Solar Installation Fail. Problem after problem.

Emojii on 05/07/2021 - 14:47
Last edited 12/07/2021 - 22:50

Hi everyone. I just had my solar panel system installed today. Things didn't go well. My ceiling was damaged because they had accidentally dropped a tile on the roof. The installer said he will send someone to fix it.
After they left, I was clearing the rubbish and stuff, I find a cut plastic pipe dumped in my recycling bin. I don't know what that is. I only knew they did not installed the panels according to the proposal plan. Instead of installing a panel around that pipe, they simply cut it off and installed the panel on top of it to save some time.
The outstanding balance is suppose to pay on the day of installation. I don't know if I should pay today. Should I pay after they fixed my ceiling? And can someone please tell me what that plastic pipe is. Thanks.

Update The big boss called me last night to handle my complaint. I requested to move the panel and restore my venting pipe. He didn't say yes. Only said he will think of a solution and call me back today.
Update 2 The plaster guy will be coming tomorrow to fix the ceiling.
Update 3 The installer is currently on my property fixing up. He asked for the vent pipe that he cut off yesterday so he can put it back on. Is that ok?
Update 4 The installer had moved the panel and installed on the other roof. The vent pipe is now restored. But there's another problem. I've just discovered a fine line on one of the solar panel. I don't recall I've seen that yesterday. I tried to clean it with a cloth and soapy water but can't wipe it off. I'm not sure if it's a crack because I can't feel the crack on the surface. Now what do I do?
Update 5 My broken ceiling is finally patched and painted, although the paint job is imperfect because the plasterer did not paint the whole ceiling sigh
I've uploaded some photos of my solar system. Feel free to comment to below.
Inverter
North roof 1
North roof 2
North roof 3
North roof 4
West roof

Home & Garden Solar Energy System

Comments

  • MrHyde on 05/07/2021 - 14:51
    +114

    Do not pay till the work is completed to your satisfaction.

    Once you pay, they will not come back to fix anything.

    • Emojii on 05/07/2021 - 14:58
      +5

      Yes that's what I thought.

  • Hybroid on 05/07/2021 - 14:51
    +7

    It's a roof vent pipe (exhaust) for things like heating, cooker top, fire chimney (but not this one) etc. Really odd to be cut off and placed panels over. Could be redundant though.

    I think you need to have an informed discussion with them on what's happened before paying. There may be a logical explanation. Or not.

    • Emojii on 05/07/2021 - 15:05

      That's where my kitchen is. Hopefully it's a redundant one as there's a bigger venting pipe on the left. I will send a email and ask.

      • Muzeeb on 05/07/2021 - 16:05
        -5

        That's where my kitchen is.

        Likely a rangehood vent? If so, you may get a build up of grease under the solar panel which will eventually combust, burning your house to the ground and voiding your insurance.

        • Emojii on 05/07/2021 - 16:13

          The rangehood vent should be the to bigger pipe on the left.

      • Slippery Fish on 05/07/2021 - 16:50
        +34

        A stink pipe, it gets the toilet smell above your house, or now under your solar lol

        • cashews on 08/07/2021 - 14:48
          +1

          I used to have to work on shopping centres roofs at times. The smell of cooking donuts coming out of some vents were great, the stink pipes, not so much.

      • HeWhoKnows on 06/07/2021 - 09:11
        +14

        I wouldn't agree to any vent pipe being cut off
        They are there for a reason and NO it wont be redundant
        How would they know anyway?
        They should have installed the panels around it

        Now it will vent inside the roof cavity instead of outside
        Not a good idea

    • Stewardo on 05/07/2021 - 15:24
      +36

      Toilet waste vent. Must of been in the place where they wanted to put a panel, cowboys!

    • picklewizard on 05/07/2021 - 16:47
      +24

      Nah this is a stink pipe vent. Here's how it works: https://lopcocontracting.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/nl09…

      Honestly, it's probably not the worst thing that it's cut because it'll still perform its job, but it's still a hack of a job by the installer.

