Cindy McCabe – November 2020

What are the squirrels up to now? Do they regularly scamper across your roof?  If squirrels have access to a roof they can cause damage to the wiring and the production of a solar panel photovoltaic system.   In such situations you may want to consider investing in squirrel guards for your solar PV system and protect against the potentially substantial cost of solar PV maintenance from squirrel damage.

So, what are squirrel guards? Also known as critter guards or pest abatement, these are barriers made of protective metal mesh which your solar installer attaches around the outside of your solar system to keep leaves and critters from entering in the gap between your solar panels and your roof.  They can protect expensive microinverters and other important wiring underneath each solar panel.   Many solar system warranties do not cover damage due to

Squirrel guards – photo by Ipsun Solar

negligence or damage from nature.

Are they right for your system?  Talk to your solar installer about whether squirrel guards are right for your situation, and what the price of this investment would be to protect your system. Your solar installer can fully describe your liabilities and whether squirrel guards could help. The installer can also talk to you about the maintenance you may need to perform to keep the squirrel guards clean.  If you decline to include squirrel guards with the installation of your system, and squirrels or other wildlife cause damage to your solar system, you may bear the responsibility for payment for this type of maintenance. Be sure to read your entire solar PV contract.

When considering adding this important feature to your solar system, it is important to think about what trees or other objects are currently within 10 feet of your roof, both vertically and horizontally. This ten feet of space is the amount needed to keep squirrels from jumping from trees onto your roof, according to the National Audubon Society. Also, don’t forget to factor in the amount that your younger trees may grow. According to a tree growth study by Iowa State University, trees grow between 0.75-1.5 feet per year. If you have trees that are 15 feet lower than your roof line now, they may be well within squirrel-jumping distance before long.

An experienced solar expert, Humza Arshad, from CD Greentech, says “In the DMV region (Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia), we have a very healthy squirrel population, and squirrels can gravitate toward nesting under solar panels because they are warm and just the right size for a cozy nest. Installing physical barriers in those instances where squirrels can be an issue for the solar array not only promotes the long-term functioning of the system but also protects the critters themselves from the danger of electrocution. The look [with the squirrel guards] either negligibly impacts or improves the aesthetics of the array by making it harder to see under the panels.”

So, when considering solar panels for your home, talk to your installer and discuss the need for squirrel guards. It is a small investment compared to the price of the overall system but can save you lots of headaches and maintenance costs in the long run.

Cindy McCabe is the Residential Solar Program Manager for the Montgomery County Green Bank. She has worked in the solar industry for the past six years with responsibilities including project management, solar system design, inspection coordination, site survey coordination, operations management, and sales. Cindy lives in Rockville, MD and considers herself an avid environmentalist.