Path-Q Solar
What should I have inspected if solar production drops after construction work on or next to my roof?
Answer
Have the array, roof, electrical equipment, and surrounding site inspected for new shading, dust, physical damage, shifted mounts, damaged wiring, altered roof penetrations, and monitoring or inverter changes. Compare production with a weather-adjusted pre-construction baseline to help identify whether the cause is environmental, structural, electrical, or operational.
Key points
- Inspect new obstructions, scaffolding residue, roof additions, equipment, and changed tree or wall shadows.
- Check panels, racking, flashing, roof coverings, conduits, connectors, and inverter status.
- Review construction dates, shutdowns, relocations, cleaning, and any changes to monitoring or wiring.
- Use qualified professionals for roof access and electrical testing.
What it depends on
- Construction scope and location
- Timing and pattern of the production decline
- Roof and mounting design
- Availability of pre-construction records and photos
Risks and trade-offs
- New shading may reduce output without any equipment fault.
- Construction debris or vibration can cause delayed damage or difficult-to-see connector and mounting problems.
- A contractor may dispute responsibility without dated records and a documented baseline.
Information you may need
- Construction plans, dates, and contractor details
- Before-and-after production and monitoring data
- Roof, system, and construction photos
- Any alarms, leaks, visible damage, or cleaning records
Your next step
What to do next
Preserve the pre-construction evidence and arrange a coordinated roof-and-solar inspection focused on shading, mounting, wiring, roof interfaces, and monitoring.
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