Solar panel installation cause roof leak

wibago · 23-10-2023 10:52pm #1

Last night I got a call from my brother which make me hesitate now.

He has a friend who has installed one 3 years before when NSW is on 60c+ buy back scheme. His friend had the 2kw system (Chinese panels and Chinese inverter) and so far the system has been working OK.

The problem is not with the PV system itself, the problem came after one+ year that his roof start to leak. So far he has asked for 6 trads persons came to look at the problem, none of them can determine what is the cause, of course the problem is not fixed. He also called in the original installer but after inspecting the panels around he claimed it is not his installation that caused the problem. This friend also claimed 80% of his friends who had PV system installed have similar problems, often the leak happened not right after the installation but happened one year or later than one year.

Could people who has your PV system installed one year or more share your experience?

What did you do to safe guard this not happening?

Besides installer selection which is decisive but hard to formula a good process, any technical issues also affecting it. e.g., could mounting kit used affecting it?

How many ways of mounting panels on the roof?

Which one is good or better/best?

Do any of your contract has some clause to cover this kind of potential issues? If you do have, would you mind to share the content?

Does any installer's insurance exist to cover this kind of potential issues?

wibago · 23-10-2023 10:53pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058319372/solar-panel-installation-cause-roof-leak

thanks in advance for any help

con747 · 23-10-2023 11:26pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058319372/solar-panel-installation-cause-roof-leak

Nearly 2 years installed and no issues, you should really post this in a thread on this forum though https://www.boards.ie/categories/renewable-energies Maybe this thread https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058262151/random-renewables-thread#latest

10-10-20 · 24-10-2023 10:22am

Was this a self-install of the panels or did he have a contractor fit them?

Is it located in Ireland or elsewhere? It's just that you talk about NSW and Chinese panels, you're making me think that it's in Australia that this has happened. If that's the case then roofs in Australia are slightly different to ours in Ireland, but the concept is the same.

Any leak issues with roof mounted panels are typically down to how the roof tiles were either cut or installed around the mounting hooks. These hooks must run under the tile and onto the rafter, so if they are badly placed or installed in a poor manner then water can penetrate the roof, right past the sarking/membrane.

To fix leak issues - it's a matter of removing the panels over the affected area and either moving the hooks and replacing or relaying the tiles.

Is it common with solar? I'd say not with professionally installed panels, no.