Pigeons Nesting Under Your Panels? Here's What It's Actually Costing You.

By Miguel, Elite Pressure Wash Services · Bakersfield, CA

You hear them before you see them. Cooing on the roof first thing in the morning. Then droppings on the patio, the walkway, the car.

If you have solar in Bakersfield, there's a good chance the pigeons have moved in under your panels.

It's more than annoying. Here's what it's actually doing.

Why pigeons love your solar panels

To a pigeon, the gap between your panels and your roof is perfect. It's shaded, it's protected from wind and hawks, and it stays warm. Once one pair finds it, more follow. And they come back to the same spot year after year.

What they're costing you

• Lost production. Bird droppings block sunlight in solid spots instead of a thin layer like dust. Even small spots on a panel can drag down how much it produces.
• Mess that builds up. Nests, sticks, feathers, and droppings collect under the panels where you can't see them. That pile holds moisture and attracts more birds.
• Wiring at risk. The wires run right where they nest. Birds and nest material sitting on that wiring for months isn't something you want.
• The mess around your house. Droppings on the patio, the car, and the walkway. It doesn't stop as long as they're living up there.
• The noise. Every morning.

What doesn't work

Plastic owls stop working once the birds figure out they don't move, which doesn't take long. Spraying them off with a hose just makes a mess. And trying to pull nests out yourself means getting on the roof and reaching under the panels, which isn't safe.

What actually works

1. Clean the panels and clear out what you can. Get the droppings off the glass so the panels can produce again.
2. Block the gap. The long-term fix is closing off the space under the panels, usually with a mesh guard around the edges, so the birds can't get back in. Make sure whoever installs it uses a method that doesn't drill into your panels.
3. Keep an eye on it. Pigeons are persistent. If you see them hanging around again, deal with it early.

If you text us, let us know you've got birds, so we know what we're walking into.

The bottom line

Pigeons under your panels cost you power, make a mess, and don't leave on their own. The sooner you clean it up and close the gap, the less damage they do.