Replacing Your Roof With Solar Panels: What Are Your Options
Have you finally decided to switch to solar with your home? Not only are solar panels environmentally friendly, but you can also save on your electricity bill.
You might be wondering about the options you have when replacing roof with solar panels. Were here to help you figure it all out.
There are a few things that you need to take into consideration before you go on to replace your roof with solar panels. Assess the condition of your roof, look into the different solar options, and dont forget to do a proper cost analysis beforehand.
This may seem like a lot, but dont stress out. Well run you through the details, step by step.
Diy Solar Panel Removal
Not for the faint of heart, DIY solar panel removal is a daunting task that requires a lot of expertise and potentially unavoidable certifications to do the job properly. It is possible to go this route if you own your own system, but remember that if something were to go wrong, you would be the one holding the bag.
Following our solar panel installation basics in reverse, here are the steps necessary to remove your system:
If you are not a certified electrician, it is unlikely that you could legally perform any of the electrical disconnects yourself. Hiring an electrician to assist with safely disconnecting your system could allow you to remove the panels on your own time then and at that point, it would purely be a disassembly and repair project.
The Process For Removing And Reinstalling Solar Panels
The process is simple. After youve selected a trained professional, they will come to your property to safely de-energize your system. Then they will get to work removing the panels, racking/mounting hardware, and any wiring thats on the roof. This will be stripped down to a point that will keep your property safe as well as make it as easy as possible to reinstall. Ask the team removing the panels to fill any roof penetrations left behind from lag bolts or screws with some type of roofers cement. This will help prevent moisture intrusion before your roofers arrive.
After the roof repair is complete, the solar installers will return as soon as possible to reinstall the racking, wiring, and panels. Your system will then be reenergized after the system is once again in a safe working condition.
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Problems With Pool Solar Leaking Water On Roof
There is one issue specific to your pool solar system compared to all solar systems. And that is, your solar panels can leak water onto your roof.
When It Can Happen
This can easily happen over time since the small rubber tubes dry out and crack. Also, this can easily happen during the installation process or when people are on the roof.
During the installation process, someone can easily hit a small rubber tube which causes a costly leak. Moreover, if someone were to accidentally step on the tubes, this can again cause a leak.
Detection of Leaks
It is quite common for these leaks to go undetected causing higher prices in your water bill. For this reason, you should inspect your solar panels yearly.
Damage To The Roof
While water is leaking onto your roof and draining down, your roof gets more worn in these areas. This means you are more likely to get leaks in these areas faster than other areas of your roof.
Final Thoughts on Problems With Pool Solar
You should continuously inspect pool solar panels so you can stop leaks early. Also, you should consider the extra cost on water and wear on your roof from possible leaks.
Cost To Remove Solar Panels To Replace Roof
On average, the cost of removing and reinstalling 14 to 16 solar panels from a 1,500 sq.ft. roof is $2,000 to $3,000, not including roof replacement. Labor makes most of the cost. It generally takes three to five days to remove the panels and eight to ten days to replace them once the new roof is installed. Removing a roof is best undertaken by a licensed and certified roofing professional. In most cases, the company that replaces your roof wont be the company that removes your panels. However, some companies offer roofing and solar panel services.
Removing the panels is easy to do, but a skilled contractor should do it. The most important thing for a contractor to do is to disconnect the solar system from the power supply, including the grid, the breakers, and the metering appliance. After this, the individual panels need to be detached from one another. Once all the parts are disconnected, the panels are removed from the rooftop mounting hardware and carefully lowered to the ground. Mounting hardware, electrical cables, and wires are then removed from the roof.
Several factors affect the removal costs. The location of the panels may increase removal costs because contractors may require additional hours or extra laborers for more difficult locations. If your roof pitch is steep, this requires more time and labor to remove the panels and increases costs. Finally, a larger array of solar panel systems takes more time for removal, increasing labor and driving up costs.
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Selecting A Solar Pool Heater
A solar pool heating system usually costs between $2,500 and $4,000 to buy and install. This provides a payback of between 1 and 7 years, depending on your local fuel costs and available solar resource. They also typically last longer than gas and heat pump pool heaters. Your actual cost and payback depend on many factors. Therefore, before you purchase and install a solar pool heating system, you should do the following:
- Evaluate your site’s solar resource
- Determine the correct system size
- Determine the correct orientation and tilt for the collector
- Determine the system’s efficiency
- Investigate local codes, covenants, and regulations.
