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.
Excellent4.9★★★★★ Based on 421 reviews from review us onRodney Smith ★★★★★ Brandon Sr. Is fantastic, great customer service, knowledgable,friendly, would definatly use Titan. Great people!Response from the ownerHi, Rodney. Your feedback is highly appreciated. Thank you for the review! Kenneth Kriegshauser ★★★★★ I called Titan pest based on the google reviews I saw and how close they are to my house. The person who I talked to was very nice and took care of me right away. The next day, J called and actually came out earlier than my appointment time which was great. J was very knowledgeable about all their offerings and worked with me to get a good deal for spider and bug treatments. He did a very thorough job spraying around the house and took care not to spray personal items. He placed a bunch of glue traps in problem areas also. I look forward to working with Titan to get rid of all the spiders I. My house.Response from the ownerHi, Kenneth. We appreciate the kind words and are glad we could provide you with a positive experience! Brandon Curry ★★★★★ I've been running a bed and breakfast for 10 years, thankfully without any pest problems, until last night when I came home and saw a cockroach for the first time. Panicked, sent out inquiries, and Titan showed up and began treating the entire interior and exterior of this enormous house this morning within 10 hours of sending the initial message. Jay was an awesome technician, he signed us up for a plan that was not only going to treat and eliminate the current cockroach threat, but also included one that covers the perpetual mosquito issues we've had. Everything was explained well, and future visits already scheduled. I'm happy not to have to deal with the anxiety of wondering if bugs are always around, and I'm truly pleased guests won't have their comfort and experience ruined by seeing a bug scurry through their room.Response from the ownerHi, Brandon. Thanks for taking the time to share your positive experience. We truly appreciate it! Brandyn Routt ★★★★★ Very professional, thorough and reasonably priced. I will definitely be using them again in the future.Response from the ownerThank you for your review! Deann Myers ★★★★★ Fast service—Jay was thorough and took the time to show me all potential issues to remedy to keep critters out! Highly recommend!Response from the ownerHi, Deann. We are thrilled to learn that you had a positive experience with us! Laura Scott ★★★★★ Jay was great today servicing my house. He was thorough and even helped me update my service to better suit my needs while keeping the same price. Very happy with the work that was done.Response from the ownerHi, Laura. Thank you so much for leaving us a stellar review! Amber Fisher ★★★★★ Can’t recommend this company enough! Jake and his entire team were professional, thorough and went above and beyond. From carpet cleaning to pest control to bat remediation/retrofitting- Jake was there every step of the way and always made himself available to answer our questions. It’s clear these guys know what they’re doing- more so than their competitors (who I called first and was not impressed). Thank you Jake!Response from the ownerHi, Amber. Your feedback is highly appreciated. Thank you for the review! Saba Asgedom ★★★★★ Brandyn and his father are great to work with! They have raken good care of our home and keeping it pest-free!Response from the ownerHi, Saba. We appreciate the kind words and are glad we could provide you with a positive experience! Megan P ★★★★★ So far I’m really happy with the service we’ve received from Titan! J was super friendly, informative and thorough, and he was able to take care of our first session the same day. We have a mouse problem so we ended up signing up for a recurring service and it is very affordable for what is included, as it covers both the mice and general pests. Definitely happy I came across this company and I’m excited to see the results!Response from the ownerHi, Megan. Thanks for taking the time to share your positive experience. We truly appreciate it! Affton Christian Church ★★★★★ We needed the kitchen exhaust vent and hood cleaned. When looking for a company to do it, Gateway Commercial Cleaning (a company under the umbrella of Titan Pest) had the best reviews. When I spoke to them they were more friendly and helpful than any of the other companies I checked out. Their price was good and they were very quick in coming out to take a look and give a quote. They were also fast when setting up an appointment and having someone come out and do the work. Everyone I dealt with in the process was just wonderful to work with. We highly recommend them and have contracted with them to perform our yearly cleaning.Response from the ownerHi, Affton. We are thrilled to learn that