Is Solar Panel Bird Mesh Worth it?

Solar panels are being installed in increasing numbers, and there are plenty of reasons for this. They’re particularly effective in a country such as Australia, where the long hours of sunshine throughout the year ensure they’re especially good at generating a lot of electricity.

If you want to help the environment and reduce your electricity bills, especially during the summer months when your air conditioning is working hard to keep you cool, solar panels are a great option. Although solar panels aren’t cheap to buy and install, they are much less expensive than in the early years, and they will start to repay your investment as soon as they are up and running.

Appearance

Although most people may not understand or care about how solar panels work and their operational complexities, they can see their appearance. This generally amounts to personal preference, although most people will usually accept them over time as simply part of the roofline and may come to appreciate the way they look. However, they won’t accept them if they don’t look right, and one common complaint is the gap beneath the panels. That is necessary to provide sufficient airflow so that the panels operate efficiently, but it is a bone of contention for many owners. The simple fact is that the gap can give the solar panels an unfinished look and make the installation appear untidy, even second-rate. Wires and racking are exposed, and anything caught under the panels will be seen, so the overall sleek and smooth appearance of the panels is rather spoiled.

Pests

Birds, rodents and vermin of various kinds are attracted by solar panels. The gap beneath them is a tempting haven where they can obtain shelter from the wind, rain and sun, and are protected from predators. They will, therefore, often build nests under there and, as a result, the previously empty space can become rather full. The presence of pests under your solar panels can lead to various problems. Droppings will look messy, cause smells, and be generally unhygienic, while nesting material, feathers, and other items will add to the general mess. All this debris can, over time, be washed into your gutters by rainfall and may block them, unless gutter guards are fitted, which can cause building damage and contaminate any stored water supply. Rodents, in particular, also like to gnaw on things, and that can include the wiring and other components of your solar panel system. The damage they can cause by doing this is a greater concern than any general mess and noise they may create.

Lost Production and Repairs

Any build-up of debris under your panels, caused by nesting birds or anything blown in by the wind, will reduce the airflow through the gap that has been purposefully left beneath the panels. This, in turn, means the panels won’t be kept as cool as they should be, and therefore they won’t run as efficiently as they are designed to do. The result is a lower level of electricity generation, so that the anticipated energy savings aren’t achieved. Even worse is the damage that vermin can do by gnawing through wires and damaging components. This will cause no electricity to be generated, either by individual panels or the entire system. Repairs can then be expensive, requiring the erection of scaffolding and the removal and reinstallation of panels to clean the mess and gain access to the components underneath them.

Property Damage

Any build-up of debris under the solar panels can cause a blockage that prevents rainwater from flowing freely down the roof. This can, in turn, result in irregular and unsightly runoff of water, and more seriously, water retention that can damage the roof in the long term. During the summer months, accumulated debris will become dry and become a source of flammable material, sitting directly on your roof. This can be a big problem in bushfire areas and is a serious threat to your property.

Some of the benefits of solar skirts can be obtained by fitting chicken wire or a similar mesh around the perimeter of the solar panels. This will help deter pests and prevent the buildup of debris while maintaining the necessary airflow beneath the panels. However, it will appear unsightly and may not be particularly resilient, especially if low-grade mesh is used and not fixed securely.

Installing our solar skirts is a much more practical and effective solution. They are Australian-made from high-quality materials and will last for many years — so long, in fact, that we’ll guarantee them for the life of the solar panels to which they are fixed. They are fully resistant to storm damage and other adverse weather conditions and are extremely easy to install. Nevertheless, given the dangers of working at height and the need for secure fixing, we recommend professional installation to ensure everything is done correctly.

Our solar skirts look great and make your solar panel installation appear much more professional. They’ll protect the panels and your roof, ensure continuity of electricity generation and give you complete peace of mind. Although they add to the cost of the initial installation, they will save money in the long term, protect your investment, and should not be considered an optional upgrade but an essential element of the system. In short, solar skirts are definitely worth it, so give us a call to arrange installation and start reaping the benefits.