Roof Leaks With Solar Pool Heaters
We are asked frequently about the potential for roof leaks by prospective solar pool heating buyers, and understandably so. The roof over your head, and the house under it, are precious. The headache of a leak can by frustrating and expensive. So how do we address this major concern?
Properly installed solar panels will provide leak-free and worry-free performance.
First, it is important to note that the solar pool heating industry as a whole does not have a major roof leak issue. If it did, the industry would not be booming. Professional solar contractors are very good at making sure proper techniques are used, and materials and sealants have come a long way. If you read about roof leaks from solar pool heaters, its probably an older system, or it was just done wrong. In the local Southwest Florida market, frankly, the whole industry is pretty good about ensuring roofs are protected, but problems do occur occasionally.
Although there is a very low chance you will experience and issue, we do a lot more to ensure you have a trouble-free experience than others.
Most prospective buyers are worried about the solar panel attachments and the fasteners used to attach solar panels to the roof. The insiders secret is that this should really be the least of your worries . The real worry should be:
- Panel couplings rubbing into shingles.
- PVC Plumbing rubbing into shingles.
- At fittings
- At hips and ridges
- Elevating Plumbing off Roof
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In Ground Pool Solar Panel Installation:
Installing an inground solar pool heater will take more time than the above ground units, because you need to do a little plumbing, and you will have more panels to connect together. Consult our solar panel chart to order the suggested amount of solar panels, which should be at least 50% of your pools surface area.
As illustrated in the pictures on top of the page, you dont have to mount these solar panels on the roof of your house, if you dont have a suitable roof location that receives at least 6 hours per day of direct sun. You can build a rack somewhere in the yard, or even on the back of your fence. It need not be next to the pool pump, although the further away from the pump, the more you will spend on plumbing pipes running to and from the panels. Perhaps a patio gazebo, providing a shady spot for relaxation and an out of the way location to mount your solar panels.
Issues With All Solar Panels
Now above was just specific to pool solar systems, but what about all solar systems including pool solar?
Solar Panels = More Penetrations = More Roof Leaks
This one is often overlooked. While most solar companies may claim they leave their installation leak free, leaks will develop over time.
As a purchaser, you will need to understand your roof will need more maintenance and more repairs over time because you have more roof penetrations.
Honestly, as a home inspector, almost every solar panel I have inspected that is 5+ years old, has developed leaks.
Removing & Re-Installing Panels During Reroofs
Again, another common problem with solar panels that is often overlooked. If you have solar panels installed and say your roof has 10 years of life left, you will have to pay extra to have the solar panels removed and reinstalled.
If you do order solar panels for your roof, be sure to do it after a new roof is installed. . If not, understand the costs involved for removing them and reinstalling the panels.
Annual Maintenance & Inspections
Solar panels are not installed once and then forgotten about. Most manufacturers will recommend yearly inspections. Also, it may be wise to have yearly inspections on your roof.
Having maintenance and inspections on your solar system will enable you to gain more life from the solar panels, and from your roof.
You should think about the budget adjustments you may need if you have to have maintenance and inspections every year.
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Solar Pool Panels Sliding Off Roof
Why solar pool heating panels slide off a roof is usually due to poor installation hardware or practices. Solar panels should be securely affixed to your roof surface for the lifetime of the system with hardware made to withstand the elements. Sometimes we find solar panels hanging off a roof or falling down when a homeowner reports something doesnt look right.
The pictures below are a competitors system that uses a Z-bar where plastic clips act as header clamps that are supposed to keep the panel securely fastened to the roof. There are multiple problems with this installation hardware that were discovered long ago. The first is that the metal Z-bar causes water to dam up above it and can cause roof leaks. Debris also gets trapped in the lip above the metal bracket. In addition, the plastic clips that hold up the headers have a tendency to fail, breaking off and allowing the whole system to slide down the roof.
- Solar panels sliding down the roof.
- Solar panels hanging off the edge of the roof.
- Solar panels slide off the roof when installation hardware fails.
Other manufacturers have different issues including broken header straps, fasteners pulling out of the roof altogether, and various workmanship issues that cause header brackets to twist with expansion and contraction.
The iSwim Bracket Keeps Solar Panels From Sliding Off Roof
What Roof Maintenance Is Required
Yes, it is a good idea to factor in roof maintenance if you are considering having solar pool strip heating installed on your metal or tiled roof.
