New Jersey Solar Panels: The Unexpected Wildlife Magnets Creating Pest Havens on Your Rooftop
When New Jersey homeowners invest in solar panels, they’re expecting energy savings and environmental benefits – not a bustling wildlife community setting up shop on their roof. Yet across the Garden State, from Franklin to Sussex County, solar installations are inadvertently creating perfect shelters for an array of unwanted guests.
The Perfect Storm: Why Solar Panels Attract Wildlife
Roof-top solar panels create an appealing habitat for various pests such as squirrels, raccoons, pigeons, and other critters. The combination of a high location and a shaded area beneath the panels offers safety and protection from predators. Rooftop solar panels are elevated from a roof by a few inches, creating a space beneath that is warm and protected from wind, rain, snow, and predators. And that opens up opportunities for wildlife to begin to nest underneath it.
In NY and NJ, common pest bird species include pigeons, house sparrows, and starlings. These birds, along with squirrels – able climbers, making it easy for them to get onto your roof. They also spend time gnawing through materials and can chew through the wiring behind your panels.
The Hidden Dangers of Solar Panel Wildlife
What starts as innocent wildlife seeking shelter can quickly escalate into serious problems for homeowners. Animals like squirrels and birds can damage wiring, cause nesting issues, and create fire hazards, ultimately impacting your power production and leading to costly repairs.
The dangers extend beyond simple property damage. Bird nests and debris accumulated by animals is often combustible. In proximity to wiring, particularly if that wiring has been chewed through, can start a fire, putting your entire home and family at risk. Additionally, debris from nestings and droppings becoming trapped underneath your panels leading to roof damage and rot.
Droppings on panels from bird block sunlight and the amount of collectable energy. In addition, animal droppings anywhere around your panels can harbor bacteria, attract pests, and cause staining or deterioration. Birds dropping are acidic and can begin to damage the solar panel component over time.
The Domino Effect: One Pest Leads to Many
After you have had birds under your solar panels, other animals are more likely to follow as they are attracted by any debris and foods left by the birds. Animals underneath your solar panels will attract insects as well. This creates a cascading effect where a simple bird problem transforms into a comprehensive pest issue requiring professional intervention.
Prevention: The Smart Homeowner’s Approach
The good news is that solar panel pest problems are entirely preventable. Solar panel protection goes by several different names – critter guards, bird deterrent kits, and pest abatement are some of the more common terms, but the method of protection is similar across all methods. We place a special mesh around the perimeter of the solar panels and fasten it to both the roof and the panels with metal clips. This creates a secure physical barrier that even small animals cannot get through, but that still permits air circulation beneath the solar panels.
Professional installation is crucial for long-term effectiveness. We use high-quality metal or plastic mesh that is weather resistant and cannot be torn by animals. With our professional installation, the wildlife proofing can last for the life of your solar panels and withstand sun exposure, wind, and snow.
When to Call the Professionals
While some homeowners might consider DIY solutions, wildlife removal from solar panels requires expertise and proper equipment. Outside animals can cause significant damage to your solar panels and wiring. These poor creatures try to find shelter underneath of your panels. Not only can this ruin your system, but it’s also a huge fire hazard!
For New Jersey residents dealing with solar panel pest issues, professional pest control services can provide comprehensive solutions. Companies like Prestige Pest Unit in Franklin, NJ, understand the unique challenges of wildlife management around solar installations and offer eco-friendly approaches to pest removal and prevention.
The Cost of Waiting
Solar panels are a big investment and wildlife can damage the wiring and even the panels themselves. The repairs can be costly, and you can lose the use of your solar panel system for a period of time until repairs can be made. Like solar panel damage, the effects of wildlife damage to your roof is often not covered under warranties.
The investment in professional critter guards and wildlife exclusion services pales in comparison to the potential costs of system damage, roof repairs, and fire hazards. However, implementing a reliable critter guard can significantly mitigate these risks, allowing you to protect your investment and enjoy the full benefits of your solar system without unwelcome interruptions from local wildlife.
Protecting Your Solar Investment
Solar panels represent a significant investment in your home’s future and environmental sustainability. Don’t let wildlife turn your green energy solution into a costly maintenance nightmare. A regular visual inspection of your panels can help mitigate problems, but only wildlife exclusion can keep animals out completely.
By taking proactive steps to protect your solar installation with professional-grade critter guards and working with experienced pest control professionals, you can ensure your solar panels continue delivering clean energy and cost savings for years to come – without the unwanted wildlife guests.