Solar panels are becoming increasingly popular as a source of clean energy, but they also attract various pests that can damage them and reduce their efficiency.
Understanding the types of pests that commonly affect solar panels and how they impact solar systems is crucial for effective management and maintenance. This article discusses the most common pests around solar installations and their specific threats.
Excellent4.8★★★★★ Based on 547 reviews from review us onBrittany Minor ★★★★★ I called and they were able to send J out within 2 days. J was able to quickly diagnose the issue and was able to close up the soffit where the birds were getting into our roof.Response from the ownerHi, Brittany. Your feedback is highly appreciated. Thank you for the review! Ignacio Del Forn ★★★★★ Excellent service and staff throughout!Response from the ownerHi, Ignacio. We appreciate the kind words and are glad we could provide you with a positive experience! Max Lipel ★★★★★ Brandyn was very professional and accommodating in moving up my appointment to a better time. He went out of his way to do so. Would recommend!Response from the ownerHi, Max. Thanks for taking the time to share your positive experience. We truly appreciate it! M S ★★★★★ Inspection and treatment went well!! Very professional and reasonable. They will be back on a subscription basis. Thank you J!Response from the ownerHi, M. We are thrilled to learn that you had a positive experience with us! w ★★★★★ Jay did a fantastic job treating our house for termites. the treatment was very thorough around the entire perimeter of the house along with a few precautionary spot treatments as necessary. Jay took the time to explain everything so that I was comfortable and satisfied with the treatment plan. To top it off Jay is very courteous and easy to talk with. It is a pleasure doing business with Jay. He goes above and beyond to make sure the job is top tier.Response from the ownerHi, W. Thank you so much for leaving us a stellar review! TJ Breeding ★★★★★ Jay (J Ketsterson) was amazing the way he explained was clear and easy to understand. He didn't try to oversell us on stuff we didn't need and it was a great first experience. Here's to many more. 😊Response from the ownerHi, Tj. Your feedback is highly appreciated. Thank you for the review! Jennifer Burn ★★★★★ Very excited to have the bird nest removed from my vent and cleaned. J came out and quoted me on the project. He was super friendly and is a Spartan fan which is a plus! He was very detailed with what would happen with the appointment. He took the time to answer my questions. Great customer service!Response from the ownerHi, Jennifer. We appreciate the kind words and are glad we could provide you with a positive experience! Peace Love Happy ★★★★★ We had J from Titan Pest Control out today to treat our multi unit commercial property.He was prompt and extremely informative answering all of our questions!We discussed many different programs they offer and had him do the first treatment today!I definitely recommend contacting Titan for all of your pest and wildlife needs.✌️💜🧜♀️Response from the ownerHi, Peace. Thanks for taking the time to share your positive experience. We truly appreciate it! China Coleman ★★★★★ Ray and JD were amazing and they did the BESTTTTTT FIR ME thanks guysResponse from the ownerHi, China. We are thrilled to learn that you had a positive experience with us! Michelle Bertelsman ★★★★★ We’ve been using this service for over a year now, and I can honestly say I have nothing but great things to say about both the people and the service. When we first started, we had a friendly guy named Ken who handled our treatments. He was amazing and always took the time to make my son laugh while working outside. Fast forward to a couple of weeks ago, and we now have John, who has been just as fantastic. My kids have the best time with him!I couldn’t recommend this company more. Not only do they do a great job keeping our home safe from insects, but they also treat my children like their own. Keep up the excellent work, guys!Response from the ownerHi, Michelle. Thank you so much for leaving us a stellar review! Ross Politte ★★★★★ I've had a very personal and professional experience with Titan and Brandyn in particular! Always felt as if I was a priority and the communication and timely responses have been unmatched! I've even moved houses and that has been made a breeze with Titan.Response from the ownerHi, Ross. Your feedback is highly appreciated. Thank you for the review! Mark Dilworth ★★★★★ I wanted to complement Jay at Titan for his professionalism. He came to my house and was quite patient in explaining various options that I had for addressing a snake issue with my home. I grilled him about everything and had follow up questions the next day as I compared Titan with another company. Ultimately, it