Pigeons and Solar panels

[DavidonMersea]

I have got pigeons nesting under my solar panels

A man has just knocked on my door saying the panels ought to be fenced off, and he would do it for £450

What does the panel think?

 

[AntarcticPilot]

Well, I'd never give a job to "a man who knocked on my door"! It sounds a bit like the old "tarmac your drive, guv - just got a bit over from a big job..." scam. Who installed your panels? I'd go to them and ask their advice. Otherwise, check with local reputable solar panel installers. I'm assuming these are domestic panels, not on your boat!

Incidentally, you need to be certain that modifications to your installation don't affect your feed-in tariff. I don't see why it should in this case, but I have to tick a box saying there have been no changes to the installation every quarter.

 

[Rum Run]

That seems like a lot of money for something you didn't know you needed. Also assuming the pigeons actually exist, why would you want to make them homeless?

 

[Graham376]

Just stuff some wire netting under the perimeter to stop them getting underneath. I've had to do that with some rainwater gutters to stop squirrels getting under roof tiles, shouldn't have sold my air rifle

 

[AntarcticPilot]

Just an aside - they'd have to be pretty skinny pigeons to nest under mine. There can't be more that a couple of inches gap.

 

[DavidonMersea]

Well, I'd never give a job to "a man who knocked on my door"! It sounds a bit like the old "tarmac your drive, guv - just got a bit over from a big job..." scam. Who installed your panels? I'd go to them and ask their advice. Otherwise, check with local reputable solar panel installers. I'm assuming these are domestic panels, not on your boat!

Incidentally, you need to be certain that modifications to your installation don't affect your feed-in tariff. I don't see why it should in this case, but I have to tick a box saying there have been no changes to the installation every quarter.

The business that installed the panels went belly up. There domestic panels, not on a boat

That seems like a lot of money for something you didn't know you needed. Also assuming the pigeons actually exist, why would you want to make them homeless?

Because they s...t all over my balcony

 

[sarabande]

Under the Wildlife and Countryside Act, it is an offence to interfere with any nesting bird. You must leave the nest till the birds quit.


And tell the man at the door that he is a chancer. £450 !!! That's two days' work including materials,

 

[Wandering Star]

Be cheaper to purchase a Tilley hat and wear that when you’re out on the balcony?

 

[Rum Run]

The business that installed the panels went belly up. There domestic panels, not on a boat
Because they s...t all over my balcony

That's a good enough reason to want rid I agree

 

[FairweatherDave]

Having just got solar panels installed I felt very uneasy when there was a question mark over whether or not they could safely install the anti bird protection. I had agreed to pay for it as part of the install and it was a pricey add on - but also I would not have wanted anyone to install it in case it invalidated the warranty. But pigeons do cause problems with solar and we do have plenty round here. Depending on your ease of access to the panels and the number you have £450 might be a rip off but it doesn't sound too far off what I paid for my 16 panels on two roofs with scaffolding already in place. Bearing that in mind it took 3 blokes about an hour, maybe two with the posh chicken wire. I'd get the job done but get some quotes in.

 

[AntarcticPilot]

Having just got solar panels installed I felt very uneasy when there was a question mark over whether or not they could safely install the anti bird protection. I had agreed to pay for it as part of the install and it was a pricey add on - but also I would not have wanted anyone to install it in case it invalidated the warranty. But pigeons do cause problems with solar and we do have plenty round here. Depending on your ease of access to the panels and the number you have £450 might be a rip off but it doesn't sound too far off what I paid for my 16 panels on two roofs with scaffolding already in place. Bearing that in mind it took 3 blokes about an hour, maybe two with the posh chicken wire. I'd get the job done but get some quotes in.

+1. To do the job properly will require scaffolding, and that's not cheap. The cost of scaffolding hire was a substantial part of the cost when I had them installed - perhaps less for most folk, as I have a 3-story town-house.

 

[DavidonMersea]

Having just got solar panels installed I felt very uneasy when there was a question mark over whether or not they could safely install the anti bird protection. I had agreed to pay for it as part of the install and it was a pricey add on - but also I would not have wanted anyone to install it in case it invalidated the warranty. But pigeons do cause problems with solar and we do have plenty round here. Depending on your ease of access to the panels and the number you have £450 might be a rip off but it doesn't sound too far off what I paid for my 16 panels on two roofs with scaffolding already in place. Bearing that in mind it took 3 blokes about an hour, maybe two with the posh chicken wire. I'd get the job done but get some quotes in.

You are saying "pigeons do cause problems with solar", what damage do they cause?

 

[FairweatherDave]

Sadly I can only refer you to Google.... which of course has the scare mongering element/sales pitch....
I think the nuisance of mess and noise you are already familiar with. For me I didn't want them to have to come back to retro fit as the scaffolding was expensive...but if you can get away with old school no scaffolding people...For me it was peace of mind to protect the investment....if I had easy access I might have gambled to see if pigeons turned up.

 

[AntarcticPilot]

You are saying "pigeons do cause problems with solar", what damage do they cause?

I've had mine for 10 years, and pigeons (which are abundant in my neighbourhood) have never been a problem.

I'm curious about how pigeons can nest under the panels - mine are mounted only an inch or two from the tiles, and no pigeon could possibly get in there!

 

[johnalison]

Construct a trap for the pigeons. Use the trapped birds for pickled dove or something you can sell to the local deli, and make a few bob and do something to benefit mankind at the same time.

 

[Povremeni pomorac]

Once the NATO-Russia war starts, it won't be much of a concern.

 

[Halo]

I had pigeons nesting under mine. A check with an installer told me that a significant proportion of call outs for repair are caused by pigeons.
A neighbours house had been colonised before mine and I noticed his gutters were chocked with pigeon muck. This convinced me to to get the panels netted off properly by a firm licensed to disturb the pigeons. They did a good job.
It’s not appropriate for me to publicise the firm even though I am not connected.
PM me if you want the name of the firm.

 

[DavidonMersea]

I had pigeons nesting under mine. A check with an installer told me that a significant proportion of call outs for repair are caused by pigeons.
A neighbours house had been colonised before mine and I noticed his gutters were chocked with pigeon muck. This convinced me to to get the panels netted off properly by a firm licensed to disturb the pigeons. They did a good job.
It’s not appropriate for me to publicise the firm even though I am not connected.
PM me if you want the name of the firm.

"repair are caused by pigeons". What damage did the pigeons do, apart from s.... all over the roof

 

[Povremeni pomorac]

Air rifles are cheap.

 

[Stemar]

Air rifles are cheap.

Until you miss and take out a panel...