Roof Leaking Around Your Solar Panels? Why the Roof Under Them Fails
Old mounting feet often cause leaks around solar panels. On a tile roof, worn-out underlayment under the tile can let water in too. The three solar companies we talked to take the panels off and put them back. They leave the roofing underneath to a roofer.
Call or text 725-502-3114 for a free roof inspection.
Two roofs in one week
In one week in early November 2026 we looked at two roofs with the same problem. A two-story tile roof in Mesquite was leaking under and around its solar panels, and the roof under the panels all needed to be redone. A one-story home in northwest Las Vegas was leaking at the panels and at the pipe flashings.
After the Mesquite bid, Cody put it this way: "another problem to solve ... it's such a major problem."
Why a roof leaks under solar panels
The mounting feet. Solar panels are held to the roof by mounting feet. Old mounting feet are often where the leak starts.
The underlayment under the tile. On a tile roof, the layer under the tile is what keeps the water out, not the tile itself. Concrete and clay tile in Southern Nevada can last 50 years or more, but traditional felt underlayment usually fails in about 20 (see tile underlayment in Las Vegas). The tile on top can still look good while the underlayment under it is brittle and cracked.
The pipe flashings. The rubber boots around vent pipes dry out in the desert sun (see pipe boots and roof leaks). The northwest Las Vegas roof was leaking at the solar panels and at the pipe flashings.
Who does what
We talked with three solar companies in early November 2026. Here is what they told us.
They remove and reinstall the panels. They don't do the roofing under them. The roof is the roofer's job.
The order of the work: the solar company pulls the panels the day before the roofer starts, the roofer fixes the roof under them, and the solar company puts the panels back after.
Older rail systems may mean the whole array comes off.
If the old mounting feet caused the leak, new flashed attachments may be needed.
What to ask the solar company
Ask what their warranty covers on the remove-and-reinstall work. One company we talked to gives a 5-year warranty on it, with the mounts and the roof penetrations included. Ask whether yours covers the mounts and the holes in your roof, not only the panels.
If your roof is leaking near your panels
A new stain on the ceiling can sit several feet from where the water gets in, because the water runs along the underlayment before it finds a way through (see why the tile is rarely the problem). Call when you see a new ceiling stain.
We'll find where the water is getting in, show you what we found, and give you a free written estimate (see what our free roof inspection covers). Call or text 725-502-3114.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is my roof leaking around my solar panels?
Old mounting feet often cause leaks around solar panels. On a tile roof, worn-out underlayment under the tile can let water in too.
Will the solar company fix my roof?
The three solar companies we talked to don't do the roofing. They take the panels off and put them back on. A roofer fixes the roof under them.
Do all the panels have to come off?
With older rail systems, the whole array may have to come off.
What warranty should I ask for?
Ask the solar company what their warranty covers on removing and reinstalling the panels, and whether it includes the mounts and the roof penetrations. One company we talked to gives 5 years, mounts and penetrations included.
Who should I call about a leak near my panels?
Call or text 725-502-3114. We'll find where the water gets in, show you what we found, and give you a free written estimate.