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5 Ways to Protect Your Solar Panels from Environmental Damage

Here at Solar Bear Tampa, we understand that purchasing and installing solar panels for your home is an investment—one that you want to be sure to protect. It’s true that repairing damaged solar panels can be costly and time-consuming. Taking simple steps to protect your solar panels from damage is not only financially smart, but it should also keep at bay the headache of having to rely on limited solar power while your panels are repaired. 

Here are 5 ways to protect your home’s solar panels from environmental damage. 

Inspect your solar panels’ sealant regularly. 

All standard issue solar panels, such as the ones we sell at Solar Bear Tampa, come prepared with a weather-proofing sealant. After lots of wear and tear, brought on by repeated or excessive inclement weather—hello, hurricane season—your solar panels’ sealant might degrade. If you do not reapply sealant, or have it touched up by professionals, somewhat regularly, this degradation of the sealant leaves your solar panels vulnerable to environmental damage like hail, excessive rain, or wind. Sealant protects the silicone cells of your solar panels. If these get scratched, clouded, or roughed up too much, your panels will not work as effectively, and eventually may not work at all. Keeping an eye on your panels’ sealant is an easy fix to a tough problem that might catch up with you later. 

Trim back any trees or vegetation near the panels. 

Another great way to protect against environmental damage is to make sure to keep any trees, vines, or foliage that grows near or alongside your solar panels trimmed and neat. Unruly branches have the potential to scratch or seriously damage your solar panels, especially in high wind conditions, something we are all too familiar with here in Florida. Likewise, climbing vines that are not managed well have the potential to gum up your solar panel system and cause power outages. Keep the plants around your home under control, and your solar panels will thank you.  

Build retaining walls around any solar panels installed in your yard.

If your home’s solar panels are installed in your yard rather than mounted on top of your roof, there are different measures you’ll want to take to keep them protected from environmental damage. Erosion is a serious threat to these grounded panels and installing retaining walls for support should help them weather whatever the mercurial Tampa Bay weather has to throw at them. 

Install protective measures like critter wire, solar bird netting, or even lightning rods.

Other protective measures like critter wire or solar bird netting can help keep your home’s solar panels free from the wear and tear of outside living, whether brought on by scurrying creatures like squirrels, raccoons, or mice, or inflicted by the nesting of birds like pigeons or sparrows. To fend off lightning strikes from thunderstorms, hurricanes, or tropical storm systems, installing a lightning rod to redirect lightning strikes away from the panels themselves is a good idea, but only if you have it installed by professionals.

Keep the panels clean and take good care of them. 

Ultimately, the best way to fend off environmental wear and tear is to maintain your solar panels well. Don’t neglect regular cleanings, and make sure to keep their surfaces free of debris. The better care you take of your solar panels, the better care they’ll take of you and your family in the long run. 

For more tips on maintaining your solar panels, or to learn how to make the most out of your home’s solar power system, call us at Solar Bear Tampa today, or swing by any of our locations. 

Does Installing Solar Panels Affect My Roof Warranty?

Your roof is one of the most important components of your house and can be very expensive to replace, so when you are considering installing solar panels, it is crucial to understand what your roof’s warranty entails. 

Installing solar panels on a pitched roof involves drilling dozens of holes into the roof, and possible modifications to the shingles, so you may be wondering will installing solar panels affect my roof warranty in any way? We’re glad you asked! Let’s discuss. 

Roof Warranties

Generally, your roof will have two parts to it:

• Installer’s warranty 
• Materials warranty 

The installer’s warranty covers the workmanship of the roof’s installation itself. Though the duration of an installer’s warranties varies, 10 years is the usual standard. 

A materials warranty is provided by the manufacturer of the shingles, tiles, or other roofing products. Depending on the product that your roof is made from, the warranty could range from 25-50 years. 

Failures that occur due to improper installation are covered by the installer’s warranty, and defects in the roofing product are covered by the manufacturer, but only if the product was installed according to the manufacturer’s instructions. 

Related> Roof Quality & Solar Installation 

Racking Systems

There are two types of solar panel racking systems that you will find in use on residential homes. 

