1. Costs of removing and reinstalling solar panels
Removal: First of all, a professional needs to disconnect the solar panels from the power supply, and then use tools to unload the solar panels. The labor cost of the professional is calculated according to the number of solar panels, the cost of removing one solar panel is about $2. For example, removing 5 untis solar panels will cost about $10. After that, you need to remove the mounting hardware of the solar panels, which is about $3 for one solar panel, then 5 untis solar panels will cost about $15.
Reinstallation: Reinstalling the panels will cost about $0.05 per watt of solar energy, depending on the wattage of the solar energy. Therefore, a 100 watt solar panel usually costs around $5 to install, and sometimes some permits or inspections are required. For an array of 5 panels, a reinstallation would cost about $25. Of course, you can save further on your costs by choosing economical solar fasteners, such as blind rivets. You can get them from blind rivet manufacturers.
To sum up, the total cost of dismantling and reinstalling a solar array consisting of 5 units solar panels is about $50. However, the labor cost varies from region to region, so the above estimate is for reference only.
2. Factors affecting the price
PV system power size: Generally speaking, the cost of removing and reinstalling solar panels is related to the number of panels, the more solar panels in a solar array, the higher the cost of removal.
Roof Condition: The height and tilt of your roof is also linked to the price, as the higher and more tilted the roof is, the more difficult it is to remove and install, and the more labor it requires. In addition, the material of the roof is also linked to the price, for example, the price of removing and installing a shingle type and a metal type roof may differ.
Type of solar panels: There are various types of solar panels, with thin film solar panels being the best to install, but very troublesome to remove. For some solar panels that are more troublesome to remove and install, higher labor costs may be required.
3. Can I do it myself?
Removal: you can do it yourself. Unlike installation, disassembly is less technical and does not require you to have professional technical support to disassemble the solar panel correctly. Moreover, do-it-yourself dismantling can also reduce some of the expenses and you don’t need to pay the labor dismantling fee.
Re-installation: it is not recommended to do it yourself. Some people may choose to do it themselves because it is too expensive, but it can be very dangerous without professional skills. It is challenging to install as it needs to come in contact with a lot of wires and is inseparable from the electrical system. Therefore, it is recommended to hire a professional staff to do the job if safety cannot be ensured.
4. Precautions before removing solar panels
Security authorities in some areas will require a permit for removing and reinstalling solar panels, and the decision should be made based on your budget; the estimates above do not include the price of replacing equipment and components. When hiring a professional, you should also be careful to choose a company with good service to prevent any mistakes from increasing your expenses.
5. Specific process of removing and reinstalling solar panels
Disassembly: The first step is to disconnect the solar panels from the grid, before doing so, turn off electrical equipment such as solar inverters and solar batteries to prevent damage to the equipment. After that, use the tools to remove the screws used for fixing, and then carefully remove the PV panel and place it in a safe place. After dismantling, pay attention to clean up the dirt, and dispose of some used PV equipment in time.
Reinstallation: First of all, make sure it is safe, then place the PV panels in a predetermined position and use some tools to fix the solar panels. After the fixing is completed, it is necessary to make electrical connection, which is the most important step, to ensure that the wiring is stable and safe. Finally, inspections and tests need to be carried out to ensure that your system is operating correctly.
6. Time required to remove and reinstall solar panels
For a home solar system installed in an average home with small solar panels, it takes about 20min to dismantle one solar panel, or about 3.5h for a solar array with 10 solar panels, which takes two days to remove it completely. In the case of a larger solar array, it will take even longer.
As for reinstalling the solar panels, this is related to both the number and type of solar panels. Since the installation process is much more troublesome than removal, it will take about 1 day to complete the installation if it is to be completed, although the exact time will be judged according to the actual situation. In addition, if a family spends a day installing solar panels, but before the installation there is also cleaning dirt, checking the equipment, and after the installation is completed there is also the need to check whether the system can function properly, all of which consume a certain amount of time.
In short, the specific time to remove and install solar panels is closely related to the size of the solar array, the complexity of the installation, and the amount of labor involved in the installation.
7. Who can remove and reinstall solar panels
If you have enough experience, you can choose to remove the solar panels by yourself, but you have to be very careful when removing and installing them, otherwise it may threaten the safety or damage the solar system. Of course, you can also choose to hire a professional technician to do the job. However, it is worth noting that some areas require a relevant license to remove and reinstall solar panels, and some solar installers may not have a license. Therefore, it is important to know everything about it before you carry out these operations.
8.When you need to remove solar panels for reinstallation
8.1 If your house is in need of a total redecoration or roof repairs, etc., removing the solar panels is necessary, and the panels will be reinstalled after this is done;
8.2 When your solar panels are damaged, you may need to dismantle them for repairs and replace them with new ones if they cannot be used again;
8.3 Solar technology is now developing rapidly. You may have installed solar panels years ago, but if you feel that your solar panels are too outdated and decide to upgrade your solar system, you may need to remove them;
8.4 If for some reason you are prepared to move the location of your solar panels, you will need to remove the solar panels and replace the location for reinstallation.
9. Do I need to replace my equipment during reinstallation?
When reinstalling, still using some of your original equipment will reduce the expense. However, if your equipment has been used for a long time, it may not be waterproof enough to cause rain leakage, etc. If you don’t replace it with new equipment, it may greatly reduce the power generation capacity. And if some of your equipment has been damaged and can no longer be used, you need to consider replacing it with a new one. In addition to this, if your PV panels, PV modules and other items are intact, there is no need to replace these devices and you can reduce your expenses.
Conclusion:
You can estimate the cost outlay you need based on the above, and knowing these relevant things can help you save money in a better way. For whether you need to go to replace a brand new set of equipment can also be based on your own budget to decide, the specific operating costs can ask the professional solar company personnel.
