Roof Leak After Solar Panels: Who Is Responsible and What to Do

Can solar panels cause a roof leak?

The panels themselves do not leak. The mounts that hold them do, because each one is a hole through your roof that has to be sealed.

Most rooftop solar systems sit on rails, and the rails sit on mounts. Each mount is fastened through the roofing and into the wood below. IronRidge, a maker of solar mounts, describes its FlashFoot2 mount as a flashing, a lag bolt (a heavy screw) and a cap. It says the flashing is 8 by 12 inches and that the seal is built in three tiers: a raised platform that diverts water, a stack that lifts the seal about 1 inch, and a cap that covers the seal. The company says the mount passed a wind-driven rain test, TAS-100.

That is one well-designed part. The roof still depends on the installer setting it right: flashing in the correct place under the roofing, the bolt landing in a rafter, and the seal sound. A typical home array has dozens of these mounts, plus wiring that has to pass through the roof or wall somewhere. More holes means more chances for one to leak.

Who it affects: any homeowner with panels on a shingle, tile or metal roof. When it shows up: often after the first heavy or wind-driven rain, but also years later when a seal ages. Where: around the mounts, wiring openings and the edges of the array.

Coastline Roofing repairs and replaces roofs. We do not install or service solar panels, so this page covers the roof side and points you to the right people for the rest.

What should you do if your roof leaks after solar panels?

Document it, contact the installer in writing, and keep the roof from getting worse while you wait.

1. Slow the water and protect the home

   Put buckets and towels under drips. Move belongings. If a leak cannot wait, a temporary repair or tarp can hold it. See how to slow a leak until help comes. Do not go on the roof.

2. Photograph and write down everything

   Take dated photos of the ceiling, the attic and, from the ground or a window, the array. Note the date, the weather and the wind. This is your record.

3. Check the attic safely

   If you can, look under the roof near the mounts for wet wood or insulation. Step only on joists and stay away from any wiring. Our guide to checking your attic for a roof leak shows how.

4. Contact the installer in writing

   Send an email with the photos and dates. Ask for a visit and a written plan. Keep the reply. Check your contract and warranty for how long the installer's workmanship terms last.

5. Get an independent roof report

   A roofer's written photo report tells you if the roof under and around the panels is sound. That helps in a talk with the installer. See roof inspections.

6. Do not let anyone patch it blind

   A bead of sealant over a leak may stop it for a month and hide the cause. Ask for the cause, in writing, with photos.

How can you avoid a roof leak when you add solar?

Get the roof checked first, and ask about the roof holes in writing.

The U.S. Department of Energy tells homeowners to think about when the roof will need replacing, and to talk to qualified installers who meet local building, fire and electrical codes. Its page on going solar does not cover roof warranties, so ask your installer directly. Questions worth asking before you sign:

• How many roof holes will there be, and how is each one flashed and sealed?
• Who covers a leak at a mount, and for how many years? Get it in writing.
• Will the installer pull a permit and pass inspection?
• What is the plan if the roof needs repair or replacement later?
• Can a roofer inspect the roof before the panels go on?

A written roof report before the install gives you a starting record. Read more about roof repair, partial roof replacement and what each costs on roof inspection cost.