Why are homeowners losing coverage after installing solar panels?

https://www.insurancebusinessmag.com ^ | 9/24/24 | By Terry Gangcuangco

[Governor Dinwiddie]

The telephone company exchanges have (had?) rack after rack of massive 48 volt lead-acid batteries as backup for their POTS lines. Ma Bell has been using them since telephones began. I never heard of any fires.

[Qwapisking]

it isn’t hail that is the real problem. nearly every insurance claim related to solar panels is a result of the collateral damage caused by installation and maintenance. any time an installation of virtually anything is on your roof there will eventually be resultant damage. if someone puts a hole in a roof it WILL create an eventual leak point. installed a lot of skylights in my young construction days and the only guarantee was that eventually it would leak and cause considerable damage followed by insurance claims. insurance is not a guarantee...it is a “just in case” that you pay a commensurate amount of replacement money for. have an uncle who is an actuary. it’s insane how much money insurance pays out in relation to how much an individual insuree pays in. protect yourselves and your roof. never let ANYONE convince you that bolting something to your roof is a great idea. it isn’t.

[Jacquerie]

I suspect it is for the reason I will not install roof-mounted solar panels.

Solar panels mean additional holes/attachment points that may compromise the roof’s waterproof integrity.

Outside of insurance, the panels must be removed prior to installation of new shingles every 20 years or so.

[1FreeAmerican]

Edison batteries would be preferred even over lithium ion. Virtually indestructible, can be discharged to 0 no problem, can sit in the shelf for 50 years and charged up no problem, do not have acid for the electrolyte. They do take up some space however.

But - where can you get them these days? Disclaimer - I've not looked around recently but a few years ago it seemed they had disappeared.

[ducttape45]

Good point. If I was to ever come to a point in life where I could afford to install solar panels, all of the infrastructure for energy storage would have to be a separate building/facility on my lot, then bury the cables to the house.

[Jamestown1630]

I like the idea of using the Sun, but I don’t think our technology is ready for Prime Time.

[beef]

I upgraded my roof when I installed solar. I was able to roll it all into the same 2% solar loan. I installed solar because if the dems hold on to power, they have no where to go with their AGW program but to start rationing electricity. Since I make more than I use, I am hoping I will be able to function relatively normally. So far, I am very happy with it.

[bankwalker]

squirrels nest under the panels ... eat a hole through the roof into the attic ... it all goes downhill from there ...

[linMcHlp]

Solar panels correlation with “probably going to buy EV” and “probably going to mess up structural electric wiring.”

[Mogger]

I have bought a few solar electric panels that had been removed from other houses.

They all produce around 36 volts, 250+ watts under full sun.

Up to 4 are usually wired in series for around 150 volts.

I found no fuses or circuit breakers on any of them.

If a critter gnaws on the wiring, you have a chance of an arc and a fire.

I added fuses to every one and mounted them on vehicle, trailers and scaffolds. I won't mount them on any building.

I do have 4 water collectors for our hot water and heating. Those are mounted on our barn.

I've had a couple of leaks over the years, but I'm certainly not going to bother the insurance company about that.

[R_Kangel]

"Untrue. The roofing company is the one that installed the panels in the first place. They will remove them and put them back afterwards. It’s not a free service but it can be done. You just have to know this before you hire a roofer."

........ Well .... I think you will find that SOME roofing companies may install the Solar Panels ..... MOST Don't. There is a mountain of warrantee issues involved if the panels are damaged upon removal and then reinstallation.

.

[linMcHlp]

Each solar panel needs electro-mechanical mount the adjusts panel orientation, to the sun, and from the weather.

[WHATNEXT?]

This also happens with satellite dishes. Don’t put them on your roof, screws leak and damage the roof. Happened to me.

[Lizavetta]

We've gotten a bunch of phone calls from "people in our area" who would love to come by and talk about solar panels.

First question. On their pronouncement that Florida Power and Light will buy back the extra energy our solar panels produce that we don't use I asked, what is our recourse if they change their mind? Crickets.

Next question. What will your solar panel company do when another Hurricane Ian comes through and yanks the panels off our roof?

Oh, you're covered up to 185 mph winds.

Really? What if the weather service or whoever makes these decisions LIES as they did with Hurricane Ian and say it's a cat 4 even though the local airports are clocking it as 200 mph and cat 5? Hmm? Crickets.

No sale. Thanks for coming. Collect your door prize and buh bye.

[RomanSoldier19]

[ronnie raygun]

because its a scam

[PIF]

First thing comes to mind solar the roof tends to degrade the roof, making a new roof come sooner, plus the solar will have to come off before the new roof goes on.

Insurance nightmare

[sphinx]

I’ve wondered how those fare in a strong hail storm.

It's not a problem if you build a sturdy metal roof to cover them.

[Leaning Right]

> We’ve gotten a bunch of phone calls from “people in our area” who would love to come by and talk about solar panels. <

In my neck of the woods, a common line of theirs is “And because of a government program, it’s at no cost to you!”

What that really means:

Because of a government program, it’s at no immediate cost to you. You’ll pay off a little each month as part of your electric bill.

(So a wise homeowner had better get his total cost upfront. Maybe it’s not a great deal after all.)

[PIF]

Which costs more than a normal roof install. And if your roofing company goes out of business, you will have to find another company willing to do the job.