All You Need to Know About Solar Panels Before Installing Them

Installing solar panels can either sound like a time-consuming task or something you’ve been wanting to take on in your home for a long time. There are many benefits of solar energy, but there are also some things you should know about and consider.

So, where do you even start? How do you know if solar panels are right for you?

Keep reading to learn all you need to know about solar panels before installing them or having them installed.

How Do Solar Panels Work?

Something important you should first consider asking about is how solar panels work for you and your home. While solar panels can be quite an investment, they can also be quite worth it in the long run.

Many residential and commercial properties have taken to solar panels recently, and their popularity is only growing.

Solar panels are especially great to invest in if you live in a particularly sunny area of the world, or if you get at least 6 hours of sunlight a day. They still work in less sunny places, though. At a minimum, they can help you reduce your overall electricity consumption.

If a purely solar-home is not possible for you, it’s quite possible to marry solar power and electricity together. Either way, you’re helping the planet and lessening your carbon footprint.

Are They a Fit for Your Home?

When it comes to whether or not you have a suitable roof, that’s going to be a question for your solar panel installation company. Typically, the installation company will come to your home, inspect your roof, provide a quote, and even potential alternatives if your roof turns out to not be a fit.

Ideally, your roof is going to be in a sunny location, pitched at a 30-35-degree angle, and face north, east, or west.

Also, solar panels are not going to affect the overall state of your roof and should not affect whether or not you’re able to have a new roof put on later down the line. It is smart, however, to have your roof assessed before installation.

If you need a new one, then now is definitely the time to get it, but if you don’t then there’s no need to worry. It’s possible to get a new roof even after you’ve had solar panels installed.

Maintenance and Upkeep

Solar panel maintenance is minimal. They may need the occasional hose down if dirt, dust, or other debris settle on top of them. You should also have them expected every few years by your installer, but be sure to ask them how often your panels should be inspected and about other general maintenance since this can vary depending on your panels.

Panels are likely to come with a 25-year warranty and another 5-10 year warranty on the inverter (this is the part that converts DC to AC).

The technology that keeps any solar panels up and running is essential to any home. Since you’re no longer going to have an electricity company to track your outages and fix this issue, it becomes your burden to bear.

By keeping up with any needed maintenance and other inspections, you’re going to ensure a longer life for your solar panels, and less of a chance for outages and other issues later down the line.

Pros and Cons of Solar Panels

There are a lot of advantages to switching to solar.

Panels are more economically-friendly, but you also gain independence from your city’s electricity grid, meaning savings on your energy bill.

When you switch to solar energy, you begin producing your own energy. When you produce your own energy, you don’t have to pay a middle man to supply energy to your home, you do it yourself! This not only saves money in the long run, but you can also sell excess energy to gain back some of the money you’ve paid.

Solar panels can also withstand a lot when it comes to weather and other natural disasters, including snow and hail.

The biggest downside to solar panels is their high initial cost, which can reach over $20,000. And while you do receive a generous return on investment, you can’t take any of the panels with you when you move.

If you have limited space, you might not even be able to install solar panels on your roof. Installing solar panels can take a lot of roof space, especially if you have a larger home, and it’s not going to be ideal for everyone. Areas that installers service might also be limited, which is can be another setback when deciding whether or not solar panels are right for you and your home.

The Positives Outweigh the Negatives

All in all, if you’re able to have solar panels installed for your home, it’s going to be worth it in the long run. It might take a few years for you to make back all the money you spent on the installation, but the impact you could have on the earth could be enough to convince some people that it’s worth it.

Also, though solar panel technology is not yet perfect, it is constantly changing and improving for the better. It’s already leaps and bounds ahead of traditional electricity grids, and it also allows you to reach new technological heights in your home.

Solar Panels Can Transform Your Home

The power and independence that solar panels bring your home can enough to make you want to switch on its own. While there are steps you can take to install your own solar panels, you should consider contacting a professional.

Doing so reduces the risk of you making a mistake with any materials you buy, meaning you may even end up saving money in your overall investment. Not only this, but you save time and energy on the installation — why not opt for it?

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