What Happens to Your Solar Panels During a Roof Replacement?
Replacing your roof is challenging enough without worrying about the impact on your solar panel system. Rest assured, a stress-free process is possible with a little planning and help from PacWest Solar, the region’s trusted solar company. We’ll fill you in on what happens to your solar panels during a roof replacement, and how to protect your solar investment while re-roofing your East Washington home.
Steps to roof replacement with solar panels
1. Coordinate timing with your roofing contractor
2. Remove and store solar panels before roofing work begins
3. Reinstall and test solar panels after roof replacement
4. Protect your solar panel warranty
Schedule Your Re-Roofing Date
After selecting a trusted local roofing services provider, discuss your project timeline, including the expected start and end dates, to ensure timely residential solar panel removal and minimize solar power system downtime. Are you wondering whether you can replace a roof without removing solar panels and keep producing power? Unfortunately, you cannot. Roofers need complete access to all roof surfaces to ensure worker safety and a lasting roof replacement. Removing solar panels allows roofers to identify and address decking, underlayment, and flashing issues that system components can block. Solar panel removal also protects your equipment from damage caused by foot traffic, tools, and debris, and ensures proper waterproofing around mounting points to prevent leaks after reinstallation.
Remove and Store Solar Panels Before Roof Replacement
Your solar panel installer, not you or your roofer, must remove solar panels during roof replacement to ensure safety, prevent system damage, and safeguard your warranty. Solar panel removal services by our experienced, certified team follow manufacturer-approved guidelines, including:
Solar panel disconnection
After mapping and photographing your system layout for insurance documentation needs and future reconstruction, we’ll safely shut down and disconnect your solar array from your inverters and the local grid.
Equipment removal
Next, we’ll carefully uninstall panels, mounting hardware, and labeled wiring, taking it down from the roof.
Safe solar panel storage
After removing solar panels for roof replacement, we will pack and store them safely in a predetermined, protected area, on or off-site, for the duration of roof maintenance and installation.
Reinstall Solar Panels After Roof Replacement and Test the System
After your roofing company finishes your project, we’ll reinstall your solar power system and return every component to its original location. This includes reattaching solar panel mounting hardware atop new flashing, as well as restoring the electrical and grounding system, inverters, monitoring equipment, battery storage system, and grid connections. After reinstallation, we’ll conduct a solar panel health check to ensure your system performs exactly as it did before removal and reinstallation.
Will Roof Replacement Affect Your Solar Panel Warranty?
Premium Talesun solar panels from PacWest Solar include a 25-year panel warranty. However, removing your system can invalidate your warranty if not done by your solar panel installer or another licensed professional in accordance with the manufacturer’s procedures. The cost for these services is minimal compared to your investment. In many cases, insurance will help offset the expense, especially for storm-related damage. Professional services offer protection and peace of mind that your home solar panel investment will serve you far into the future.
Ensure Your Solar System Operates Exactly as It Did Before Re-Roofing
What happens to your solar panels during a roof replacement? With professional help from PacWest Solar, not a scratch! Safeguard your system and ensure trouble-free operation after re-roofing. Contact us at 509-929-2728 to coordinate solar panel removal and reinstallation services for re-roofing in Kootenai County (Athol, Coeur d’Alene, Dalton Gardens, Fernan Lake Village, Harrison, Hayden Lake, Huetter, Post Falls), Spokane County (Airway Heights, Cheney, Deer Park, Liberty Lake, Medical Lake, Millwood, Spangle, Spokane), or Pullman today.