Any solar panel installers here?

[Kolyan2k]

I have them installed, but I think previous installer made an error with installation, so I have a question

[Torgus]

Location?

[infinitekidM2C]

Originally Posted by Kolyan2k

I have them installed, but I think previous installer made an error with installation, so I have a question

Ideally you want them on your roof. Let me know if you have any other questions.

[Murf993]

Originally Posted by infinitekidM2C

Ideally you want them on your roof. Let me know if you have any other questions.

I thought he was talking about the sun....

[Taylorsherk]

Let’s hear the what the question is

[Kolyan2k]

Both roofs have panels. Upper system is SREC that's like 7-10 years old, lower is 2 years old and it's net metering. Notice that there is no snow on lower roof and upper roof has been covered with snow for like 2 months now. Both have same angle and same sun exposure. The question is wtf?

Ps. I am not the original owner, both systems installed by same company

[Kolyan2k]

I think I know what the issue is, but I wonder if that's an install error. And would it be something that I should get fixed under warranty perhaps? I don't want to call the company and bitch about it if nothing can be done

[vreihen16]

1) The roof pitch on the upper roof appears to be less than the lower roof.

2) There appears to be a pine tree shading the upper roof at low (winter) sun angles.

3) Is there better insulation under the upper roof than the lower roof?????

[Torgus]

Originally Posted by vreihen16

1) The roof pitch on the upper roof appears to be less than the lower roof.

2) There appears to be a pine tree shading the upper roof at low (winter) sun angles.

3) Is there better insulation under the upper roof than the lower roof?????

This.

[Kolyan2k]

Originally Posted by vreihen16

1) The roof pitch on the upper roof appears to be less than the lower roof.

2) There appears to be a pine tree shading the upper roof at low (winter) sun angles.

3) Is there better insulation under the upper roof than the lower roof?????

1. I think it's the picture. I've never noticed this before (I just took another picture and it looks the opposite, I'll have to check it out, it's too much snow on the lawn couldn't get a better view)
2. The tree doesn't give much shade to panels
3. Upper roof is actually warmer, lower roof has no insulation and no heat

I think unlike lower roof, upper roof panels are way too far from the edge and snow and ice just massively builds up there which doesn't let anything slide down. It all start to melt during the day and just freezes into ice at night. I end up with huge ice dams on this side only

[freakystyly]

Better to ask the installer, especially if there's warranty involved. I think a heater retrofit is an option if it is a repeat problem.

[Kolyan2k]

Originally Posted by freakystyly

Better to ask the installer, especially if there's warranty involved. I think a heater retrofit is an option if it is a repeat problem.

I asked them sometime ago, they said don't worry about it and now my house is the only one with so much snow on the roof )) and its supposed to be the opposite because snow supposed to slide from panels easy

[nyalpine90]

the only reason i can think of, is that panels are made of different material, providing heat to the roof??

[zx10guy]

Originally Posted by Kolyan2k

1. I think it's the picture. I've never noticed this before (I just took another picture and it looks the opposite, I'll have to check it out, it's too much snow on the lawn couldn't get a better view)
2. The tree doesn't give much shade to panels
3. Upper roof is actually warmer, lower roof has no insulation and no heat

I think unlike lower roof, upper roof panels are way too far from the edge and snow and ice just massively builds up there which doesn't let anything slide down. It all start to melt during the day and just freezes into ice at night. I end up with huge ice dams on this side only

On the roof insulation, it's the opposite of what you think. The lower roof without insulation would allow heat from inside to permeate through the roofing and out. You can see this by going around looking at roofs on houses. Those with poor insulation in their attics will show up as areas where frost or snow would melt. This is very pronounced with the shaded part of the roof where there is no direct sunlight.

[Kolyan2k]

I have vented attic in living area and open barn like space in garage area (lower roof), it's unfinished and there is no attic, no heat source either

[David70]

Originally Posted by Kolyan2k

1. I think it's the picture. I've never noticed this before (I just took another picture and it looks the opposite, I'll have to check it out, it's too much snow on the lawn couldn't get a better view)
2. The tree doesn't give much shade to panels
3. Upper roof is actually warmer, lower roof has no insulation and no heat

I think unlike lower roof, upper roof panels are way too far from the edge and snow and ice just massively builds up there which doesn't let anything slide down. It all start to melt during the day and just freezes into ice at night. I end up with huge ice dams on this side only

While the mounting location might be different I think you will find that it will be impossible to get them to move the panels closer to the edge of the roof in the hopes that it will stop snow from piling up and staying on the roof (under warranty, paying them and they will do anything you want). Is there some "correct distance" that they didn't follow? If not I don't see this working even if it turns out one distance is better.

I think there is something different in the two roofs, not just the mounting, whether it is insulation differences, heat in the building, slope of the roof or sunlight. Upper roof is covered in snow, lower roof has zero snow, even in the small areas on the side of the panels or below them.

With as high as the sun still is in the picture and the shadow of the tree already on the roof, I think the lower roof is getting more sun, contributing to the problem.

[TKDbilly]

You might check the wind direction and intensity and whether the upper panels get cooled from normal wind and thereby less likely to melt off. Also, even on my roof, minor shade from trees can keep the panels from beginning the melting process and combined with cooling effects of wind could make the difference.

[Torgus]

What company installed them?

Is there shade on the roof in the other months of the year?

I work in the MA solar industry...

[Kolyan2k]

Originally Posted by Torgus

What company installed them?

Is there shade on the roof in the other months of the year?

I work in the MA solar industry...

I am not sure about shade. Solarflair installed it. Zero production this month btw

[chassis]

Kolyan2k You have ice dams on the upper roof because you have less sun exposure on the upper roof. You have low/no production on the upper roof panels because they have snow on them, because they have less sun exposure.

Can you post an aerial photo of your house (Google Maps) with street names omitted to protect your anonymity, and including N-S-E-W orientation?

[Kolyan2k]

Originally Posted by chassis

Kolyan2k You have ice dams on the upper roof because you have less sun exposure on the upper roof. You have low/no production on the upper roof panels because they have snow on them, because they have less sun exposure.

Can you post an aerial photo of your house (Google Maps) with street names omitted to protect your anonymity, and including N-S-E-W orientation?

like this?

[chassis]

Yes, perfect. To me I can envision plenty more shade on the upper panels because of the trees.

If you are willing, post three photos tomorrow, or on the next day of full sun, throughout the day:

8:00am
12:00pm
5:00pm

taken from the same position as in post #6.

Winter is the worst time of year for solar production due to the low position of the sun. It worsens any problems caused by marginal sun exposure.