      • Jackson on 06/07/2021 - 22:00
        +2

        This, as long as:

        the vent still has a mesh on it so stop things entering
        it's high enough not to have water run off from the roof go into it
        it's not completely blocked by the panel

        then it's probably fine. You might even prefer all your panels to be in a neat row and not waste space by having to gap where this pipe is

      • richmond12 on 07/07/2021 - 00:28

        Just off topic, do all houses have stink pipe vents? I dont see any at mine..

        • Kikkoman56 on 07/07/2021 - 00:44

          All house drainage needs to be vented, there are methods to do so without the traditional vent pipe called air admittance valves which serve the same purpose but enable venting internally via a one way valve.

          • blwnhr on 09/07/2021 - 08:24

            @Kikkoman56: You can use air admittance valves, but every drainage system must have at least one vent to atmosphere.

    • hairybum on 06/07/2021 - 08:23
      +2

      That plastic pipe is a Soil Waste Vent, to ventilate the house drains, it serves to emit sewer gases, so if removed, those same very dangerous sewer gases will be exiting within the residence.

  • Pluto88 on 05/07/2021 - 15:04
    +4

    looks like the top of a wastewater or stormwater vent, they may have needed to shorten it.

    https://www.hunterwater.com.au/building-and-developing/plumb…

  • dasher86 on 05/07/2021 - 15:05
    +5

    That looks like a stink pipe OP

    • Emojii on 05/07/2021 - 15:13

      Any bad effect on a cut/shorten stink pipe?

      • ItsMeAgro on 05/07/2021 - 17:06
        +4

        Make sure they put a cap on the pipe, like the old one has, to stop birds and mice from getting into it, and that it's still outside (i.e.: above the roof tiles).

        If so I think it's OK?

      • lgacb08 on 05/07/2021 - 22:33
        +3

        your panel will go smelly overtime then, don't try turn the back and smell it.

        • lew380 on 06/07/2021 - 09:08
          +15

          Dam, nothing better than smelling the back of a solar panel. Will have to find a new hobby….

  • malieckal on 05/07/2021 - 15:09
    +2

    that is certainly a vent pipe , looking at the pipe size it is either greywater or sewer. is there a toillet on that side of the building .
    in regards to payment do not pay a single $ till they come back and fix it. if you are good with gyprock it is an easy fix. i am struggling to understand why an electrician can't get a bit of selleys no gap from bunnings and fix that hole in the ceiling . just wondering who is the solar company you went with

    • Emojii on 05/07/2021 - 15:14

      That's where my kitchen is. And regarding to which solar company I went with I'll keep that as a secret for now.
      P.S. I'm in VIC

      • malieckal on 05/07/2021 - 15:16

        that should be a grey water vent then, i have got one the same on the greywater line that comes out of the laundry

        • Emojii on 05/07/2021 - 15:19

          So it's ok to trim down?

          • bdl on 05/07/2021 - 15:27

            @Emojii: Yes, but get them to do it and don't pay anything until they've cut it down and re-affixed

          • malieckal on 05/07/2021 - 15:29
            +17

            @Emojii: no it is not okay to trim down a vent pipe, they should have followed the plan . they were trying to save 4 extra tile clamps. dont let it go , these shody solar guys need to learn a lesson

          • onetwothreefour on 05/07/2021 - 15:30

            @Emojii: Before you jump to any conclusions, check around the house to see if you can see where that pipe may have been removed from, it shouldn't be too hard to find just look for a similar diameter pipe running up a wall somewhere. They may have had to shorten it and move it slightly. If they have done that then it shouldn't be an issue but if they have just hacked the top off and left it like that then I would ask them to come back and fix it.

      • geoffs87 on 06/07/2021 - 11:40
        +1

        Was the price ‘lower’ than alternatives?

        There’s a lot of cowboy solar companies out there getting the government kickbacks with subpar installs.

        You get what you pay for certainly rings true for solar installs!

        • Grat on 07/07/2021 - 22:44

          In this case the installer sounds like he won't get paid unless the job is done properly. That should slow him down a bit. However, the job sounds suspect to me, perhaps a full inspection by an appropriate building inspector maybe indicated?

  • AndyC1 on 05/07/2021 - 15:20
    +10

    They need to re-instate the pipe otherwise I would expect that the house may not be compliant with regulations about waste water or sewage depending on what it is connected to.

    Do not pay until they finish and make everything correct otherwise you will not get the repair work done.