For pitched roofed homes, the racking system is mechanically attached with bolts or screws that penetrate the roof. The other is used on flat roofs and is a ballasted racking system that uses weights to keep the solar system in place rather than fasteners. 

High-quality racking systems are designed so that the footing—the part that comes in contact with the roof and requires the use of bolts or screws—is protected with metal flashing and sealed from the elements with waterproofing materials. 

It is possible that solar installations can go wrong, and that your roof can end up with leaks and a voided warranty, but if installed correctly, your solar system should not affect your roof’s warranty. 

Check Before You Begin 

If you still have an installer’s warranty on your roof, consult with your solar installer before beginning the solar installation process. They will let you know what your roofing warranty entails and if the solar installation will void the warranty. They will also know what measures to take to prevent voiding the manufacturer’s warranty. 

Generally, your roofer will want to know what will be used to waterproof the roof after penetration and if the roof’s structure will have the load capacity to take on the additional weight of the solar panels and their racking system. 

Don’t Void Your Warranty 

It is very important when investing in a solar system to choose a reliable and professional company to work with. In most cases, your roof warranty will not be voided by solar installation, but there is a caveat: the solar installer must have done the work correctly. 

Your roof’s warranty could be voided if:

• Your roof was damaged during install, for example, tiles were cracked, or the roofing membrane was compromised. 
• Incorrect fasteners were used to attach footings to your roof
• Low-quality racking systems were used
• No waterproofing features were used 
• The racking system was installed improperly 

These and other mistakes could lead to costly roof damage and leaks, even years down the road. 

After Installation: Perform an Annual Check

At least once a year, inspect your roof (or have your roof inspected.) Look for water damage and any leaks which you will be able to identify as water stains. 

If you do find a leak or issue with your roof, contact the company who installed your system immediately as the damage should be covered by the installer warranty. 

Roof Considerations Before Installing Solar 

A properly installed solar system won’t damage your roof or void your warranty, in fact, solar panels can shield your roof from sun damage and the elements. 

Considerations before going solar:

• Know how old your roof is. If it is still under warranty, know what the warranty entails. 
• If your roof is over 10 years old, consider delaying solar panel installation until you can do a roof replacement at the same time. 
• Understand your solar installer’s warranty. 
• Choose a licensed and trustworthy company. 

Learn More> Ground Mounts Vs. Roof Mounts—What You Should Know

Protect Your Roof: Choose Professional Solar Installation with Solar Bear 

Protect your roof and its warranty by choosing Solar Bear Orlando for your solar system installation. We will take the time to review your roof’s warranty and take precautions during the installation to ensure that the integrity of your roof stays intact.  

Ready to get started? Call Solar Bear Orlando for a solar installation quote today—407-904-7585! 

What Type of Roof Is Best for Solar Panels?

When deciding to install solar panels for your home, the first thing you’ll need to determine is whether you have a good roof for solar. Luckily, even if your roof is not ideal for solar, our experts at Solar Bear Tampa can help find alternate solutions for your solar panel installation needs, depending on your HOA’s rules and regulations regarding solar.

When considering whether your roof is good for solar installation, there are several aspects to keep in mind. 

Roof slant and pitch angle are key because if the angle of the roof is too acute, the solar panels will be difficult to install, and having to mount the heavy crystalline solar panels on a slant will cause them to be less effective overall. On the other hand, if your roof is totally flat, this can pose a problem as well, since solar panels need to be installed on a bit of a slant in order to avoid accumulating water damage. The best roof angle for installing solar panels is between 30 and 45 degrees. 

Another important aspect of your roof to consider is the material it is made out of. Generally speaking, composite roofing solutions like traditional asphalt shingles, are the best material to install solar panels onto, because the material for this type of roofing is typically already installed on a slant, and because the durability of this material makes it a good candidate to support the weight and heft of each solar panel. Another decent roofing material is tile, although this can be difficult and expensive to replace when installation is finished. 

