What do I do about snow or animals on my panels?

For most standard applications, your solar provider will probably install your solar panels next to each other, but leave a small gap between the roof and the array—that’s how we do it, anyway. This provides appropriate ventilation for the electrical components to work efficiently in conjunction with your solar panels.

However, sometimes animals like birds or squirrels may nest underneath the panels, partly because it’s warm and partly because it gives them protection from the impacts of the weather.

If you live in a particularly snowy area, snow buildup can also be a problem as it can add extra weight to the front of the panel or cause a large amount of snow to fall from your roof when it starts to warm up.

The good news is that there are some pretty simple things you (or your solar provider) can do to protect your panels from animals or snow buildup.

How to protect your solar panels against animals

Generally speaking, these little guys won’t impact the function of the system because they can’t access the internal workings of the solar energy components. But, we understand that they can still be frustrating, and in some areas, adding a protective addition to the array may help you avoid those little critters. One solution that we implement is animal guards:

• An animal guard is a galvanized steel mesh that attaches to the frame of a solar panel to create a protective, breathable barrier around your solar array.
• Animal guards protect against animals nesting beneath the solar panel by barring them entry to the underside of the unit, where it’s nice and warm. In some areas, this may be necessary to ensure that both the animals and the system are protected from each other.

If you’re interested in animal guards, talk to your solar provider to understand the options available to you. If you have a Vivint Solar system, contact your sales manager, or reach out to our customer service team. We’ll go over your options in more detail and help you understand what you can do and what we can offer in terms of animal protection.

How to protect your solar panels against snow buildup

The best course of action when snow is on the array is to leave it be and let it melt in time. Mother Nature can be a fickle mistress, but she does tend to take care of the snow pretty well on her own.

If it’s been several days, and you’re worried about long-term coverage, you can always reach out to a local panel cleaning service in your area. Keep in mind that it could cost you more to clean the panels than what it would cost you if you simply waited until the snow melts.

If you have pretty long arms, or if your roof isn’t that hard to reach, some homeowners have invested in a snow rake. They’re fairly affordable and can help remove light-to-moderate snow build up with little fuss. But again, at that point, we still suggest that you wait until it melts off. Honestly, why do all that work when the sun will do it for you?

The biggest thing to keep in mind is the impact that the snow coverage will have on the energy production of your solar array. Here are a few things to remember when it comes to solar production post snowfall:

• Solar panels will still generate energy with snow on top of them. A light snow dusting will usually dissipate with wind and sunlight but the sun will still penetrate the light layer, thus generating energy.
• Heavy snow could significantly reduce your solar panels from generating energy, but may not last that long thanks to the sun melting it off.
• One of the biggest myths about solar is that it doesn’t work in cold weather. That is, in fact, false. Solar actually works better in cold weather because, as long as the sun is shining, it’ll produce energy without the efficiency impacts of overheating.

The one downside of the snow melting is that it could cause a large amount of snow to slide off your panels all at once. If you’re worried about that happening, contact your solar provider. They should have options available to you to prevent excess buildup. For example, we mitigate large amounts of snow buildup by offering snow guards to homeowners that live in parts of the country with significant annual snowfall, steep roof planes, and panels installed near entryways. In most cases, homeowners do not need to worry about snow on the array.

Vivint Solar can offer you a renewable energy plan to meet your needs

If you’re interested in using renewable solar energy, Vivint Solar is here for you. We’ve helped thousands of homeowners convert their rooftops into efficient, energy-producing solar energy systems.

Contact us today to set an appointment with one of our Vivint Solar reps to help you learn whether or not solar energy is the right step for you!