Solar · Updated 2026-04-25
Do I need critter guard for solar panels on Long Island?
If your home is wooded — common across Suffolk County — yes. Squirrels and birds nesting under panels chew DC wiring and roofing felt; mesh critter guard costs roughly $10–$15 per linear foot installed.
Long Island's eastern grey squirrel population is dense in tree-shaded neighborhoods (most of Huntington, Smithtown, central Brookhaven). The 2–4 inch gap between the module frame and the roof is a textbook squirrel den, and chewed DC conductors trip arc-fault detection or, worse, start fires. Galvanized-steel critter guard clipped to the perimeter of the array is the standard, code-compatible fix.
Common follow-up questions
Why squirrels and not just birds?
Birds (especially pigeons and starlings) nest under panels too, but squirrels do the structural damage. Their incisors grow continuously, so they chew on insulated DC conductors, roofing felt, and racking standoff bolts to wear them down. Insurance carriers report rising rodent-related solar claims since the early-2020s LI building boom.
Will critter guard void my Tesla / Sunrun / Enphase warranty?
Reputable installers use UL 2703-listed critter guard kits clipped to the existing rail (no roof penetrations, no electrical splices), which the major OEMs treat as a non-warranty-impacting accessory. Always have it installed by a licensed solar contractor — punching new holes through flashing or roofing voids both the racking and the roof warranty.
How long does installation take, and does PSEG LI need to know?
A critter-guard retrofit on a typical 6–10 kW array is a 4–6 hour job for a 2-person crew, no electrical work. Because it doesn't change system size or interconnection equipment, it doesn't trigger a PSEG Long Island re-application — but the work should still be documented for your insurance and warranty file.
By the numbers
Related services
Towns we cover
References
Need help with this on Long Island?
NovaLee Solutions is a licensed roofing, solar, and electrical contractor serving Suffolk County and all of Long Island. Our crew is GAF-certified, Tesla-Powerwall-certified, and Suffolk County master-electrician licensed.