How Do You Keep Birds Out From Under Solar Panels?

How do you keep birds out from under solar panels for good?

The straight answer: you block them out instead of scaring them off. You close the gap between the panels and the roof, so birds have nowhere to get in. That's what solar critter guard does, using low-profile mesh clipped around the whole edge of your array. Once that edge is sealed, there's no warm hidden pocket left for a pigeon or a squirrel.

Everything else is a deterrent, meaning something meant to scare birds away. That includes spikes, gels, fake owls, sound gadgets and shiny tape, and they all wear off. Birds learn fast, and once they see the plastic owl never moves, they nest right next to it. Under a sheltered solar array, most of these tricks don't work at all.

That's why pest-control experts treat mesh as the real fix and the rest as a band-aid. For the bigger picture, see our bird and critter protection guide.

Steps in order: clear, inspect, clean, seal

Seal a dirty or occupied array, and all you've done is trap the problem inside. Here is the right order:

• Clear the area humanely. Get any active nest, birds or rodents out first. Do it properly, and follow the rules that apply to the species and the time of year.
• Inspect the wiring. Check the DC wiring and connectors for chew damage before anything gets covered up. If there's a fault, it gets a repair now, not later.
• Clean up droppings and debris. Remove the acidic waste and nest material, so it can't corrode the roof and equipment behind the mesh.
• Seal the edge. Then, and only then, the critter guard goes on around the full array.

Skipping the inspection is the mistake I see most. A homeowner clips mesh over a wire a squirrel already chewed. Months later the system faults, and the damage is now sealed behind a barrier.

Do DIY bird deterrents work under solar panels?

Mostly no, or at least not for long. Here's the honest read on the common ones:

• Spikes: handy on a ledge, but they can't close the long open gap under an array. Birds just nest behind them.
• Fake owls and predator decoys: birds figure them out within days, once nothing ever happens.
• Reflective tape and shiny objects: a quick startle, then ignored.
• Gels and sprays: messy and quick to wear off in the weather. They don't reach the sheltered underside at all.
• DIY mesh kits: the right idea, but they often leave gaps at the corners, clips and roof line. Birds find every gap, and a clean, unbroken seal is the whole point.

If you're weighing DIY, think about the risk of falling off a roof and the health hazards in the droppings. Also remember that one gap anywhere in the seal undoes the whole job.

Should I hire a pro or do it myself?

For most people, a pro is the right call. The idea is simple, but the details are not. You have to work on a roof safely, spot hidden wire damage, clean droppings with proper protection and seal the whole edge with no gaps. It's easy to get most of that right and still have it fail at one weak spot.

Service Solar Pros installs critter guard in Leesburg, The Villages and across Central Florida. We clear, inspect, clean and seal the array in one visit. We service any brand from any installer, and we are fully insured.

How soon should I seal my array in Florida?

Sooner than you'd think. Central Florida roofs stay warm all year, so no cold snap clears the birds out for you. The best time to seal is before spring nesting picks up. The next best time is the minute you hear cooing, scratching or flapping under the panels.

Waiting rarely makes it cheaper. It just adds cleanup and, quite often, a wiring repair. If you'd rather have it handled on a schedule, a maintenance plan puts a critter-guard check on the calendar with your cleanings.

Frequently asked questions