was the value of the services package that won me over.When I called to schedule for my first appointment, it was good to encounter a pleasant and customer service-focused representative. The professionalism and customer service I experienced with Titan should be the norm for companies today. Customer service as a whole has gone out of the window. It was refreshing to deal with a company that still upholds it.Response from the ownerHi, Mark. We appreciate the kind words and are glad we could provide you with a positive experience! Srinivas Nimmagadda ★★★★★ Had our attic inspected with one of the finest sales manager “J kesterson “. I would definitely recommend this company and Kesterson for any pest or yard activitiesResponse from the ownerHi, Srinivas. Thanks for taking the time to share your positive experience. We truly appreciate it! Tonya Eno ★★★★★ Ken H. Was great! Very thorough, personable, courteous and knowledgeable. My second treatment by Titan and I have to say, I am impressed. They stand behind their work. That says a lot! Highly recommend.Response from the ownerHi, Tonya. We are thrilled to learn that you had a positive experience with us! Shelbye H ★★★★★ Brandyn was amazing. I was messaging at 6am after finding my worst nightmare in my new home. & They were out same day. He was super informative. Very kind. & Was not judgemental at all. He was kind to my dogs & I feel so much more at ease now.Response from the ownerHi, Shelbye. Thank you so much for leaving us a stellar review! Ken Weis ★★★★★ J Kesterson was extremely diligent in finding the source of our pest! With their FREE Assessment we came up with a plan to seal off the infestation area. He thoroughly scoured the rest of the roof line and attic for any other potential areas of entry. Professional, Kind and Courteous, J Kesterson was there for us when we really needed them!Response from the ownerHi, Ken. Your feedback is highly appreciated. Thank you for the review! Susan Curtis ★★★★★ Brandon explained things clearly and made some suggestions to protect house even more. Using him for lawn care also. Have high hopes for good resultsResponse from the ownerHi, Susan. We appreciate the kind words and are glad we could provide you with a positive experience! Marsha Landry ★★★★★ Very pleased with communication and quick response. Feel confident this company is qualified to take care of any pest control needs in the future. Will recommend to family and friends.Response from the ownerHi, Marsha. Thanks for taking the time to share your positive experience. We truly appreciate it! Omar Elsoueissi ★★★★★ "I had an excellent experience with Titan Pest and Wildlife Solutions! Their team was professional, knowledgeable, and quick to address my pest issue. They took the time to explain the process and offered a tailored solution that worked perfectly. The service was prompt, effective, and reasonably priced. I highly recommend them to anyone needing reliable pest control or wildlife removal!"Response from the ownerThank you so much! Becky Kruger ★★★★★ I had an excellent experience with Titan. Ken is so friendly and knowledgeable. He thoroughly assessed the outside of our house and was able to seal entry points that we never knew we had. Our home is now free of unwanted guests.Response from the ownerHi, Becky. Thank you so much for leaving us a stellar review! Stephanii Watts ★★★★★ Brandyn and his team helped me out tremendously with my pest issues.Response from the ownerHi, Stephanii. Your feedback is highly appreciated. Thank you for the review! Maryam A ★★★★★ The pest control service provided is super amazing. Highly recommended to keep places free of pests.Response from the ownerHi, Maryam. We appreciate the kind words and are glad we could provide you with a positive experience! Dicky Lee ★★★★★ Fast response and good price, also, they are extremely friendly and answer to all your questions. Highly recommendedResponse from the ownerHi, Dicky. Thanks for taking the time to share your positive experience. We truly appreciate it! Mark Brickler ★★★★★ Excellent Service and Professionalism!I had a great experience with Titan Pest Control! They responded quickly when I reached out and were professional and punctual for my consultation. Jay provided a thorough and clear explanation of their services, making sure I understood everything. What impressed me most was that he completed my first treatment immediately after the consultation—super convenient! Highly recommended for anyone looking for reliable and efficient pest control services.Response from the ownerHi, Mark. We are thrilled to learn that you had a positive experience with us! Karen Hutchins ★★★★★ We really appreciate the star quality service provided by J Kestrrson. Love his personality and professionalismResponse from the ownerHi, Karen. Thank you so much for leaving us a stellar review!