We strongly recommend you regularly check the system for any splits or damage which may lead to leaks. We recently attended to reported roof leaks at a property that had a tiled roof. The pools solar strip system had developed a couple of splits enabling the salt water to run across the roof tiles and into the metal valleys. The resulting corrosion meant replacement of the damaged tiles and valleys was necessary. See our pics.
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Can You Reuse The Same Equipment When Reinstalling Solar Panels
In most cases, we will be able to reuse your existing equipment. There may be some components that we are not able to reuse, but the main components, panels, and racking will be reused.
This is a big reason to hire trained professionals to complete the removal and reinstall for you. We recommend first contacting the company that installed your project. They will be the most familiar with your systems design. The second option is to select another highly qualified company in your area.
Do-it-Yourself solar panel removal and reinstallation may be an option for a qualified and trained person, but we highly recommend not doing this because of the many risks it presents. First of all, unhooking and reconnecting solar equipment is a safety hazard for anyone that hasnt received the proper training. Also, the equipment can be damaged if not handled properly. This could void your warranties with the equipment manufacturer and your installer, which could end up being costly down the road.
Temporary Removal Of Panels To Fix Roof Damage
The main issue is that Vivint Solar requires $500 just to temporarily remove two panels that’s the same cost as completely removing the entire system per my purchasing agreement. I am however not requesting removal of “the system”, just two panels. I do not understand why a 2 billion dollar company will not pro-rate the temporary removal cost and basically hold my roof hostage. Vivint’s customer service is awful. After countless calls and hours wasted, nothing has happened and I am unable to repair my damaged roof. Water has been coming in every time it rains since May 2017. In short, Vivint could care less.#2sensij#3J.P.M.View Post#5jpeg9999View Postcebury#11
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Solar Panel Removal & Reinstall Services In Arizona & California
Alternative Energy, Diamond Solar Inc , and SunPower® have teamed up together to bring you the most affordable solar panel removal & reinstall, solar panel repair, solar installation, off-grid solar systems, residential solar panels, solar batteries for home & business, solar air conditioning, solar carports & canopies, commercial solar panels, solar EV charging stations, solar panel repair, and other very effective energy saving products & services.
Our Solar Panel Removal & Reinstall Service area in California includes: Los Angeles, Anaheim, Oxnard, Thousand Oaks, La County, Orange County, Ventura County, San Bernardino, Riverside, Temecula, Palm Springs, Palaverde, Palm Desert, Indio, and more. We offer solar panels in La County, Orange County, Ventura County, San Bernardino County, Riverside County, and more areas in California.
Getting Started With Solar
If you are concerned that you may need roof repairs but are also looking to have solar power added to your home, contact us today. POWERHOME offers a simple three-step solar installation process to get started.
First, we will determine if your home qualifies for solar power. Next, we will schedule an on-site inspection to evaluate your familys power needs and usage. From there, our solar experts will draft a customized proposal for the type of solar panel installation you will need. That way, you will know how much your solar roof will cost.
Before the installation process begins, our solar experts will carefully examine your roof, identifying any damage that may need to be fixed to avoid any need for solar panel removal in the near future.
If repairs are needed, we will schedule a time to get started before we begin the solar panel installation process. Our GAF-certified team can complete roof repairs in a timely fashion. Once any needed repairs have been completed, we will schedule a day for solar panel installation.
With the 100% solar financing options and $0 money down2 deal available to qualified homeowners, theres no reason that you shouldnt get started with solar today.
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Are Solar Panels Worth It Since I Have To Re
Yes, solar panels are still worth it in Arizona can save the average homeowners upwards of $25,000 over the next 25 years alone. With the average cost of solar panel removal and reinstall being around $3,750, that still makes your solar panels savings around $21,250 dollars over the next 25 years. Learn more about how much solar panels cost vs savings. Furthermore, solar panels can increase your home value in some areas by 2-3%.
Solar Panel Removal Cost
On average, it solar panel removal costs about $500 with average prices ranging from $400 to $600 in the US for 2020 according to HomeAdvisor. They also add another $200 for shipping equipment off site and $600 for uninstalling the solar panel mounting hardware, putting your closer to around $1,000 total to remove solar panels. HomeAdvisor estimates another $800 to get your roof work completed.
Total estimated costs to remove and reinstall solar panels costs about $714, with average prices ranging from $195 to $1,236 in the US for 2021 according to HomeAdvisor.
Common reasons homeowners choose to remove solar panels include:
- Transferring the system to another home
- Repairing, replacing or improving their roofing systems
- Getting rid of a broken or outdated solar system
- Updating to a brand new solar system
- Replacing solar panels
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