Important Questions When Considering Solar Energy for Home Power Use 

One of the huge attractions of solar panels for your home is the financial savings. Some statistics suggest that for the same power use, homes could save nearly $1,500 per year on average.

Solar energy isn’t the best solution for everyone though. Here are some of the most important questions you want to have answered before you decide to go ahead with investing in solar energy for your home.

What’s Your Power Use?

You want to know how much energy your home uses on average so you know how big a solar energy system you’ll need, and can work out the cost and the savings.

There are online estimators you can use to get an estimate of energy usage for individual appliances.

You can also use a home energy monitor for a more accurate reading.

Do You Have the Right Roof?

To maximize exposure to sunlight, solar panels are best placed on southern-facing roofs, as the sun will remain overhead from sunrise to sunset.

Large square or rectangular spaces are also better for solar panel performance as they give a clearer surface to absorb more solar energy.

Solar panels are installed with a long-term view and will usually last for 25 years or more. You want to make sure that your roof is in a good enough condition to support the panels for their lifespan.

Are You in the Right Location?

You will get more benefit from solar panels in areas with more sunlight.

This doesn’t just mean the local climate in the city or state you live in. It also means having access to space on your roof that is or can be made to be, unshaded to maximize exposure to sunlight.

Will You Be in Your Home for a Few Years?

The financial saving from solar panels isn’t immediate.

It builds over years and the average payback period, where you will have saved more than you spent, is seven years.

Installing solar panels can add on average 4.1% to the value of your home. 

If you are thinking about moving in the next few years, you’ll want to consider whether you’ll still be in your home long enough to get a return on your investment in solar energy.

Choosing a Provider

If you are seriously looking at installing solar panels, get quotes from multiple, trusted local providers.

You can search online for “solar panel installation near me” and see what results you get.

Getting multiple quotes will help you understand what different companies offer and a better idea of the price you can expect to pay.

Also, make sure any companies you speak to meet any state and national licensing requirements.

Get full details on what is and isn’t covered under any warranties for the panels as well as for the work they carry out.

Solar panel warranties won’t always be the same as workmanship warranties and you want to make sure you’re covered for both.

Next Steps

If answering the above questions helps you decide that solar energy is right for your home, and you are ready to get a system installed that covers your power use then the next thing to check is to speak to a professional.

They will be able to talk to you about your needs and your home’s suitability, as well as provide a quote. 

For more tips on maintaining your home, check out some of our other blog posts.