Squirrels were getting on our roof and eating the insulation on the wiring for our solar panels. Our electric utility kindly installed them for us. They say they use them on some of their facilities, so I'm optimistic they will work for me.
Thanks Michael, Appreciate the photo as well!
Easy to install with an aerial lift and is very effective.
Hi Darrell,
Thanks for this review! The utilities use a 'bucket truck' to work on overhead lines (including installing our Line Guard), but its not so typical for a homeowner to have access to one of those, unless you can get a contractor who has one. The aerial lift (typically available at many equipment rental locations) are a GREAT alternative. I'm glad you had some success! THANKS!
The cut ends on tubes were not smooth, I needed to sand them so that they would spin better and not wear into the power lines over time.
Hi Gerald,
Thanks for the review. Sorry about the burrs on the cut edges, but you don't need to worry about a plastic 'burr' cutting into the power line (or insulation on the power line). We had an independent 3rd party lab test that very thing to see if the effect of continuous spinning the rollers would cut into or wear into the power line. Short answer is its not possible. However, its good that you noticed as we do recommend that the rollers NEED to be able to spin freely and independently on the line once installed, so if you believed those burrs would impact the ability of the roller to spin, its great to sand them down a bit.
Thanks again and here's to a squirrel-free winter!
Thanks Mr. Kim. We look forward to working with you to continue supplying our products into South Korea!
Amazing product but even better customer service. I had an emergency with some squirrels destroying my siding, and worked with the staff at Critter Guard to decide on the right solution and expedite my order. Thank you!!
Thanks Michael. Once the squirrels 'find' your house, it seems they just keep coming until you block their access. That's what we do!
Appreciate your feedback!
This is such a great product.
It looks professional and is 100% effective.
Thanks Joshua. 25 years of success in battling squirrels. Glad you're happy!
After posting my initial review (see below), Critter Guard contacted me to offer an additional set of rollers and wheels to supplement the existing system. We decided to install three more rollers to the electric line, with an extra wheel on the roller from which the squirrel parkoured. We decided to add two rollers before the first wheel so that the squirrels would have to first get on an unstable surface before attempting to jump the first wheel.
So far, I've seen no squirrels attempt to get to the house via the electrical line, though the weather has not been conducive for squirrels wanting to get on the roof (either blazing hot or pouring rain). But I'm optimistic that this extended setup will help to deter the squirrels from getting to the roof from the electrical and FiOS lines.
The customer service from Critter Guard is impressive. Our first package didn't include the hot line clamps we'd ordered. I called Critter Guard, and they sent them next-day air so that our electrician could install them the following day. Getting an additional set of rollers and wheels to make the system more suitable for our acrobatic squirrels was a very generous and much appreciated gesture.
Our electricians had never installed something like this, but they found the system easy to install. The installation instructions are good, and the videos make them better. Both electricians asked us to share any videos in which we catch squirrels falling off the electrical line. I can't wait to capture such a video so I can share it far and wide!
Initial review:
I like the product. It was fairly easy to install, and it looks like it should have deterred squirrels.
The squirrels definitely hesitated for a bit. But then they leaped over the wheel, parkoured off the middle roller, and leaped over the final wheel to the open wire.
At least it slowed down the squirrel highway. Maybe more rollers would cause them to not be able to cross. Maybe a roller with a wheel in the middle, so that they need to get more air. Or maybe that would just train them to be more acrobatic than they already are.
Hi Sarah,
Thanks for the review. Would you mind sending me a picture of both installations? I'm curious why the squirrels are 'taking a run at it'.
That said, we do have a few customers who have found success by making the system more of an obstacle course - i.e., adding another wheel in the middle of the set of rollers, or adding more rollers to make the system longer. Let me know if you want to try this.
Also just curious if you have a 'typical' squirrel or another breed of critter? We have some overseas customers who always put 6 rollers in their systems because the breed of critter they deal with is slightly larger than the North American breeds.
Thanks!
Critter Guard
The squirrels at my house took 4 tries before getting across the rollers.
Hi Bill. Thanks for the review.
Why did you not purchase the Line Guard Wheels or the whole Line Guard kit?
