Solar panels are an attractive option to homeowners who are environmentally-conscious or who want the long-term energy savings they provide. One common hesitation to installing solar panels on the roof of your home is a concern about roof leaks. To begin, working with qualified solar and roofing professionals is one of the best ways to ensure your roof will not leak when you have solar panels installed. But like with most anything related to a home, once in a while, there might be a problem with the installation or natural aging of your home or one of its systems, and a repair is needed. If you have solar panels installed on your roof and have developed a leak, it’s time to get in touch with your solar installers or roofing professionals to determine the reason for the leak. In this blog post, we’re discussing four reasons your roof may leak from solar panels.
Common Reasons a Roof Leaks from Solar Panels
If you have had a roof inspection by your solar panel expert and your Austin roofer to determine where and why your roof is leaking from your solar panels, the reason will likely fall into one of these four categories.
- Poor Installation. While leaks are rare with a good solar panel installation, your panels might have been installed by someone you didn’t hire (e.g. you purchased a home with solar panels already in place). If your roof is starting to leak near your solar panels, make sure to locate a reputable solar panel company to make the repairs to your solar panel installation. The repairs needed could range from repairing, resealing, or making minor adjustments to even needing a new section of roofing shingles.
- Old Roof. If your solar panels were installed over an older roof, you could certainly develop problems. Make sure to have your roof inspected by a professional roofing company before the solar panel installers introduce a new solar setup to your home. An old roof is susceptible to leaks in general. Adding in more drilling, holes, and upcoming weather could set you up for failure.
- Roofing Construction. If you have wood, ceramic, or clay tiles on your roof, you could have problems with a solar panel roofing leak. Solar panels might not lay properly on this type of roof layout. Again you should have a review from both contractors and talk with them about whether your current roof shingles are appropriate for this type of solar setup.
- Damaged. Existing roof damage prior to having solar panels installed is never a good idea. Solar panels will not provide protection from weather and wind; a good roof will do that. Make sure you have a sturdy, well-constructed roof to put your solar panels on.
Post-Solar Panel Installation
Once your solar panels are installed and running, consider having your Austin roofer come back for a final inspection and review of your roof. This can go a long way to making sure your investment is installed well and to avoid worry going forward.
On the slight chance you notice an immediate leak, have both solar panel installation and roofing teams back out to give a thorough look and make any repairs quickly.
Your Favorite Austin Area Roofing Professionals
We strive to bring you the best in roofing for the Austin, Texas area. We deliver decades of roofing experience, training, and knowledge in this area’s needs. We are a prominent roofing company in residential roof repair and roof replacement. We will not ask for a deposit on labor or materials as a dependable way to stand out from the competition while bringing you the best product and service in Austin.
When we inspect, install, or repair your roof, we want to provide you with the best options for your roof design, components, and ventilation. We are Master Elite Contractors bringing you the latest in roofing technology, and a member of our local area Better Business Bureau, so you know we take pride in our work and our community.
Contact us by phone or email to schedule your FREE roofing inspection and quote today.
