Installing Solar Panels? Here’s What You Need to Know First

If you’ve been noticing an increase in your energy bills recently, you might want to consider going solar. Although this could be a big step, it can prove quite fruitful in the long run. Once you become aware of your energy consumption and how to manage it with solar panels, your life will change for the better.

Not only will you be satisfied with the lower energy bills, but you will also feel better about yourself for using a clean and sustainable energy source. If you want to go solar, make sure you check out the following guide first.

A Roof for Solar Panels

The first thing you’ll need to consider is whether your house is suitable for solar energy. Typically, solar panels are placed on your house roofs and need adequate exposure to sunlight. To know whether your house fits the bill, here is what to look for:

• Minimal shade: if you install panels in shade, they won’t really be as effective when exposed to direct sunlight. Therefore, if your house is built in the shade of a large building, for example, you won’t be able to go solar.
• Roof direction: in order to get the most out of your solar panels, they need to be installed on a roof that faces north. They can work effectively if they’re placed east-west.
• Energy bills: if you get energy bills that are at least $300 per quarter, then you might want to save with solar panels, but that depends on how high energy bills are for you. Of course, the higher the energy bill is, the more you’ll need to install solar panels

How Much Energy Will It Save?

This can be a difficult question to answer as there will be several elements at play here. However, the folks at fireflyenergyllc.com/orange-county/laguna-niguel/ explain that this step is crucial in order to understand how much money you can save per year. You can roughly estimate how much you’re going to save by multiplying your average electricity rate by the solar system size by 1,168 (a guesstimate of solar production that might vary depending on where you live). You can find your electricity rate on the energy bill. As for the solar system size, it refers to the capacity of the system and it is measured in kilowatts or kW. The number you get out of this calculation will indicate how much energy you can save per year.

Which Type of Panels to Buy

When it comes to installing solar panels, you will have two options: solar panels and inverters. If you opt for solar panels, make sure that you get them from a reputable company that has been selling these panels for years. Make sure to avoid panels that claim to have special properties. Inverters, on the other hand, might be a bit more expensive than panels, but they’re worth the investment, especially if you’re expecting to live in your current house for years to come. If you’re going for a rental property, though, make sure to get good-priced panels that have warranties.

Pricing

Before you go shopping for one, you should be a bit knowledgeable about solar power systems and their prices on the market. When it comes to solar systems, you will find high prices and low prices. Since high prices are not always an indicator of good quality, you might be confused as to which one to invest in. A general rule of the thumb is to go for mid-price range price, as they can never go wrong. If you pay too little, you may not get adequate after-sales service. You also won’t get your money’s worth and will have to wait for another 10 years to recoup. So, it is a good idea to buy a system that is no less $5,000 as this is considered the mid-range price.

Warranties

According to the company you buy from and your product, warranties will change. Usually, panel warranties will be up to 25 years. A 10-year warranty will cover your product. Both 15-year and 25-year warranties cover the performance of the panels. On the other hand, inverter warranties usually have a warranty that ranges between 5 and 10 years, but this number can be increased to 25 years depending on the product type.

Installing a solar system is a big decision to make, but if your house is qualified for it, you will be able to save thousands of dollars’ on energy bills. Be sure to make your calculations correctly in order to determine which type of system to get. Finally, make sure you see to it that you get a full and comprehensive contract that details financing aspects, expectations on performance, and warranty information.