  • Ocker on 05/07/2021 - 15:23
    +1

    Looks like the sere stink pipe that would have protracted through the roof. They would have cut it off in order to lay the solar panel on the roof.
    Far from ideal and the stink pipe (vent) is essential and a building requirement.
    A seemingly very shoddy and lazy move on the part of the solar installers as they should have cut the piping and redirected same with new fittings.
    If the piping on an external wall - likely to be where a toilet is located

    • onetwothreefour on 05/07/2021 - 15:32
      -1

      they should have cut the piping and redirected same with new fittings

      We don't know that they haven't done that already, all we have seen is a pic of a cut off pipe.

      • Ocker on 05/07/2021 - 16:03

        Hence the opening of the sentence " A seemingly…." That is, I didn't say it WAS a shoddy move, I said it is SEEMINGLY a shoddy move

      • Emojii on 05/07/2021 - 16:04

        I don't think the installer had redirected the pipe. I don't see a new pipe on the roof.

    • Emojii on 05/07/2021 - 16:17

      No pipe on the exterior wall.

  • bdl on 05/07/2021 - 15:25
    +24

    Who did you use? Remind me not to use them, ever.

    • kiitos on 07/07/2021 - 13:24

      Would like to know too

  • PissLUR on 05/07/2021 - 15:45
    +7

    shonky installer

    • kmwa on 05/07/2021 - 16:31
      +6

      They haven't completed the job, they've left it in an unsafe condition (vent gases may enter the building due to the shortened pipe/cooking grease may foul the panels) and non-compliant with building regulations.

      • Stewardo on 05/07/2021 - 16:41
        +3

        This is a sewer waste vent, it’s pvc, chimney would be made of metal.

        • Chandler on 07/07/2021 - 07:38

          chimney would be made of metal

          That's assuming whoever installed the rangehood vent did that correctly…

    • MrHyde on 05/07/2021 - 16:34
      +8

      I would much rather they took me to VCAT to claim payment; than pay them and then have to chase them for months to recover the cost of the fixes.

    • 82norm on 06/07/2021 - 11:43
      +1

      You pay now, they ain’t coming back. Then you’ll waste months with VCAT, eventually VCAT will find it in your favour, but why should you have to put up with their shoddy workmanship.

      Don’t pay them cent until they fix what they broke.

    • Drakesy on 06/07/2021 - 11:56
      +3

      Can't see why it wouldn't be legal.
      You asked for them to install solar panels.
      You didn't ask them to destroy vents in the process.

      If a trade breaks something it's on them to fix it.

      • Porker on 06/07/2021 - 14:16
        -4

        I suspect the whole notion of withholding payment until you get what you want is a gamble of risk to the contractor and maintaining reputation, rather than legal. As in, is it worth them commencing legal proceedings to claim costs owed to them or cheaper to just fix and move on.

        Solar provider is under contract to provide a product, OP is under contract to pay them. If they supply the product, the OP is contracted to pay them.

        Unless there is a clause in the agreement/contract that all damages will be fixed/addressed, they need not do it although it is reasonable to assume they won't damage things that don't pertain to the job.

        If they do damage other things or (as another example) do a poor installation, then (from a legal perspective) it's on OP to rectify and then seek retribution against the original installer.

        I've already indicated that I too would withhold payment as it's soooo much more of a hassle to claim costs via VCAT/Magistrates. My original reply is to highlight what the law of contracts would apply to the situation, and the whole notion of withholding payment.

        Try withholding paying a fine or Council rates, or tax bill etc (basically a bigger and more powerful party) until one gets what they want. One would still end up in Magistrates Court.

        • DoctorCalculon on 06/07/2021 - 17:41
          +3

          worth them commencing legal proceedings to claim costs owed to them or cheaper to just fix and move on.

          If I was in OP's shoes, I would like to see how far they get with their legal proceedings when they did NOT complete the job as per the contract.
          If the contract stated that they had right to demolish the stink pipe during the installation process, then OP would be wrong to withhold final payment.

          Try withholding paying a fine or Council rates, or tax bill etc (basically a bigger and more powerful party) until one gets what they want. One would still end up in Magistrates Court.

          You are hilarious, mate.
          If I had a legitimate issue with one of the above bills, of course I would not pay a single dime until the issue is resolved. Quit being so dramatic.

