[RE-wrenches] Popping Sounds From Roof
Dave Angelini Offgrid Solar
offgridsolar at sti.net
Fri Mar 7 08:16:57 PST 2025
> I would investigate the roof ! The only thing that should be on an
> offgrid dwelling is snow, rain, or bird doo!
Dave Angelini Offgrid Solar
"we go where powerlines don't"
[1]https://offgridsolar1.com/ [2] [1]
e-mail offgridsolar at sti.net
text 209 813 0060
On 2025-03-05 1:11 pm, Christopher Warfel via RE-wrenches wrote:
> I have heard this too, no solar involved. Chris
>
> On 3/5/2025 12:05 PM, Tyrone Houck via RE-wrenches wrote:
>
> Screw down metal roofs are notorious for expansion/contraction
> issues...especially over long horizontal spans. It's possible that the
> array is actually fixing that section in place better than the rest of
> the roof(while simultaneously keeping that part of the roof cooler) . I
> would investigate the roof area adjacent to the array as it's likely to
> be heating up much faster than the area shaded by the array. Could be
> the sound of screws popping..
>
> Best of luck!
>
> Tyrone Houck
> Oregon Solarworks LLC
> CCB #204937 LRT #076
> 541-787-1366
> tyrone at oregonsolarworks.com
>
> On Wed, Mar 5, 2025, 8:48 AM Jason Szumlanski via RE-wrenches
> <re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org> wrote:
>
> They report that it is definitely coming from the roof and from
> opposite ends of the array. It's pretty random, but only earlier in the
> day and later in the day, which suggests the array and roof are heating
> and cooling. I don't believe it is electrical.
>
> But it is interesting that you mention siding. Just before we installed
> solar panels, they had their house re-sided with hardy board siding. I
> suggested that maybe it was coming from the siding on the gable ends,
> but of course, they insisted that it only started when the solar panels
> were installed. I did find a piece of siding that was pressed up tight
> against a drip edge, and I found that to be a possible source. Without
> being there on the roof as it happens, it's hard to diagnose. They are
> reporting 1-2 dozen pops a day that they can hear clearly. I don't
> doubt that, but I question whether it is directly related to the solar
> panel installation.
>
> For more context, they also reported something that sounded like
> banging in high winds, like a solar panel was loose. All of the panels
> were later found to be completely secure. I found a piece of aluminum
> soffit cover that was loose and could have been flopping around, but
> again, it's hard to tell when you are not there.
>
> They are wrapping themselves all around the axle, probably thinking
> that we did something wrong. They even called S-5 behind our backs to
> see if the manufacturer could throw us under the bus. That turned out
> to be a fun discussion because S-5 suggested the them that adding more
> seam clamps might help. Of course, SolarFoot is not a seam clamp at
> all, which further confused the owner.
>
> Jason Szumlanski
> Principal Solar Designer | Florida Solar Design Group
> NABCEP Certified Solar Professional (PVIP)
> Florida State Certified Solar Contractor CVC56956
> Florida Certified Electrical Contractor EC13013208
>
> On Wed, Mar 5, 2025 at 8:51 AM Dave Tedeyan via RE-wrenches
> <re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org> wrote:
> Jason,
> You mentioning popping sounds reminds me of two separate systems that I
> was called in to service recently where the homeowner was reporting
> popping sounds. These were coming from the ground, not the roof, so it
> may not apply. Both systems were roughly 10 years old, and the original
> installer used PVC conduit off the roof. Water had been getting into
> the conduit and running down to the combiner (Enphase system). Things
> were quite corroded in the combiner panels and the sounds were coming
> from a failing breaker. It sounds like your system is newer, but maybe
> there is a bad breaker? In one case the customer was certain the noise
> was coming from the meter, but upon inspection I am nearly certain it
> was the combiner instead. These were more of an "electronic" popping
> noise though. If your popping noise is more structural have the
> customer listen out to see if it happens right when the sun comes out
> from a cloud, or goes behind a cloud. With vinyl siding or metal roofs,
> I'll sometimes hear the expansion and contraction but it has to be a
> very quick change in temperature and I only hear it on those quick
> transitions from sun to clouds.
>
> Good luck tracking it down!
> Cheers,
> Dave
>
> On Wed, Mar 5, 2025 at 8:12 AM Jason Szumlanski via RE-wrenches
> <re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org> wrote:
> I had a person contact me years ago who said her solar installer put a
> system up that caused popping noises everyday on her roof. It was a
> shingle roof, older home, and ultimately we chalked it up to expansion
> and contraction. Everything was secure and there were no indications of
> structural, cosmetic, or waterproof integrity being jeopardized.
>
> That was my only experience with this issue until we did a recent
> installation on a 5V exposed fastener metal roof using S-5 SolarFoot
> mounts attached through the metal into the plywood decking only. This
> new client is reporting numerous loud popping sounds every day. Based
> on the time of day and weather, it must have something to do with
> expansion and contraction, but we cannot pinpoint the problem. Of
> course, the day we go to try to duplicate the issue, there were no
> sounds at all that we could detect up on the roof after waiting hours
> in observation.
>
> We did have one row of 13 panels mounted in portrait that was on the
> longer side, so we decided to split the rail by putting a gap in the
> middle. That, apparently, has not solved the issue.
>
> We have checked the torque on every single fastener in the system. This
> installation is no different than many many others we have done using
> the same materials on the same roof type.
>
> Has anybody experienced similar issues, and how did you go about
> addressing them?
>
> Jason Szumlanski
> Florida Solar Design Group
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--
Christopher Warfel, PE
ENTECH Engineering, Inc.
PO Box 871, Block Island, RI 02807
(401) 447-5773
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