Birds
Birds are one of the most significant and visible pests for solar panels. Pigeons, sparrows, and seagulls are mainly known to nest under the protection provided by solar panels. These nests not only block parts of the panels, thereby reducing their overall effectiveness, but the accumulation of bird droppings can also cause physical damage. Bird droppings are highly acidic and can etch into the surface of the solar panels, leading to a permanent loss in energy production.
Consequences: Reduced energy output, permanent panel damage
Rodents
Mice, squirrels, and rats seriously threaten solar panel installations. These animals are attracted to the warmth of the panels and often chew through electrical wiring and insulation, leading to short circuits or even complete system failures. The damage can be costly and significantly reduce a solar installation’s lifespan. Furthermore, the gnawing on wires can create safety hazards, such as fire risk.
Types involved: Mice, squirrels, rats
Damage: Chewing wires, insulation damage
Risks: Short circuits, potential fires, costly repairs
Insects
Various insects, including wasps, bees, and ants, are also attracted to solar panel installations. Wasps and bees may build nests under or around the panels, obstructing airflow and reducing efficiency. Ants are particularly problematic as they can burrow into inverters and other components, potentially causing malfunctions and short circuits. These issues necessitate regular cleaning and, in severe cases, professional removal of nests and hives.
Insect types: Wasps, bees, ants
Issues: Obstruction of airflow, component malfunctions
Management needs: Regular cleaning, professional nest removal
Lichen and Moss
While not pests in the traditional sense, lichen and moss can grow on solar panels, especially in humid climates or areas with a lot of shade. This growth can cover the surface of the panels, blocking sunlight and significantly decreasing energy output. Although they do not cause structural damage like birds or rodents, their impact on the efficiency of solar panels can be profound.
Growth conditions: Humid climates, shaded areas
Impact: Blocking sunlight, reduced energy output
Prevention tips: Install in well-lit areas, possibly apply preventative coatings
These lists provide a structured overview of the types of pests that affect solar panels, detailing the problems they cause and the measures needed to manage these issues effectively. Regular inspections and proactive maintenance are essential to minimize their impact and maintain optimal solar installation performance.
Prevention and Control Measures
Effective pest control starts with proactive preventative measures tailored to each type of pest. For birds, measures such as installing anti-roosting spikes or netting are effective at preventing them from nesting under solar panels. These tools obstruct access to desirable nesting areas, reducing the likelihood of birds settling there.
Securing solar panel installations is crucial for rodents. Sealing all potential entry points and using rodent guards can keep these pests at bay. Rodent guards are designed to prevent mice, squirrels, and rats from climbing onto the panels and causing damage.
Insect issues require diligent oversight. Regular inspections and cleaning are vital to managing insects like wasps, bees, and ants. These routine checks help identify and remove nests or hives before they escalate into more significant problems.
Positioning solar panels in well-lit, non-shaded areas is a preventive strategy for lichen and moss, as these organisms thrive in moist and shaded environments. Applying specific coatings or treatments to the panels can inhibit biological growth if shading cannot be avoided. These treatments create a surface less conducive to lichen and moss growth, thereby preserving the panels’ efficiency.
Prevention Techniques:
Birds: Anti-roosting spikes, netting
Rodents: Sealing entry points, rodent guards
Insects: Regular inspections, proactive cleaning
Lichen/Moss: Installation in bright areas, application of protective coatings
Implementing these measures allows solar panels to operate optimally and be protected from pest damage. Regular maintenance and strategic placement can significantly extend the life and performance of solar panel installations.
Regular Maintenance
Regular maintenance is crucial in detecting and addressing pest issues early. This includes scheduled cleaning of the panels, inspections for signs of pest activity, and checks on electrical wiring and components for any signs of damage. By staying vigilant and proactive, solar panel owners can minimize the impact of pests and maintain the efficiency and longevity of their solar systems.
While solar panels are an excellent investment for generating clean energy, they can attract various pests that threaten their efficiency and structural integrity. Birds, rodents, insects, and even plant growth like lichen and moss can all cause problems. Understanding these common pests and implementing strategic prevention and maintenance routines are essential for protecting this valuable asset. Regular inspections and timely interventions can allow solar panels to operate at peak performance, providing sustainable energy for years.
