Inspection Services

Solar Inspection in Gilbert, AZ

Solar panels are on a lot of Arizona roofs. A solar evaluation looks at how the system is installed and how it ties into the house, from the electrical panel to the roof to the attic.

$150, added to your home inspection

What a solar evaluation covers

I do the solar evaluation along with my regular inspection, while I’m already in the electrical panel, on the roof and in the attic. It adds roughly 30 minutes on site.

Pricing

$150

Added to your home inspection. Evaluation of the home’s solar panel system. See all services & pricing.

Watch

A solar inspection, start to finish

In this video I walk a full solar inspection with fellow inspector Joe Worthy. We start at the electrical panel and the solar equipment on the side of the house, head up to the array with a thermal camera, and finish in the attic looking at how the mounts are attached.

On this home we found a missing DC disconnect, mounting bolts that missed the trusses, panels butted up against each other with no gap, and no bird netting.

From my YouTube channel

More solar videos

Can you spot the shattered panel?

Cracks ran all through the glass on one panel. A damaged panel can cut your system’s output and let moisture in, and it’s a lot easier to sort out before closing.

Broken tiles around new solar panels

Concrete roof tiles were cracked all around panels installed after the home’s original inspection. Worth checking any time someone has been working on your roof.

What we commonly find

  • Oversized solar breakers. On a 200-amp panel, the solar breaker generally shouldn’t be bigger than 40 amps. When it is, too much power is feeding back into the panel, and the bus bar can show it.
  • Missing disconnects. A solar system should have an AC disconnect and a DC disconnect.
  • Mounting bolts that missed the trusses. From the attic you can see bolts that only grabbed the roof sheathing. Wind can pull those loose.
  • Panels with no gap between them. Panels expand in the summer heat and need space.
  • Wires hanging onto the tiles. Wire rubbing on the roof wears out faster when the wind blows.
  • Dirty panels. Almost every array is dirty. Plan to clean them twice a year, especially right after monsoon season.
  • No bird netting. It isn’t required, but it helps keep birds out from under the panels.

What a solar evaluation doesn't do

I’m not measuring how much power the system produces or how efficient it is. If the electric bill isn’t where it should be, that’s a call to the solar company.

Also think about the roof under the panels. When that roof needs to be replaced, the panels have to come off and go back on, and that can cost thousands. It’s worth knowing the age of the roof before you buy.

Learn more

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