Solar Repair, Maintenance & Re-Installation in Kelowna

OVERVIEW

When the numbers in your app stop adding up

Most solar problems show up as a number: production that is lower than the same month last year, a zero on a sunny afternoon, or a fault light on the inverter. We start with your monitoring history and the inverter’s fault log, so the visit is spent fixing rather than looking.

Re-roofing is the other big reason people call. A solar array has to come off before new shingles go on, and then go back on with new flashing. We remove, store and reinstall the system, coordinate with your roofer, and re-commission it so FortisBC’s records stay correct.

Call 250-250-2525 with your inverter’s fault code or a screenshot of your monitoring app.

Solar inverter on a stucco wall with small status lights and a tool bag on a shelf below — FIG. S5 Most “dead system” calls start at the inverter. Its fault code tells us what to bring.

SPEC SHEET

Solar Repair, Maintenance & Re-Installation at a glance

Diagnostic visit: 1–3 hours, with a written report
Common fixes: Inverter faults, failed connectors, breaker trips, damaged wiring, critter damage
Remove & reinstall: 1–3 days, coordinated with your roofer
Cleaning: Low-pressure, soft-brush, deionised water; usually after smoke season
Critter guards: Mesh guards to keep birds and squirrels out from under the array
Any installer: We work on systems installed by others

INCLUDED

Repair and maintenance services

01
Fault diagnosis
Inverter codes, string tests and thermal checks to find the problem.
02
Repairs
Connectors, wiring, breakers, optimizers and inverters replaced where needed.
03
Remove and reinstall
Panels off for a re-roof, stored safely, back on with new flashing.
04
Cleaning
After a heavy smoke or dust season, when it actually pays.
05
Critter guards
Mesh around the array edge to stop nesting.
06
Annual check
Output review, fastener torque, wiring condition and a short report.

PRICE

Repair and re-install pricing

Job	Typical price	Notes
Diagnostic visit	$250 – $400	Credited toward the repair if you go ahead
Remove & reinstall for re-roof	$150 – $250 per panel	8 kW system: about $3,000 – $5,000
Cleaning	$8 – $15 per panel	Minimum charge applies
Critter guards	$900 – $1,800	Depends on array perimeter

Typical ranges, not quotes. Inverter replacement depends on the model; many are still under manufacturer warranty, which we check first.

Book an assessment Rebates and utility rules

FAULT FINDER

Common problems and fixes

What you see	Likely cause	Usual fix
Zero output on a sunny day	Inverter fault or tripped breaker	Read fault code, reset or replace
Output down 20–40% vs last year	Failed string connector, shading, soiling	String test, connector replacement, clean
One panel reads low	Optimizer or module fault, hot spot	Thermal check, swap the part
Scratching under the array	Birds or squirrels nesting	Clean out and fit mesh guards
New roof needed	Roof at end of life	Remove, store, reinstall with new flashing

We work on systems from any installer. Many inverter faults are still covered by the manufacturer warranty, which we check first.

RE-ROOFING

Remove and reinstall, done in order

We disconnect, label and remove the modules, rails and mounts.
Panels are stored safely on site or in our yard.
Your roofer replaces the roof.
New flashing and mounts go in with the new shingles.
We reinstall, re-commission and update the documents.

1Solar modulesAll-black 400–450 W panels, sized and laid out to your use.
2Rails & clampsAluminium rails that hold the modules a few centimetres off the roof.
3Mounts & flashingLag-bolted into rafters with flashing under the shingle or a tile hook.
4Roof deckChecked before anything goes on it. Old shingles get replaced first.
5Conduit runWiring from the array to the inverter, strapped and sealed.
6InverterTurns the panels’ DC into AC your home uses.
7DisconnectA lockable switch so crews can isolate the system.
8Panel boxThe solar breaker lands here. Older 100 A panels may need an upgrade.
9Bidirectional meterSet by FortisBC to count power both ways for net metering.
10GridFortisBC’s lines, which bank your surplus as kWh credit.

FIG. C Points we check on every repair visit: connectors, mounts, the inverter and the disconnect.

TIMELINE

From first visit to switch-on

The usual sequence for a Kelowna installation. Your written plan carries real dates.

How a good installation should look

FIG. G A typical home takes 6–10 weeks from first visit to switch-on. Install day itself is the short bar.

Timeline as a table

Step	Who	Weeks	What happens
Assessment	You + us	0–1	Bills, roof, panel box, shade. Usually one visit or a video call.
Design & written quote	Us	1–2	Panel layout, single-line drawing, price, timeline and payback in writing.
FortisBC application	FortisBC	2–5	Net-metering application; FortisBC reviews it and approves construction.
Permits	Us	3–5	Technical Safety BC electrical permit; a City of Kelowna building permit if structural work is involved.
Install days	Crew	5–6	Usually 1–3 days on site for a home: mounts, rails, modules, inverter, wiring.
Inspection	Inspector	6–7	Electrical inspection of the finished work under the permit.
Interconnection & switch-on	FortisBC + you	7–9	Interconnection Agreement signed, meter set for net metering, system commissioned.

QUESTIONS

Questions about repair & re-install

Q01What maintenance do solar panels need?
Q02Should I replace my roof before installing solar?

Q01What maintenance do solar panels need?

Very little. Kelowna’s rain and snow clean the panels most of the year; a gentle clean after a heavy smoke or dust season can help. Check your monitoring app monthly and have the system looked at if output drops compared with the same month last year.

Q02Should I replace my roof before installing solar?

If your roof has less than about ten years left, usually yes. A system lasts 25 years or more, and taking it off and putting it back for a re-roof later costs roughly $3,000 to $5,000 on a typical home. We check roof age on the first visit and can coordinate with your roofer.

AREAS