Rooftop Solar for Homeowners
Rooftop solar can cut your power bills, but a solar array is a power plant on your roof. Panels make electricity whenever light hits them, even if the main breaker is off. Installation, maintenance and emergencies all need care.
- Homeowners
- Landlords
- Families
Choosing and checking the installer
- Use a licensed, insured installer with references. See Hiring Contractors
- Make sure a building and electrical permit is pulled, and the system passes inspection by the local authority and the utility before you turn it on
- Ask about roof condition, structural load and flashing; a leaking roof penetration is a common problem
- Get the manuals, warranties and a labeled shutdown diagram
- Ask how the system shuts down in an emergency
Hazards
- Shock and arc: DC wiring from panels can arc and start fires if connections or wires are damaged. The DC side stays live in daylight.
- Falls from the roof during cleaning, repairs or checking panels. See Roof DIY Safety.
- Fire: loose connectors, damaged wires, hot spots or faulty inverters. Panels on a roof can limit where firefighters can cut ventilation.
- Batteries: a home battery adds fire and shock risk. See Battery Energy Storage.
- Storm damage: broken glass and exposed wiring may still be live.
Rapid shutdown and labels
Modern codes require rapid shutdown of the system on the roof so firefighters are exposed to lower voltage after the switch is operated. Know where the rapid shutdown switch is and what it does. Labels should mark the main disconnect, inverter and panels. Do not remove or cover labels.
Maintenance
- Check output through the app or monitor, and look for sudden drops.
- Clean panels from the ground with a soft brush on a pole or hire a professional. Do not climb onto the roof or spray water at cracked panels.
- Keep tree branches trimmed and leaves, nests and debris away from the array.
- Have a qualified technician check connections, the inverter and the mounts every few years or as the maker says.
- Do not touch wires, junction boxes or the inverter case if you see damage.
- Do not connect extra devices to the system yourself.
In a fire or storm
- Leave the building and call 911. Tell the fire crew you have solar panels (and a battery, if you do).
- After a hail, wind or tree strike, stay off the roof and away from broken panels. Call your installer and insurer. See Winter Storms for general storm prep.
- If the power goes out, most grid-tied systems shut down for safety. Do not backfeed your home with a generator. See Power Outages & Generators.
Standards & references
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