look no further as we take you through the ways you can nature-proof your solar panels.

Preventing Pigeons (and Other Small Animals)

Your new solar panels provide a great new home for pigeons and any other small animals, such as squirrels. They provide some shelter and can be a cosy area for them to nest.

However with this comes:

• The mess they leave behind
• The loud noises of scratching and scurrying
• And of course, your wires provide a tasty snack for them

All of this causes your solar panels to work inefficiently.

The mess created from these birds and animals can end up on the solar panels meaning the Sun is blocked from the solar panels. Additionally, this can be very unaesthetically pleasing to the eye.

Any damage on your solar panels or wires can mean the solar panels will not be able to work to its fully capacity. This can cause further damage in the future meaning you will have trouble getting your investment back.

So what steps can you take to prevent any or further damage? Let’s take a look.

Pest Proof Your Roof

If you already have any small animals living under your solar panels, you can get them removed by hiring a professional. This could be included if/when you upgrade your solar panels to have any of the following:

• Mesh wire can be installed around the edges of the solar panels to stop anything from getting under. With North East Solar, all of our solar panels come with mesh wire protection for FREE.
• Anti-roosting devices prevent birds from going on your roof entirely.
• A solar skirt can be added around your solar panels acting as a barrier. This will include black metal panels to help blend the solar panels in with the roof.
• In-roof solar panels may be an investment for you. Although a more costly measure, having in-roof solar panels can have many benefits as not only are they arguably more pleasing to the eye but they also eliminate the chance of any birds or small animals calling your solar panels their new home as they are already built into the roof.

Mother Nature Taking Its Toll

Another force of nature impacting solar panels is the environment. From dust to debris, solar panels need to be kept clean in order to function efficiently. Some of the main culprits are:

• Leaves from trees surrounding houses and buildings during the autumn months.
• Pollution from built up areas like cities.
• Particularly dusty areas.

Any obstructions between the solar panels and the Sun can mean less electricity will be generated. The solar panels could be damaged further due to them not being able to work to their full capacity.

To ensure your solar panels are working at their best, we recommend you keep them clean.

The Best Ways to Clean Your Solar Panels

Make sure you are only cleaning your solar panels yourself if it is SAFE to do so. We would highly recommend not cleaning any inaccessible solar panels (e.g. roof mounted solar panels) yourself and instead hiring a professional to do so.

However, if you can reach your solar panels safely, here are some tips.

If your solar panels are only relatively dirty then some unpressured water will do the trick. Luckily, if you’re from the UK, there is an endless supply of rain that will take care of your solar panels for you!

However, if your solar panels are particularly dirty, here are some key steps to follow:

1. Use solar panel cleaning kits. These supply you will everything you need to clean your solar panels effectively.
2. The key is to NOT use pressured water. Although this might be quicker, this can cause damage to the solar panels.
3. Do not use abrasive equipment or soap. This could scratch the solar panel glass making the panels inefficient and may cause further damage.

Your ideal situation would be to use a soft towel and biodegradable soap during an overcast day, early morning or late evening.

Key Takeaways Even though those pesky pigeons have decided to move in on your roof, you now have the tools and advice needed to combat them and any mess they leave behind. By upgrading your solar panels with some pest protection and giving them a clean, you can live a happy life knowing your solar panels are safe from harm and you can reap the benefits of solar energy and still save the planet at the same time.