Critter and snow guards explained.
Two inexpensive add-ons that protect your solar investment from wildlife and winter weather.
Investing in solar is a decision built to pay off over 25+ years. Two small, often-overlooked add-ons help make sure it actually does: critter guards and snow guards.
Critter guards
Solar panels create a sheltered, elevated space that's genuinely attractive to squirrels, birds, and other small animals looking to nest. Left unchecked, that can cause real problems:
Critter guards are mesh barriers installed around the edges of your panels that block that access entirely. We recommend installing them at the time of your solar installation to prevent problems before they start, though they can be added to an existing system too.
Snow guards
Solar works well in winter, but Long Island's snow and ice bring a different consideration. Unlike textured shingles, smooth panel surfaces let snow slide off in large, heavy sheets—which can mean:
Snow guards are small barriers placed strategically on panels that slow and evenly distribute snow release instead of letting it all come down at once—protecting people, property, and your roof.
Worth discussing at your consultation
Both critter guards and snow guards are optional, inexpensive additions that meaningfully extend your system's reliability and protect the people and property around it. We'll walk through whether they make sense for your specific home during your energy review.