Solar panels have grown in popularity, because many homeowners are looking for ways to lower their energy costs. But despite their financial and environmental benefits, they can also come with a high installation cost (which has to be paid upfront). So, it’s not practical for every home or homeowner.
If you want to know if a solar panel installation is right for you, you need to think about the following:
- The weather conditions in your area.
- The slope of your roof.
- Your average monthly energy usage.
- How long you plan to live in your home.
Before you can move forward with the installation process, you need to get a better understanding of all the possible financing options and policies that your local utility company has in place.
Here are some other factors to consider before you decide to go solar.
#1: The Amount of Sunlight
If your home is in an area that doesn’t get a lot of sunlight most of the year, you probably won’t benefit from a solar panel installation. You must carefully evaluate your specific energy needs and how much sunlight your property receives. Do you live in an area that gets a lot of sunlight, or is it cloudy most of the year? Knowing the answer to this question will help you to decide if solar panels would be a good energy solution for your home.
#2: Roof Size and Slope
Your roof’s orientation will be a determining factor on whether it can support a solar panel installation. Even the direction and angle of your roof can affect their efficiency. The ideal position is to the south at an angle of 30-45 degrees, because it will maximize the amount of sunlight the panels will receive.
If your home has a flat roof, you might still be able to install solar panels, but an experienced installer will know how to mount them in a way that will capture the most amount of sunlight. You also want to minimize the amount of shade or tree cover over your solar panels. If there are trees around your home, be sure to have enough in your budget to have them trimmed or removed.
#3: Roof Age and Condition
Solar panels can be installed on most roof types (including asphalt shingles as well as metal and flat roofs), but age and condition can affect the solar panel installation process and how efficient they will be once they have been installed. You should think about whether your roof is getting close to the end of its lifespan. If you have a tile roof, it’s a good idea to have some extra tiles in case they get cracked during installation.
#4: Current Energy Usage
Understanding your energy usage and how much your energy bills are each month will help you determine how much solar power you need to generate. A reputable installer will be able to estimate the cost per unit of power (which is measured in Watts), but you should also verify these numbers by comparing them with what’s listed on government websites. That way, you can be sure it will produce enough energy to replace what you currently generate on the grid.
#5: Budget and Financing
While solar panels can save you a great deal of money over the long term, it can cost more upfront to get them installed. You need to think about your installation budget to decide if the extra cost is worth the long-term savings. There are a number of financing options (such as solar leases and power purchase agreements).
Most systems will also come with long-term warranties and limited maintenance, but you need to think about any additional costs that may be associated with homeowner’s insurance and roof care. A solar panel installation may not be a good investment if you plan to live in your home for a few years before selling it. But if you want it to be your “forever home” and see those long-term savings accrue over the course of many decades, solar panels may be a good long-term investment.
#6: Incentives and Tax Credit Programs
There are a lot of programs that offer incentives to homeowners who switch to solar energy. There are also state programs for which many homeowners may be eligible, and many of them are rebate programs that will reimburse you after you have paid the upfront costs. You must be able to absorb the initial costs. You must also prepare all the necessary documentation and take steps to maximize every rebate incentive you’re owed.
Solar Considerations FAQ
Improving your home’s energy efficiency can reduce the size of the solar system you need, which will lower its cost. So if your home can use some energy-saving upgrades (such as new insulation or windows), it would be a good idea to do them first.
When you pair battery storage with your solar panels, you’ll make your home more energy resilient because you’ll have a backup power source. During power outages, solar storage can keep your lights, fridge, and other essentials running.
The cost of a solar panel installation will depend on the size of the system and a number of other factors, but it’s more affordable than you may think. The cost of solar panels has dropped in the last decade. There are also state and federal incentives that can help you lower the price even more.
You will still get an energy bill after a solar panel installation, but you should save money. It’s impossible to predict exactly how much savings you’ll get with solar panels, but installers should be able to give you a reasonable estimate. Your actual savings will depend on how much your electricity rates change and whether certain incentives (such as net metering) will be available in the future.
Your exact savings will also change throughout the year because of what’s referred to as “solar seasonality.” You want to get a clear understanding of your potential savings throughout the year and over the projected lifetime of your solar panel installation.
Deciding whether to buy or lease solar panels will depend on your personal preferences, financial goals, and available options. If you buy the system, it’s your property. In many cases, it will save you more in the long run. Leasing a system (often referred to as a “power purchase agreement”) will give you solar power from a home system without any upfront cost and with manageable monthly payments.
Unless you can pay for your panels up front or are leasing them, you will need to finance your system with a loan. Many reputable solar panel installation companies offer loans, but you can always shop around. If you can find a company with a variety of financing options, you’re more likely to secure a solar loan that’s structured to fit within your budget. That way, you can get long-term savings on your electric bill.
You will most likely have a number of solar warranties (product, performance, or installation) that’s associated with your energy system. But before you sign on the dotted line, you want to talk to your installer about what all of these warranties cover. You also want to ask the installer how long the coverage periods are and if you can extend them throughout the life of your solar panels.
Aside from your warranty coverage, you should talk to your installer about the likelihood of system damage as well as what kind of repair and maintenance procedures will be required (even if solar panel maintenance is usually infrequent). If you’re covered by a maintenance and monitoring plan, your installer will have a dedicated customer service team that can send out your request and repair the part as quickly as possible. That way, you can be sure to have a system that will be up and running without too much time offline.
If you purchase an electric vehicle or grow your family, your electricity consumption will grow. If you believe you may need to expand your solar system in the future, talk to your installer about what’s possible and what an upgrade may look like. Depending on how your system is set up and your available space, it may be a good idea to oversize your solar system instead of adding more panels later on. Your installer may also be able to make an expansion easier by designing a microinverter-based solar system.
A company that sets an installation timeline and has a history of projects to prove it is more likely to deliver a good result. When you’re talking to your installer, be sure to ask about the expected installation schedule. The installer may not be able to give you an exact interconnection date during your initial conversation, but reputable companies should be able to give you a breakdown of the timeline for installation (including permitting, equipment delivery, and construction).
If you’re looking for one of the best places to install solar power systems in Corpus Christi, be sure to get in touch with Solar Power Integrator.