          In short, your arguments lack any basis, and yet you keep digging in your heels.

  • SBOB on 05/07/2021 - 16:19
    +3

    I'm assuming this was a very low priced solar deal company installation? Looks like what you'd expect from a Steve Waugh or Allan Border kind of solar installer.

    Definitely dodgy.
    I'd be curious if they even capped that vent pipe they cut.

    Likely plenty of other issues with the install if they have done something like that without discussing it with you.

    • Emojii on 05/07/2021 - 16:26

      It's underneath the panel so I can't see whether they capped it or not. Very unlikely though.
      The price for the 6.6kw solar system is $7285 before all the rebates. I'm using Sungrow inverter with Jinko panels.

      • MrHyde on 05/07/2021 - 16:36
        +1

        Yes, does sound like a cheap installer at that price.

        Hope you did your research into the installer using solarquotes.com.au beforehand.

        • Third_Gear on 05/07/2021 - 17:07
          +4

          Why do people try to save a few bucks on what is going to be a long term investment…. Does my head in. That aside. That is a stink pipe vent and it needs to be a certain height above the roof so all gasses can expel into the air above. If they did not cap it properly you can have water/bugs etc get into the pipe. Who knows really. Get them back to do the job properly. You had an agreed set up and the person who quoted knew what they were doing but the crappy third part installer well…. Now you know.

        • Emojii on 05/07/2021 - 17:29
          +3

          I had a few other quotes which are about the same price. I chose them because they have the longest years of ABN and in the contract it states that they're liable for the warranty even if the job is subcontracted.

          • Suspect420 on 05/07/2021 - 18:28
            +6

            @Emojii: The longest years of an active ABN is not an effective way to "vet" a company.

            The fact they mention in the contract they will warrant the work even if they subcontract simply means they will subcontract to the next cheapest bloke, effectively making the first statement of the longest ABN pointless.

            Take it as a lesson learnt. Any modification to a house should be done based on an understanding of scope and these points:

            • who - will do the work? What trades Licensed, accredited, completed similar work etc.
            • what - work is required and what options do you have
            • when - will the work occur and how long will it take. Important to plan other trades or your own sanity if it's intrusive loud work.
            • Escalation - this is the most critical point. Who do you call if things go wrong?

            Never accept a larger company to subcontract any works that are <$100k. You are paying margin on margin and basically getting the cheapest trades to complete the work but paying a middle man a "management fee". Personally, I'd rather go to a smaller company and deal directly with the main man who quotes and installs knowing he needs my reference for future work.

      • Ocker on 05/07/2021 - 18:46
        +1

        If it is underneath the panels then I highly doubt it would be capped - there would not be enough room underneath the panel.
        From what you say then on all accounts there is no way I would accept what they have done without the expert opinion of another party - a licensed plumber.

      • 82norm on 06/07/2021 - 11:49

        They can’t recap it under the panels. If they do where will the stinky smell go? They need to re-route the pipe within the roof cavity to another area of the roof/tile.

        If possible, where they cut the pipe, make sure they replaced it with a tile. If not, you’re going to have water leak issues when it rains. What you can’t see, you won’t know until it’s too late. You may not know water is leaking through your roof until you see stains on your grypock.

      • [Deactivated] on 07/07/2021 - 14:13

        I don't think that's a cheap installer. I went for cheaper 6-7 years ago and even they did a good job without any issues. Just because it's cheap, doesn't mean they can get away with damage.

    • HelpMeiCantSee on 06/07/2021 - 09:44
      +2

      You’d bloody hope they didn’t cap it! The vent needs to vent.

  • Ryanek on 05/07/2021 - 16:50
    +9

    Name and shame mate

    • lew380 on 06/07/2021 - 09:22
      +3

      I don't think we have enough information for that. The damaged ceiling is a pain but accidents happen and as long as they fix, we shouldn't throw them into hell and throw away the key, just saying. Also the vent pipe may have been capped and still be within regs and the op just hadn't bothered to check.

      Most people talking shit on this forum have probably never done a job like this and wouldn't understand the first thing about large projects and the potential for damage during the project. The company just needs to fix the damage, issue an apology and maybe a small rebate or something and there is no problem here.

