Roof leak help

Roof leak around your solar panels, or anywhere on your roof?

Water stain on the ceiling, a drip in the attic after rain, or a leak that started after the panels went up? Tell us where it is and we will have a roofing contractor in your area contact you. Asking is free. It works for any roof, with or without solar.

Get a roofer to look at it →

Do this today

Catch the water and move anything that can be damaged. If water is near a light fixture or outlet, turn off that circuit at the breaker.
Take photos: the ceiling stain, the attic underside if you can safely reach it, and the roof from the ground.
Do not climb onto a roof with solar panels. The panels make power whenever the sun is on them, and the roof surface around them is easy to damage.
Find your solar contract and look for a workmanship or roof penetration warranty.

Why roofs leak around solar panels

Solar panels sit on rails held up by mounts that are bolted through the roof into the rafters. A typical home system has dozens of these holes, and each one has to be sealed and covered with flashing. Leaks around solar usually start at one of these places:

A roof mount whose flashing was set wrong or whose sealant has dried out and cracked.
A wire or conduit entry where cables pass through the roof into the attic.
Shingles or tiles cracked, lifted, or walked on during the installation.
A mount that missed the rafter, so the bolt holds only in the roof deck and the seal loosens over time.
Debris trapped under the panels, such as leaves or pine needles, holding water against the roof.

A leak can also have nothing to do with the solar: an old roof, storm damage, flashing at a chimney or vent, or a skylight. A roofer can tell which it is.

Who usually pays

The solar installer, if it is still in business. Many solar contracts include a workmanship or roof penetration warranty that covers leaks at the holes the installer drilled. Read your contract for the terms and how long they last, then contact the installer in writing.
If the installer is out of business, its workmanship warranty usually went with it. Check whether your installer is on our solar installer bankruptcy tracker. Your panel and inverter warranties come from the manufacturers and do not cover the roof.
Homeowners insurance may cover sudden water damage inside the home. It usually does not pay to redo a faulty installation. Call your insurer before repairs start if you plan to file a claim.
If you lease the system or have a power purchase agreement, the leasing company usually owns the equipment and handles work on it. Contact them before anyone removes panels.

Do the panels have to come off?

Often, yes. If the leak is under the array, or the roof needs replacing, the panels and racking are removed and put back after the roof work. This is usually called a detach and reset. Some roofers do it themselves; others bring in a solar company. Ask before work starts who removes the panels, who reinstalls them, and who warrants the new roof penetrations afterward.

Have a roofer contact you

Takes about two minutes. Fields marked * are required.

First name * Last name * Email * Phone * Property address * City *

State * ZIP *

Do you have solar panels on this roof? *

Yes No

What are you seeing? (check all that apply) *

Water is coming in now It leaks when it rains Ceiling stain, mold, or wet insulation The leak is under or near the solar panels Storm or wind damage The roof is old and may need replacing

Solar installer, if you have solar Anything else the roofer should know Best way to reach you I agree that SolarDisclosure may share this request with one or more roofing contractors or solar service companies, and that SolarDisclosure or those companies may contact me about it by phone, text, or email at the number and email above, including by automated means. Consent is not a condition of any purchase. *

Common questions

Why is my roof leaking around my solar panels?

Solar panels sit on mounts that are bolted through the roof. Each bolt is a hole that has to be sealed and flashed. Leaks around solar usually start at a mount whose flashing or sealant failed, at a conduit or wire entry, or at shingles that were cracked or lifted during the installation.

Who pays to fix a roof leak caused by solar panels?

Check your solar contract first. Many installers include a workmanship or roof penetration warranty that covers leaks at the holes they drilled. If the installer is out of business, that warranty usually went with it. Homeowners insurance may cover sudden water damage inside the home, but usually not the cost of redoing the installation.

Do the solar panels have to come off to fix the roof?

Often, yes. If the leak is under the array or the roof needs replacing, the panels and racking are removed and reinstalled, a job usually called detach and reset. Ask the roofer whether they do it themselves or bring in a solar company.

I do not have solar. Can I still use this form?

Yes. The request works for any roof leak, with or without solar panels.