We have dozens of customers who protect their bird feeders using two Line Guard systems - one on each side of the suspended bird feeder. The rollers alone will not stop a squirrel because you don't have the 'Wheel' (we call this our Jump Barrier) on each end of the rollers. The wheel forces the squirrel to slow down and try to crawl over the wheel, which spins him upside down, stopping his forward progress. Then if he tries the jump the wheel, its from a standing start, not a running start, and he ends up on roller which then also spins.
The rollers are sold as 'additional' rollers, not as a replacement for the Line Guard kit, as some customers want more than the standard 5 that come with the kit.
I would also recommend moving the spiral cable (was this a previous attempt to prevent squirrel traffic?) further away from the Line Guard system forcing the squirrel to stay on the line itself rather than 'launching' from the spiral. You can purchase the two wheels (or ideally, two sets of wheels since you have two systems) on our site and the standard fasteners and you should be just fine.
Good luck, and let us know any questions.
Thanks!
John
depending on the number of rollers used, the squirrels apparently have the ability to leap over them to access the roof. So extra rollers were added.
Thanks for the review Robert! I'm just curious... I noticed you did not buy the Line Guard kit which includes the 'jump barrier' wheels (only the additional rollers). With the Line Guard kit, the wheels force the squirrel to either crawl over the wheel (which they can't do if it spins properly) or JUMP UP to get over the wheel (rather than out - if the wheel wasn't there) to get past the rollers. This is why we have 5 rollers in that kit. We do have a few customers who feel more comfortable with the 'more rollers is better' philosophy, so I'm glad its working for you! Sometimes creativity is required to outsmart those little critters!
Thanks again!
Ninja Warrior for possums except it is rigged and they can never get across.
Thanks John! Nice to hear from our friends at Adapt in the 'land down under'. We appreciate your efforts in working with Critter Guard throughout Australia and New Zealand!
Shipping time is slow, still haven't received this.
Dear Maria,
We are sorry this shipment took so long to get to you. This package was shipped (by USPS) the next day after your order. USPS advertisement for this shipment was 6 - 10 days. The tracking shows you received this package on Jul 2, which is 3 weeks later. In researching with the post office, it sat somewhere in California from June 13 - Jul 1. We can't get an answer as to why the delay.
The good news is that your product was finally found and delivered to you. We hope you enjoy the protection that Line Guard provides, and appreciate your business! Let us know if you have any other questions.
Squirrels would get on our roof, but I installed CRITTER GUARD and now I can’t wait to watch the squirrels try to get onto our roof. I think CRITTER GUARD is the best product since ice cream….
Thanks for this William! Nice to hear from you and glad you enjoy Line Guard for Triplex. Don't forget to send us a short video if you can!
our customer was quite pleased with them.
Always great to hear from you all at BelVolt Sales. As a long time Canadian distributor for Critter Guard products we appreciate your support!
Noticed an issue with red squirrels following the power line to my house to get onto my roof. Picked up a set of critter guards, and attached them to the line. The effect was immediate, they couldn't get past the spinning rollers, and it provided a few hours of decent entertainment as they tried repeatedly. They've now given up, and I can rest a little easier knowing they no longer have easy access. Thank you!
Hi Francis,
Thanks so much for the 5 star review! Glad you had success. And yes, it's fun watching them get frustrated!
We'd love it, and I know visitors to this site love it, when customers send in their cell phone pics or videos of the critters getting frustrated. Would very much appreciate if you have anything you can share!
THANKS AGAIN!
I installed a set on my 220v line leading to the house. With in one day it stopped a squirrel. They have been up for a few weeks and not one animal has made it up to the house. Work as advertised.
Hi Martin, Sorry for the late reply. Glad you had success!
We have a theory.... once a squirrel gets 'defeated' by Line Guard, they have this secret messaging system to tell all the other squirrels 'don't go that way'!
Thanks again!
The critter guard was easy to install by my handyman.
We laughed and delighted in the vision of the squirrels "using it".
Fortunately, it seems to have done the job. No more squirrels eating away at my house siding.
And, I love the sleek, "out of this world" design.
I highly recommend this product.
Thanks Betsy! Glad you had success!
I purchased a home with roof solar panels and the squirrels used to love to play, nest and used the panels as protection. I work for a utility company and understand the damage squirrels can cause to power lines. I purchased the guards with the recommendation of some linemen and I have to save it has saved me. I used to be woken up at all hours to their annoyance on the roof. I haven’t had any loss in solar production. These guards truly were a life saver to my quality of sleep. I HIGHLY recommend them.