      • Ryanek on 06/07/2021 - 09:31

        Fair call. I agree. Lets see how they handle the situation then name and shame if necessary.

        There are so many yahoo solar operators, its good to weed out the bad ones.

      • cloudy on 06/07/2021 - 10:37

        Given the panels are probably a few cm above the cut off vent, does it need to be capped? The chance of something getting in is now small given there is a panel right over the top.

        Im curious as I think my solar installation had the same thing happen. I had roof photos before and after and I have panels right on top of my old vent pipe but I can’t tell if it’s been recapped.

        • lew380 on 08/07/2021 - 11:48

          Do you want your solar panels to have a weird gap for probably no real practical reason, it's not like airflow is diminished too much? It sounds like a non issue to me.

  • timthetoolman on 05/07/2021 - 19:25

    As above, just a stink pipe. You're not meant to do it but it's not a big concern, the panels should be more centred now and not overhanging like they look in the photo.
    Tile through the ceiling is just unlucky /crap

    • Emojii on 05/07/2021 - 19:41
      +1

      I do concern with the cut down vent pipe. They've cut it really short, looks like about 10cm with no cap on.

      • skillet on 06/07/2021 - 09:45
        -2

        If that's the case, just put the original vented cap on and have some stinky solar panels instead of a smelly roof.

        • timthetoolman on 06/07/2021 - 10:07

          It's just wether it fits back on under the panels or not

    • HelpMeiCantSee on 06/07/2021 - 09:45

      Agreed mate. As long as it can still vent, she’ll be apples.

  • blwnhr on 06/07/2021 - 08:29
    +9

    The plumbing code, AS3500 is very specific on sewer vent pipe locations, how far they should project above the roof, where on the roof they are placed, where in the sewer pipe system they are connected etc.

    Some are suggesting it'll be fine, it wont. Several things can happen, not least of which is nasty smells in your yard. Also the airflow over the vent is changed so it may cause water traps to empty leading to very nasty smells inside.

    Others are saying to just cap it. This is terrible advice. Vents are a critical part of the sewer drainage system and without them the system will perform poorly and in an unsafe, unhygienic way.

    You likely won't notice the effects immediately, the vent in a sewer system is pretty passive, but over time through changes of seasons and weather patterns there is a good chance it'll cause you problems.

    • Emojii on 06/07/2021 - 10:25
      +2

      I've checked the AS3500 but couldn't seem to find the minimum height of the venting pipe. Only stated the maximum is 600mm.
      I've emailed my council for informations about the regulations on venting pipe. Waiting for reply.
      And for the cap I mean these kind of caps

      • blwnhr on 07/07/2021 - 07:49
        +1

        I don't know where you read that, but it's wrong. Minimum height is 150mm, 600mm is applicable in a few circumstances, but your interpretation is incorrect.

        6.9.4 Termination
        Vents shall terminate as shown in Figure 6.9.4 in the open air outside the building and in a
        location not less than—
        (a) 600 mm above any opening into any building that is within a horizontal distance of
        3 m from the vent;
        (b) 150 mm above its point of penetration through any roof covering;
        (c) 3 m above any trafficable roof deck that is within a horizontal distance of 3 m from
        the vent;
        (d) 2 m above or 600 mm below any chimney or similar opening within a horizontal
        distance of 3 m from the vent;
        (e) 5 m in any direction from any air duct intake; or
        (f) 600 mm above any eaves, coping or parapet that is within a horizontal distance of
        600 mm from the vent.

  • saltypete on 06/07/2021 - 09:20
    +3

    And the holes in the vent are what let gasses out and stop little critters going in.
    Burping sinks, dishwashers, toilets, floor traps are unpleasant and can be dangerous.
    Do not seal that vent off.
    They are not allowed to fiddle with this unless they also include a plumbers ticket in their many skills!
    You should not pay them because you have very good reason to consider the work is illegal.
    You are also within your rights to get another sparky to look the job over prior to payment. if the cowboys that did this job cut a vent pipe off who knows what other stunts they have pulled.
    Once the job is satisfactory and legal to the best of your knowledge, and with a written assurance from them, then pay.
    Don’t give them your only real lever here.

