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What You Need to Know Before Adopting Solar Energy

More homeowners are considering purchasing solar panels these days, but there are a variety of factors to consider before taking the plunge into solar energy adoption. There’s no denying that solar panels can help homeowners reduce their energy bills and carbon footprints in one fell swoop. However, there are many facets to take into account before investing in this important home upgrade. Ask these questions before deciding for or against solar panel installation.

How Do Solar Panels Work?

Before adoption solar energy, it’s important to discover how solar panels work. Solar panels are made up of numerous photovoltaic cells; when these cells are combined together on a single panel, they create an electric field. Solar energy systems include inverters, which are designed to transform direct current into alternative current, allowing the energy gathered from the sun to be used to power your home.

Is My Rooftop Suitable for Solar Panel Installation?

The first question that needs answering involves your current roof. If your home is covered in dense shade throughout most of the day, it may not be able to capitalize on enough sun to make your investment worth it. You also need to consider whether your roof’s structure is sound enough to support solar panels. Solar installations are generally under warranty for upward of 20 years. If you believe you’ll need to restore your roof before this time is up, it’s wiser to handle renovations before beginning solar panel installation—otherwise you’ll be paying for someone to uninstall and then reinstall your panels.  If your roof isn’t suitable for solar panels, there are panels available for ground installation as well, providing you have the yard space.

Are Solar Panels Hard to Maintain?

Solar panels don’t present many maintenance tasks, and many homeowners find this investment is largely hands-off for decades. The most important facet of solar panel maintenance is cleaning. If your neighborhood experiences larger amounts of dust, dirt, or even bird droppings, it’s important to have your panels cleaned more frequently. Left unchecked, buildup of dirt and grime can block proper absorption of the sun, rendering your panels less useful.

Are Solar Panel Systems Expensive?

The short answer: yes. Solar panel installation can easily cost tens of thousands of dollars. They are by no means the most inexpensive power alternative available, but their long-term benefits often see homeowners recouping their investment within just a few years’ time. Overall cost is largely dependent on how large your home is, how large your intended solar panel is, and how much energy you’d like to generate. Keep in mind that current federal tax credits can help reduce the cost by up to 30 percent. There are plenty of financing options available, and if you want to cash in on government rebates and incentives, the time is now. The more popular solar energy becomes, the fewer incentives you’ll find offered.

Do You Have a Trusted Installer?

Finding a trusted, qualified installer is one of the most important facets of solar panel system shopping. Solar panel installation is a complicated process, and you’ll want to find an experienced individual that understands the ins and outs of home improvement projects while taking the risks and dangers of electrical work into consideration. Only work with credentialed and verified installers. As solar panels constitute such a large investment, it’s important and understandable that you take your time and consider multiple contractors before signing the contract. Working with programs like HERO from Renovate America means hiring from a pool of skilled contractors to install your solar panels. These companies generally work with a network of trusted contractors; while they’re not employed through the company, they have to undergo rigorous checks before they can take on jobs financed through the program. The benefits of hiring an installer through a program like this? Your contractor isn’t paid until the job is completed to your satisfaction, guaranteeing you a fantastic end product.

Choosing to go solar is no small decision, but the benefits of this home improvement project can be vast. If you’ve decided to adopt solar energy and are looking for ways to get started with installation, be sure to cover these aspects first.

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