Bad Solar Panel Installations

A couple of years ago steven weissman an energy lawyer at the university of california berkeley started to shop around for solar panels for his house.

Bad solar panel installations.

That higher resistance means higher temperatures resulting in hot spots that can eventually cause damage to individual cells or the entire panel. Yes there are legitimate installers that will put free solar panels for your home. Customers of vivint solar for instance complained to the california attorney general about the company s false promises and misleading sales offers. The system in this photo not only has loose wires the wires aren t even under the panels so they re exposed to the elements and likely to wear away over time not to mention unsightly.

For most homeowners installing solar panels will not result in roof damage as long as your solar installer is a licensed qualified professional and your roof is in good condition. One reported being promised savings of 20 30 percent on their electric bill but after solar panels were installed the bill actually increased by 80 percent the first month and 100 percent. In the case of panels that cause leaking however the problem can be a bit deeper. Rubbing can wear off the wire s protective insulation creating a major safety hazard.

If you hear of roof damage occurring because of a solar installation it s likely because the roof was initially in poor condition. It seemed like an environmental no brainer. But the catch is that they require you to enter into a solar lease or power purchasing agreement ppa. Learn more about diy solar and how you can save.

The good news is that beyond that initial investment solar panel. Manufacturing defects such as bad solder joints or stresses that cause microcracks in the solar cells can result in areas of the panel that have higher electrical resistance. For most people experiencing solar panel problems the issue is as simple as incorrect wiring dirty materials or reduced panel efficiency. Ever seen a solar company promote an offer for free solar panels the offer sounds too good to be true and unfortunately it is.

Since well installed solar panels should never cause a roof to leak the culprit here is typically incorrect installation or shoddy workmanship. The average cost to install a system of solar panels is anywhere from 15 000 to 25 000 per the center for sustainable energy.