    • RecklessMonkeys on 06/07/2021 - 10:43

      I agree. If they can't even follow their own proposed plan, then they don't know what they're doing.
      Pay them after an independent assessment and remediation, less any expenses.
      I wouldn't let them touch anything else.

  • striker5950 on 06/07/2021 - 10:10
    +3

    i thought of getting solar put the quality of work being done by the industry put me off. there are literally thousands of them and all got reviews (most likely fake) and you just don't know who to trust, those few good ones also charge way way more. also how do you know the guy charging more will actually do a good job? he is probably doing so for those thinking more = better

    isn't there like a middle ground? and there is a dozen sites claiming they vet these solar installers like a search engine but highly doubt those claims as i think its just a search engine to generate money and they offer that service to installers for a monthly fee, and i think there is a like a top tier for installers like monthly plans and the more expensive plans they get recommended more often. so really its not at all based on the quality of work and hardware.

    does anyone know any current 2021 sub forums whirpool/ozbargain for NSW solar installers where people have actually used them and based on quality of work and price recommend them?

    there are people who get solar installed once, and they assume the quality and cost was good and they start recommending the company that did it, but how would they know the quality of work is good professionally? it might look good from the ground level looking at the roof but what goes on behind the installed panels and the cabling?

    • 82norm on 06/07/2021 - 11:53
      +2

      Finn Peacock, SOLARQUOTES. Here’s your goto man for solar.

      • tessel on 06/07/2021 - 18:41
        +5

        That site is recommended a lot but I honestly wouldn't recommend it, at least not to find an installer. The general solar info on the site is great but the solar quote isn't. I was referred 3 companies who honestly were a completely mixed bag. One quoted me without visiting my house and they suggested panels go on parts of the roof which weren't possible. A second one wasn't interested and another would visit but had so many hoops to arrange the visit. I ended up finding a local installer who was great. So, good site for info but I recommend people find their own installer.

        • DoctorCalculon on 07/07/2021 - 16:20
          +3

          I was referred 3 companies who honestly were a completely mixed bag.

          Every single one of the three installers in my quotation were complete tool bags.

          One of them didn't even pick up the phone.

          Second one: "Nah, mate! We won't waste time with micro-inverters. Too expensive."

          Third one: We don't service your area any more. (facepalm)

      • skysurfer on 08/07/2021 - 16:02
        +2

        Finn Peacock of Solar Quotes knows his stuff BUT he also makes money by charging the 3 companies you get the quotes from a significant fee for giving those companies your quote request.

        That is a complete conflict of interest because you don't necessarily get quotes from the best companies (as Solar Quotes would have you believe), you get quotes from the ones willing to pay the highest fee. And guess who will pay the highest fee? Often it's the ones that have the most trouble generating their own business and have to buy leads because they're not good companies…..

        • saltypete on 09/07/2021 - 09:05

          To be fair though, he makes it very clear up front that this is his business model. I got 3 quotes from him, and went with another that we found was better for us. Absolutely no coercion to use any of the quotes.
          The info from the website gave us no bs info to know what we needed to look for. And in terms of OZB has saved us literally thousands of dollars.

          So I’m very positive for Solarquotes - the guy needs to put bread on the table somehow…🤷‍♂️

    • Drewbo on 06/07/2021 - 13:19
      +3

      Similar thing happens when any large scale government incentive of this type is rolled out - cowboys invade the industry looking for a quick buck. Same thing happened with pink batts.

    • alphanumericbargains on 06/07/2021 - 22:28

      If you're in Sydney, Penrith Solar Centre is the way to go.

    • star-ggg on 07/07/2021 - 09:41

      The middle ground is to pay for a company that doesn't subcontract out the work or at least has a company employed foreman onsite before and to tick off the job. What happened to the OP wouldn't have happened if that was the case because the foreman would have discussed the need to cut the pipe and fix the roof immediately on site.

      Volume companies are cheap cause they're busy middlemen that are basically on selling the job to subcontractors. Then it's just a race to the bottom for the cheapest subbies who don't have the time or motivation to deal with irregularities.

      I would say if you really want to save money and go with the subbies you would need to completely plan out the project yourself. Eg panel placement (potential shadow objects), rack placement, string configuration. Then know how to assess the job afterwards.