Hi Noemi,
Thanks for your review! Line Guard was invented specifically to prevent these annoying pests from damaging roofs. We're glad you're happy!
Seems to be working. Easy assembly and was able to consolidate two coax cables coming from the pole to the house.
Glad to hear it, David! Thanks!
The power line was the only way the squirrels could get onto my roof and then into my attic. The power company would not help. I installed Critter Guard and pointed a video camera at it. I have seen multiple attempts by squirrels to cross it and they have all failed. All is quite in my attic now.
Michael, thanks so much for this review. We have a lot of power companies who are customers, but clearly not all of them are! Glad you had success. Would you be willing to share your videos? We always love these!
I bought the critterguard and it is a good piece of equipment. The PROBLEM is the local membership electricity would not allow me to install it on the line to the house. So what good is it?
That's a shame. BUT -- don't give up yet. Because if you do you that still won't solve your problem.
So here's what we recommend: Call them back and ask to speak to someone in DISTRIBUTION (that's the group that takes care of residential overhead lines). If the Cust. Service rep asks why, tell them you have technical questions about the overhead lines. Ideally you want to speak to someone in operations or maintenance. Tell them what you're trying to do and give them the website of Critter Guard and the EVIDENCE of other utilities throughout the US and globally using the product (going on 20 years now). We have lots of photos and install videos online you can point them to. If they still tell you no, you could try other contractor types - such as tree trimmers or DIY handymen. It's not hard or unsafe to install, but you want someone who can get up there and get access to the line without falling or pulling it down. Anybody with a 'bucket truck' (lift truck) is ideal, and we have thousands of customers who found a way.
If you get a 'real person' at the utility who seems 'on the fence', we're happy to speak with them on your behalf.
Good luck!
I had a squirrels' nest under my solar panels. So none of the usual "one-way doors out of the attic" tricks work. I trimmed a tree and they stopped coming for a while. Then they learned they could climb a power pole a block away, run along the lines and on my house drop, jump on my roof and head for "home".
I asked National Grid for help, and they told me to pound sand. So this turned into a DIY project.
The Line Guard has defeated the wily squirrels. Bullwinkle, you're next!
Thanks!
Thanks Ollie! Glad you had success. Line Guard prevents them from even getting on the roof. The BEST defense!
I am pleased to report that my latest installation has thus far been successful in thwarting one astonishingly savvy squirrel who managed to figure out how to traverse a previous flashing-based abatement installation method that had been effective for 15-20 years prior.
My wife and I donned climbing harnesses and she belayed me up to a tree limb high enough for me to install multiple rollers and wheels on the line between a phone pole in our yard and the drop atop our roof.
In the following days, my wife and I made a point of posting up outside through sundown, just to witness said rodent try to navigate our latest installation. In the first days, we watched him cautiously tread atop said loosely wrapped metal flashing until he encountered the first wheel. We watched him then test the wheel with one paw while struggling to remain balanced with the other three, precariously perched atop an unstable surface roughly 35 feet above deck -- and a stone one at that. Once the squirrel ascertained that the wheel spun freely about the line and he couldn't get a read on the stability of the rollers behind it, we watched with no small measure of glee as he retreated back to the pole. This moment was especially significant in that he had previously managed to grow comfortable enough with the "flashing traverse" to build a nest, which is the "flash point" for yours truly.
My wife and I observed this behavior on two successive evenings. Then, to our utter delight, we haven't seen him again test that particular route, nor have we since seen him in the canopy of our two beloved, mature live oaks.
And so, John, we thank you for your product and we thank you again for flowing us the spare roller, which I left uncut in order to buttress the entire string assembly along a power line running on a ~30-degree pitch (which, as you may know, is harder to protect than a level line).
Dear AG, Thanks for this detail about the squirrel's behavior when they encounter the Line Guard. Our whole philosophy in the product was to create a 'barrier', not just a cover. The squirrel (and most other crawling critters) use the overhead line as a highway to get where they want to go. The Line Guard system BLOCKS this highway. Glad you got to see visual proof!
The device acts as a barrier to prevent animals, including sloths, from crossing power lines and thus prevent them from having access to any specific equipment, in addition to preventing them from having or causing an accident on their way.
Thanks to your assistance, Critter Guard is now working with multiple utilities in Costa Rica. Thanks Luis!
