Critter Guards in Tucson, AZ

Critter Guards close the gap between your solar panels and the roof so birds and rodents cannot move in. To a pigeon in Tucson, the space under an array is ideal: shaded from the summer sun, protected from wind and hawks, and close to food. Once one pair nests there, more tend to follow, and the problem grows every season.

What nesting does to a solar system

• Droppings and debris. Nesting material and droppings pile up on the roof, trap moisture, stain the surface and can clog roof drains and scuppers on flat roofs.
• Chewed wiring. Rodents and squirrels chew on cable insulation. HomeGuide lists repairs for loose or chewed wiring at $100 to $400, and damaged wiring can cause faults and lost production.
• Blocked airflow. Panels and microinverters shed heat from their backs. Packed nesting material under them traps heat, which costs output in a climate that is already hard on electronics.
• Noise and mess. Cooing at dawn, feathers on the patio and droppings on walkways and windows.

How critter guards work

A guard is a galvanized or coated wire mesh that runs around the outside edge of the array, closing the gap between the panel frames and the roof surface. It attaches to the panel frames with clips made for the job, so nothing is drilled into the panels and the roof is not penetrated. Done properly, it is tight to the roof, trimmed neatly, and still lets air move and water drain.

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Why the cleanout matters

Putting mesh around an active nest just traps birds or eggs inside, or leaves the debris to rot. So the job starts with clearing everything out from under the panels: nests, droppings, leaves and anything else that has collected. While the space is open, we inspect the wiring and connectors for chew damage and loose clips and check the roof surface and mounts. Any damage we find goes on the quote before we close things up.

Flat roofs and tile roofs

On a flat roof with tilted racks, the open space under the high side of each row is large, and the mesh has to follow the rack shape. On pitched tile roofs, the gap varies with the tile profile, and the mesh has to follow the curves to leave no openings. Either way, roof drains and scuppers have to stay clear so the monsoon rain can run off.

What it does not fix

Guards keep critters from getting under the array. They do not stop birds from sitting on top of panels or on the roof ridge. If droppings on the glass are the main issue, cleaning is part of the answer. And if bees, rats or other pests have settled somewhere other than the solar array, a pest control company is the right call.