      Personally, I went with the first option and have no regrets about paying the extra cash. The boss came initially to assess the site and gave me very good suggestion to alter the panel orientation. Oversaw the unloading of the panels to check they had no physical defects. Left the site during the installation, then came back to do take me through a thorough walkthrough of the installation. Done once, and done right.

  • eek on 06/07/2021 - 10:43
    +1

    Wow, I guess they needed to save the 1m of rail and DC cable to install a panel 500mm further apart to avoid the vent. Seems dumb? They also probably didn't want it casting a shadow on the panels :P

  • bamzero on 06/07/2021 - 10:46

    Stink pipe. Classic dodgy installer move, cut if off as it was going to shade the panels. (edit: OK, I see from your comment wasn't shading, was in the way of the panel. If the panel fit, they probably would have left it and then you would have had shading issues anyway) How much conduit did they use on your roof while we're at it?

    By the sounds of it, you're gonna need to post pics of it on here

  • Zondor on 06/07/2021 - 10:49
    +2

    Yep just don't pay until the work is complete, or hold out as long as possible. The second they have your money they don't care anymore.

    I had the same thing with my solar install
    https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/514029

  • Cave Fire on 06/07/2021 - 10:55

    Do you have photos of the completed install? Or did they show you the panels before they were installed? Common scam is to install random cheaper panels. Kind of afraid to check mine as the installer did a few dodgy things as well.

    • Emojii on 06/07/2021 - 13:14

      I did climbed up the roof yesterday but forgot to take photos.
      The panels were delivered 2 days before the installation date. I don't think there's brand name printed on the panels. I doubt they give me cheaper panels as the Jinko is already a budget one.

  • Kiro on 06/07/2021 - 12:53
    +2

    That vent pipe dose 2 things. 1 it vents gases built up in your sewer line and 2. It creates a low pressure system so the high pressure system which is the main line can easily syphon your sewer line as required.

    If this wasn't installed then it's like drinking through a straw with you squeezing the straw.

    This is an actual statutory requirement in the plumbing trade and by cutting this off they could compromise your system.
    It actually has to be over roof line and not cut at roof line. The cap is to not let birds nest or vermin get in and to limit water ingress.

    Edit: don't pay until all works rectified and your satisfied with the commissioning results.

    • richmond12 on 07/07/2021 - 00:41

      Do all houses have this? I dont see any on mine

      • Kiro on 07/07/2021 - 12:12

        They should.

  • striker5950 on 06/07/2021 - 13:30
    +1

    so out of 64 recommended installers in Sydney 22 are SEC approved, does that stand for anything or is it another membership fee gold start bullshit sticker tactic? https://www.solarquotes.com.au/installers/cities/sydney/

  • BestofOZB on 06/07/2021 - 15:16
    +1

    Your power will stink 😅

  • Poor Ass on 06/07/2021 - 16:48

    100% stank pipe

  • Nuggets on 06/07/2021 - 16:51

    Others have mentioned it, but do not pay until you're satisfied and they have fixed everything. The moment you pay they will stop caring.

    Also, check if your sungrow inverter emits a high pitched buzzing noise when you use appliances in your house (while it's sunny outside obviously). We got a sungrow, and when running the TV, microwave, and other various appliances, there was a distinct buzzing noise that didn't bother my parents but gave a headache to anyone who could hear it.

    We ended up getting a more expensive inverter put in by the installers that didn't generate "noisy" electricity.

  • Heejag on 06/07/2021 - 16:57
    -1

    Hi there
    In my case the guy installed solar and did not get feed in approved. So i contacted solar victoria and send all the details and they suspend his licence so that guy contacted me after and apologise as well as offered me some compension.
    So even if you pay him they can not escape. Solar victoria is there to help you and you will not loose anything. They take this things very seriously.

  • JelIyfish on 06/07/2021 - 17:09
    +1

    $7285 for a 6.6kw system doesn't sound overly cheap and you have mentioned the products are low end.

    I had a 9.1kw system installed for $12k 6 months ago incl. micro inverters, quality brands (Q Cell / Enphase) and a quality install.

    The company I used probably wasn't the cheapest around but hearing stories like the OP's I am glad I paid the extra $$ !

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