Solar panel removal and reinstallation in Warragul

Solar panel removal and reinstallation in Warragul is usually needed when a roof is being replaced, restored or extended. Disconnecting and reconnecting the system is licensed electrical work, and because solar is prescribed work in Victoria the refitted system needs an independent inspection and a new Certificate of Electrical Safety before it is switched back on. A roofer can work around the mounts, but should not unplug or rewire the array.

When do solar panels need to come off the roof?

The common reasons are:

• A full re-roof, such as replacing old tiles or rusted sheeting.
• A roof restoration involving re-bedding, re-pointing or painting tiles under the array.
• An extension or second storey that changes the roof shape.
• Repairs to a leak at a panel mount or under the array.
• Rust or rot in roof framing that the roofer must reach.

On an older house, a re-roof can fall due when the solar system on it is also getting on in years. That timing raises a useful question, covered below: refit the old system or replace it.

Who can remove and reinstall solar panels?

The roofer and the solar side have separate jobs. Energy Safe’s guidance on Certificates of Electrical Safety lists solar systems as prescribed electrical installation work. Prescribed work cannot be turned on or left on until an independent Licensed Electrical Inspector has inspected it.

Task	Who should do it
Isolating the system and disconnecting DC and AC wiring	Licensed electrician working for a Registered Electrical Contractor
Lifting panels and removing rails and mounts	Solar installer or electrician, with roof safety equipment
Roof replacement or restoration	Roofer
Refitting mounts and sealing penetrations	Solar installer, coordinating with the roofer
Reconnecting panels, isolators and inverter	Licensed electrician
Inspection of the reinstated system	Independent Licensed Electrical Inspector
Certificate of Electrical Safety	Issued by the electrician or contractor after inspection

Some solar businesses do both removal and reinstatement; some roofers subcontract the solar work. Either way, ask who holds the electrical licence and who will be accredited by Solar Accreditation Australia for the refit, and check those details on the public registers. The about page explains how to check a provider’s licence and accreditation.

Should you reinstall an old system or replace it?

If the panels are more than about ten years old, a small system, or have an ageing string inverter, it is worth pricing a replacement before you pay to refit them. Ask yourself:

• Does the system still produce close to what it did when new?
• Has the inverter been replaced, or is it the original?
• Is the system now too small for your household, especially if you are moving off gas?
• Would a larger roof area after the re-roof fit more panels?

Removal and refit costs much the same whether the panels are three years old or fifteen. Spending that money on panels near the end of their life can make little sense. The solar system upgrades page covers replacing or expanding an old system, and the inverter replacement page covers swapping only the inverter.

If you do replace the inverter during the job, the new one must meet AusNet’s current requirements, including emergency backstop capability and being on AusNet’s approved list. The installer may need to apply to the network again, and the export limit approved then may differ from the old one.

What happens during removal and reinstatement?

1. The electrician shuts the system down using the posted shutdown procedure and isolates the AC and DC sides.
2. Panels are unplugged, labelled by string and position, and lowered from the roof.
3. Rails and mounts are removed and the roof penetrations noted.
4. Panels are stored somewhere safe and dry while the roof work is done.
5. After the roof work, mounts and rails go back on and the penetrations are sealed to suit the new roof.
6. Panels are refitted in their original strings, connectors are checked or replaced, and the system is reconnected.
7. An independent inspector checks the work before it goes back into service, and you receive a Certificate of Electrical Safety.

Plan the timing with the roofer. The system is off the whole time, so you lose generation for the duration of the roof job.

Why are mounts and penetrations a common leak point?

Why Solar’s solar repair guide notes that poorly sealed roof penetrations can cause leaks that only show up in heavy rain. Warragul’s wet winters will find a badly sealed fixing quickly. On a new roof, the mounts must suit that roofing product: tile hooks for tiles, and the right brackets and sealing for corrugated or trimdeck sheeting. Ask the installer to confirm the mounting system matches your new roof and that the roofer is happy with how penetrations will be sealed.

Rail spacing and fixing for wind loads is a design matter for the installer under AS/NZS 1170.2. If the roof shape has changed, or the panels are moving to a new face, the layout and fixings should be designed again rather than copied.

How should panels be stored while they are off the roof?

Panels left on the ground can be cracked, stepped on, blown over or taken. Ask the provider:

• Where the panels will be stored: on your property, in their depot or elsewhere.
• How they are stacked and protected from weather and impact.
• Who is responsible if a panel is damaged during removal, storage or refitting.
• Whether the panels will be tested before refitting, so existing faults are found before they go back up.

Get those answers in writing. Do not assume the roofer or the solar business carries responsibility for stored panels unless the quote says so.

What does panel removal and reinstatement cost?

There is no published price band on this site for this job, because the cost depends on panel count, roof type, height and access, the number of storeys, whether mounts need replacing, and how long panels must be stored. Ask for a written quote that separates removal, storage, reinstatement, any new parts and the inspection. Because independent providers set their own prices and scope, compare at least two quotes for the same work.

Can the roofer and solar installer share the site safely?

Yes, if they agree on dates. The solar work happens at the start and the end of the roof job, so scheduling is the main risk. If the roofer finishes early and the solar provider cannot return for some weeks, you are without generation for longer. Ask both for their timing and get the solar provider to confirm their return date before the panels come off. If you also want a safety check while the system is being reconnected, the solar panel servicing page lists what a full check covers.

Next step: send your roof and system details

Before enquiring, write down your suburb, the reason the panels must come off (re-roof, restoration, extension or leak), the roof material now and after the work, single or two storey, the number of panels and the inverter model (a photo of each label helps), and your roofer’s planned start date. Say whether you want the old system refitted or quotes for a replacement as well. Then ask for a removal and reinstall quote and an independent provider can plan the work around your roofer.

Send a job enquiry