The best option for installing solar panels on your roof, all aspects considered, is a metal standing seam roof. These types of roofs are ideal for solar because they tend to be pitched at the correct angle for solar, because the gauge of the metal can be increased to make sure that the heaviness of the solar panels does not crush or damage the roof. In addition, a metal standing seam roof does not require solar installers to drill into the roof, meaning that there is less overall potential for damage. 

Even if you don’t have a metal standing seam roof, there are plenty of good roofing options for installing solar panels and solar power systems. Even if your roof is not ideal, our team of friendly experts at Solar Bear Tampa can help you determine where in your home or yard is the best place for solar to be installed. Call us today and we will set up a consultation! 

Ground Mounts vs Roof Mounts – What You Should Know

When it comes time to install a solar panel system on your property, you generally have a few options—ground mounted or roof mounted to choose from. There are benefits and drawbacks to both, but either way, you’ll be able to harness the energy from the sun and gain energy independence. 

Our team at Solar Bear discusses how to pick a solar panel mounting system that is best for your living space, budget, and energy needs. Keep reading to learn more! 

Ground Mounted Solar Panels 

No matter what kind of solar panel system that you install, it will work best when it can get as much sunlight as possible. Since we live north of the equator in the United States, the sun leans south. Facing your array towards the true south will capture the optimal amount of daylight and produce the best results.

Getting the perfect alignment for your solar system for a roof-mounted system can be tricky, as your roof likely doesn’t face directly into the sun. 

With a ground-mount system, you can face your solar panels in any direction that you want and align them at an optimal angle, so they point directly towards the sun to soak up the most energy. Ground-mounted systems are the most efficient solar arrays, as they maximize the sun’s rays all day long. They work best in areas that are not shaded by buildings, walls, trees, walls, or signs. 

While more expensive, ground-mounted solar arrays are much more productive, which means you can recoup your investment much faster. 

Here are just some of the pros and cons of a ground-mounted solar panel system:

Pros:

• Easy to access
• Easy to clean
• Easier to troubleshoot
• Stronger racking overall
• The system is not confined to the dimensions of the roof
• Cooler panel temperatures mean higher energy output
• No need to remove panels if your roof needs to be replaced

Cons: 

• Installation is more labor-intensive
• Installation is more expensive
• Requires more parts and pieces
• Permitting process is more expensive
• Takes up real estate on your property 
• Not aesthetically pleasing to everyone

Roof Mounted Solar Panels 

Though neither racking system is “better” than the other, the choice will ultimately depend on your budget, energy needs, and lifestyle. A roof-mounted solar system tends to be a better option for homeowners who don’t have a lot of space, want to spend less money upfront, and want to maximize their return on investment. 

When you install a solar system on your roof, the most complicated part of the structure, the roof, is already in place. Your installers won’t have to dig holes, get the soil surveyed, or worry about property lines, etc. Instead, mounting solar panels on your roof allows you to use space that would usually be unused. 

Further, roof-mounted solar panels are ideal for grid-tied customers that want to save thousands of dollars on the install. Plus, they are easier to get permits for! 

Pros 

• Less expensive
• Requires fewer materials to install
• Installation labor cost is lower
• Utilizes unused space
• Easier to permit

Cons

• Harder to access – especially if your roof is steep or slippery 
• Harder to troubleshoot errors
• Higher panel temperatures can mean lower panel output
• Space constraints on the roof can limit the size of the system
• Can be a hassle if you need to replace the roof within the panel’s lifetime of 25-30 years 
• Putting holes in your roof to mount the solar panels could lead to water damage
• Your HOA may have regulations against solar panels
• Your roof may be too old for solar panel installation, which means you would have to replace your roof before installing solar. 

Bottom Line 

As you can see, there are benefits and drawbacks to each solar mounting system, and what makes sense for your neighbor might not make sense for you. Consider your energy needs, the size of your property, your budget, and your lifestyle. 

Harness the Sun’s Energy with Solar Bear

Ready to gain energy independence and use the sun’s energy to power your home? Our team at Solar Bear Orlando can help! Whether you want to install a roof-mounted or a ground-mounted solar array, we have the expertise to get the job done right!

Start your solar journey today! Call Solar Bear Orlando for a FREE solar consultation today; 407-904-7585!