you had a positive experience with us! Barry and melissa Carter ★★★★★ I wanted to put a review in for Jennifer who answers the phone . She is always so sweet and helpful. Today she talked back and forth with the owner to get my questions answered. A week ago I had put in a bad review mostly out of frustration because we have a continued snake issue and have had 20 plus small snakes in our basement and garage over the last few months which is unnerving to say the least. We have had random holes and went from voles to groundhogs possibly etc it’s been a whirlwind . So out of frustration I wrote a bad review after finding out how much the ground hog removal would cost . I have removed that review. I understand that it’s a business and you all need to make money. I am just overwhelmed with not being comfortable in my own home but I do appreciate Jennifer always getting answers and being kind when I’m so unnerved. I understand that you all are trying things that you know to do and I’m going to keep praying that we figure out where these snakes are getting in from.Response from the ownerThank you so much! Kitel Bug ★★★★★ J was fantastic. He is very knowledgeable about pest control. His approach for presenting solutions is reassuring my pest problem will be resolved. It may take weeks to months but it bottom line it will be resolvedResponse from the ownerHi, Kitel. Thank you so much for leaving us a stellar review! Brysan DuVall ★★★★★ Titan was great! Our initial assessment and consult was done by Jay - he was super cool and knowledgeable. Our technician that did the treatment was Dre - he was prompt, really cool guy, and treated our home quickly and efficientlyResponse from the ownerHi, Brysan. Your feedback is highly appreciated. Thank you for the review! Antoinette Feazel ★★★★★ Jay was extremely good. Came here in time and did the inside/outside as I requested. I’m very well pleasedResponse from the ownerHi, Antoinette. We appreciate the kind words and are glad we could provide you with a positive experience! Denise Johnson ★★★★★ Employees are courteous and show up on scheduled.Response from the ownerHi, Denise. Thanks for taking the time to share your positive experience. We truly appreciate it! Patrick Gorgen ★★★★★ Jake and his team at Titan Pest Control are awesome. We found a bat in our house and Jake came out immediately to search throughout to find it. He even came out after hours to double-check if it was flying around inside at night. They’ve brought in their crew to remediate the issue, fix entry points and clean up the mess which we appreciate. And we also found some signs of mice and spiders so he has helped us with that as well. Cannot recommend these guys enough, and we’ve already shared their name with family + friends.Response from the ownerHi, Patrick. We are thrilled to learn that you had a positive experience with us! Robyn Crecelius ★★★★★ Brandon Sr. has been treating our house for a long while! He’s always still helpful and courteous and does a wonderful job. He’s also so great with our furry family members! We had a pretty extensive brown recluse problem when we hired Titan! Thankfully they did a great job taking care of it.Response from the ownerHi, Robyn. Thank you so much for leaving us a stellar review! David Hunter ★★★★★ Great service by J!Response from the ownerHi, David. Your feedback is highly appreciated. Thank you for the review! Max Pulley ★★★★★ Everybody was so nice and patient with me, finally got a pest control service we love!Response from the ownerHi, Max. We appreciate the kind words and are glad we could provide you with a positive experience! Staci Wood ★★★★★ Titan was great! They answered all my questions. Made me feel comfortable. J kesterson was my contact. He was super helpful at explaining everything. Would definitely recommend to everyone!Response from the ownerHi, Staci. Thanks for taking the time to share your positive experience. We truly appreciate it! Julia Frank ★★★★★ Response from the ownerHi, Julia. We appreciate the rating, and are glad we could provide you with a positive experience! Anthony D ★★★★★ The technician Ethan Harbaugh did a good job addressing the issue of mice getting in my basement. He took his time and throughly checked everything.Response from the ownerHi, Anthony. We are thrilled to learn that you had a positive experience with us! Stephenie Davenport ★★★★★ Amazing service, from lady that answered my call and set my appointment to our technician J. J was very polite and knowledgeable, he provided top notch service. 10/10 highly recommendResponse from the ownerHi, Stephenie. We are thrilled to learn that you had a positive experience with us! Donald Davenport ★★★★★ J did a great job. Very thorough job inside and outside.Response from the ownerHi, Donald. 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.
