How Arizonans can pest-proof their solar investment

The decision to go solar to offset energy costs is a smart one here in sunny Phoenix, where we average nearly 300 days of sunshine per year. Solar panels are an excellent investment that requires minimal proactive maintenance, but only when adequately protected against an often-overlooked adversary: pests like pigeons and roof rats. These animals often use solar panels as shelter from Arizona’s intense environment, and their presence can cause damage that leads to decreased efficiency, costly repairs and less money saved on one’s monthly energy bills. Protecting your solar investment goes beyond booking an annual maintenance evaluation; it’s about keeping panels pest-free and functional for years to come.

The Signs of a Pest Problem

While these pests prefer to stay hidden and use solar panels as shelter, their presence doesn’t go unnoticed for long. Roof rats will leave droppings and have a tendency to chew the wires of solar panels – meaning that your panels will become prone to system malfunctions, electrical shorts, and can even become a fire hazard. Rats will also degrade the material of your roof, and pigeons will make their nests beneath the panels, restricting air flow. If bird droppings have built up atop the reflective surface of the solar panels, this can prevent the system from operating at its usual energy generation capacity. Finally, if you have a pest problem, in some cases you might be able to even hear them scurrying above.

Catching Pest Problems Early with Roofing Inspections

The reason homeowners should schedule regular roofing and solar system inspections is simple: to catch a budding issue early before it becomes a larger, more expensive ordeal. Beyond roofing issues such as cracks in tiles, blisters and curled underlayment, roofing inspectors are trained to recognize the signs of a pest issue that has gone undetected by the homeowner. The presence of pests can speed up the degradation of solar panel’s wiring and components. Both roofing materials and solar panels can last for a long time if maintenance and inspections are regularly performed, and will ensure that your solar panel continues to function at peak efficiency, equating to cheaper utility bills over time.

Pest-Proofing Your Panels

Before pest-proofing your solar system, a homeowner must make sure that there is no active pest problem on the roof, so working with an inspector is a crucial first step. While your inspector will likely have recommendations for the types of products you should use to pest-proof your solar array, I advise against using protective skirts as they restrict air flow beneath the panels, as heat buildup can reduce the system’s ability to convert sunshine into electricity. Roof rat and bird nests beneath the panels can create the same issue. Instead, I recommend using mesh guards around the panels, such as the SnapNrack Array Edge Screen. For pigeons, I would advise installing bird wire on the roof’s ridges and hips to keep birds from sitting there – bird wire is not installed around the panels themselves.

To humanely remove roof rats, start by sealing entry and exit points around your roof and solar panels. Make sure outdoor areas are free of accessible food sources, such as open dumpsters, and consider setting live traps. If these efforts don’t resolve the issue, consult a pest control specialist for guidance on next steps.

Investing in preventative measures against pests is preferable to paying for expensive repairs and cleanup to one’s roof and solar system. If you are interested in learning more about how to pest-proof your solar system, or are interested in scheduling a roof inspection, please visit americansolarandroofing.com.

Editor’s note: Joy Seitz is CEO and owner of Phoenix-based American Solar & Roofing. Please send your comments to AzOpinions@iniusa.org. We are committed to publishing a wide variety of reader opinions, as long as they meet our Civility Guidelines.