Vent in way of panel

...Ghost...

Getting solar this month. 9 planned panels, but looks like the final panel has the soil stack/vent in the way, at the bottom corner of the roof. It might be just at the edge, or the panel edge might need more space.

What are the options if the stack is in the way of the panel?

First thought is to cut it down low enough for the panel to clear the top of the stack, or so it doesn't cast a shadow over the panel if the panel has enough space to fit above it. I've looked at a few neighbours roofs. Some stacks are cut very low and some have been moved to the side of the house and are externally fixed.

Gusser09

Covering vents is a big no no for the grant. You will probably have to go with one less panel. For the sake of a pile of work on the vent id leave it as is.

DC999

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058338697/vent-in-way-of-panel

Send a pic so we can see what you mean. I got our installer to cut the soil stack to the height of the roof so it wouldn't shade the panels. It's still high enough we don 't get any smell from it and low enough it can never shade the panels.

...Ghost...

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121842865#Comment_121842865

My own stack is blocked by a shed on street view, but here is one a few doors down. Mine is slightly taller, but in exact same spot.

Jonathan

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121842948#Comment_121842948

What type of vent is it? Boiler or bathroom?

monseiur

If you're not sharing a gable with neighbour (as in semi d ) you could remove vent and extend & redirect it to exit thru gable end.

the_amazing_raisin

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121842948#Comment_121842948

You can go right up to the stack, had a similar issue on my roof but the installer was just barely able to get the full row of panels in

...Ghost...

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121842962#Comment_121842962

It's the soil stack, so bathroom.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121843067#Comment_121843067

Yeah, it's at my gable end, so not nonnected to neighbours.

I don't know if the work involved to divert it through the gable would be worth he cost. It's a tight space and the attic is converted, so access while available is awkward.

the_amazing_raisin

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121843770#Comment_121843770

I could be wrong, but does the soil stack need to be vertical? I've never seen a horizontal one

It could exit the wall and then have a short vertical run if needed

Is it definitely in the way of the panels? I'd be tempted to chance it if there's a few centimetres of wiggle room on the other side

I think you can go to 15-20cm of a party line on the roof, so I'd be surprised if they can't fit them all

...Ghost...

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121843865#Comment_121843865

The top is always vertical.

I'd have to climb onto the roof to get exact measurements. My current ones are reasonably accurate, but it's hard to be sure, as it's pretty close.

the_amazing_raisin

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121843972#Comment_121843972

You could try counting the roof tiles, if you know the width of one then you could estimate the width available

...Ghost...

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121844286#Comment_121844286

I've got the measurement to within a couple of cm. That's how tight the question is. I've got a coupe of ideas, but I suppose I just wanted to know if there were others who had a similar issue and what solutions they came up with, short of deleting a panel.

I managed to take a screen shot of my roof on street view at an angle. It's a bit distorted though. The panels I have numbered in order they are on the string. Panels 1-3 are in portrait orientation and 6-9 are landscape. Panel 9 would be right up against the stack if it even fits.

I think the best solution (if it doesn't fit) is to shift panels 2, 3, 4 & 9 a little higher. I have about 10cm or maybe a little more above the velux window line I could utilise. It would create a split in the line, but would solve the problem. I could probably have the whole array shifted up a few cm. I was using the header of ther velux as my upper limit, because it is so close to the roof top.

See sketch below which is to scale, except for stack size and location which I just guesstimated.

What do you think?

DC999

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121844608#Comment_121844608

I think cut it. I did. Shading issues gone forever

...Ghost...

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121844650#Comment_121844650

I will be cutting it regardless if the panel fits up against it or not. My real question relates to putting a panel over it (panel would be about 2cm atop the vent) vs diverting the vent away from the panel. My concern is gases leaching from under the panel and exiting near the velux window, so on that basis, I think I will avoid having the vent under the panel.

Pataman

Can you access the pipe inside the house?

If so you can cut it down and put an air admittance valve on it

https://www.drainagepipe.co.uk/soil-and-waste/how-to-use-an-air-admittance-valve/

screwfix sell them

...Ghost...

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121850326#Comment_121850326

Possibly. I have an access door into the eaves. Though I might now reconsider my approach of having a panel over the vent if push comes to shove. If this valve stops gases escaping, I won't have to worry about them creeping under the panels toward the velux. Thanks for that.

graememk

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121851196#Comment_121851196

As far as I can understand the vent is to allow air in, so it doesn't siphon all the water out of the drains/toilet when you flush the toilet.

...Ghost...

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121851248#Comment_121851248

That's exactly it. It has to be there, or all kinds of nasty problems could arise, including difficulties in flushing waste away. If I can keep the vent on the roof without moving it and if I can fit that valve with enough room for the pv panel to sit a couple cm above it, that would be ideal. The vent would still work as intended and would also keep the smells trapped.

the_amazing_raisin

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121851248#Comment_121851248

It's both, let's air out as well to stop a pressure wave ahead of the water pushing gases out of other traps

ShadowSA

Looks like your one ridge tile is damaged or missing btw. :)

...Ghost...

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121877830#Comment_121877830

No, it's there. They all look like that on my street. I think it's some sort of vent ridge tile in the middle of every semi-d.