How to go about installing solar panels on your home
Are you thinking about adding a solar power system to your home? Some 3 million systems sit atop American roofs, including about 400,000 installed each year in 2019 and 2020, according to Becca Jones-Albertus, director of the Solar Energy Technologies Office at the U.S. Energy Department.
For many homeowners, the decision to go solar is a two-part process. The first is the financial side: Will the investment ultimately pay for itself and reduce or eliminate electric bills? Assuming the answer is yes, then you are ready to dive into the second – and more practical – part of the process: How do I get quality solar photovoltaic panels installed at my home by trustworthy professionals? Here are answers to some basic questions to get you started.
How does solar work? Multiple panels are wired together into a solar array. When sunlight hits the panels, the energy is converted into usable electricity. Your home consumes the electricity produced by the system. The solar array connects to the local grid, so you receive electricity when panels aren’t producing enough or any electricity. The grid also stores any excess solar energy you produce and, through
“net metering,” ensures you get credit for all of the electricity your system creates, whether you consume it immediately or send it to the grid and use it later.
Is my roof good for solar? Adequate sunlight is key. Solar panels won’t work for rooftops heavily shaded by trees or adjacent structures, says Jason Gonos, co-owner of Power Production Management in Gainesville, Fla. Other roadblocks include insufficient roof space, a complex roof design, or the age and slope of your roof. Typically, solar panels perform best on south-facing roofs with a slope between 15 and 40 degrees. However, east- and west-facing roofs also work.
My roof is kind of old. Does that matter? Yes. Your roof should be less than 10 years old or, if it’s a roof with a longer-lasting material, such as tile or slate, have at least 10 years of life left. It should also be in good to excellent condition.
Are all solar panels alike? Although panels operate similarly, the key difference is efficiency: how much sunlight they convert into energy. Typically, high-efficiency panels come with a higher price tag but produce more electricity over the life of the system. If you have a smaller roof, you may opt for more efficient panels. Those with a larger roof may also choose highefficiency panels to use fewer of them overall, says Peter Faricy, chief executive of SunPower, a leading residential and commercial solar company based in San Jose.
Do panels work in all climates? You don’t have to live in sunny California or Arizona to go solar.
One of the largest adopters of solar is Vermont, Jones-Albertus says. Of course, panels produce more energy on clear, sunny days in the spring, summer and fall, but even on winter’s shortest days or during rainstorms, the panels will generate some electricity. Although a snow-covered panel can’t generate electricity, snow doesn’t stick too long to the steep, slick panels.
Are solar panels easily damaged? They are built to withstand wind, hail, snow and torrential rain. According to Gonos, at minimum, a solar panel can take a pummeling by up to one-inch hailstones. Any weather event that will break panels will probably damage your roof first. “In fact, the biggest problem is not hail or storms. It’s squirrels that chew the wires,” says Ben Delman, spokesperson for Solar United Neighbors, a nonprofit that helps people go solar.
How do I find an installer? Ask friends, neighbors and family who have gone solar about their experiences. Check review websites such as EnergySage, SolarReviews, ConsumerAffairs and Verified Reviews. When looking at reviews, make sure you are comparing your roof with ones of a similar material (slate, tile, shingle).
What am I looking for? You want a company that has been in the business for a long time and will see the process through from beginning to end. Avoid those selling solar energy systems installed by a third party. These are intermediaries who hire contractors and bear no responsibility for installation quality or performance. Gonos is a proponent of local companies. “I like that I can walk into their office or showroom,” he says.
How do I get started? Once you have a list of companies you want to consider, invite at least three to your home. Typically, each will do an on-site inspection and roof review using satellite images, then give you a proposal. A good company will be honest about your roof’s condition and other issues, Gonos says. Ask if you can see the company’s work and visit homeowners from previous jobs.
What questions should I ask? How long have you been in business? Do you carry insurance, contractor liability and workers’ compensation? If there’s damage during installation, who does the repairs? Are there other fees, such as permitting or connecting to the electrical grid, or is this turnkey pricing? When is the price final? What kind of warranties come with my system? Your installation should come with three warranties: product, performance and labor. Product warranties cover potential defects in your equipment. Performance warranties guarantee that your panels won’t degrade by more than a certain percentage per year and will still produce a minimum percentage of their initial rated capacity for a set number of years. Both of these warranties should be for 25 to 30 years. A labor warranty covers the installer’s work, including electrical wiring and roof damage. These typically run three to 10 years.
Do solar panels require much maintenance?
They don’t need to be washed; rain and snow will do the job. If you live in a dry, dusty area, an occasional professional cleaning may improve performance.