3 Things To Do Before Having Solar Panels Installed
Posted on: 3 November 2020
If you live in an area that has a lot of sunny days every year, opting to have solar panels installed on your home makes a lot of sense. When you have solar panels, you can drastically reduce your electric bill while also having the peace of mind of knowing that you're utilizing clean energy that is good for the environment. However, you should not make the decision to have solar panels installed on a whim — it is important to be prepared. Before you have new solar panels installed, make sure to do the following things:
Have Your Roof Inspected
Almost all residential solar panels are installed on a home's roof, so you need to make sure that your roof is in good condition before the installation. Your best bet is to hire an experienced roofing contractor for a comprehensive inspection. If the roofing contractor discovers that your roof has issues, make sure that you have repairs done before you have solar panels installed. In the event that the roofing contractor tells you that you will need to replace your roof in the near future, you should not have the solar panels installed until the new roof is in place.
Know Your Average Household Energy Usage
The size and number of solar panels you need will depend on a few factors, including how much electricity your household uses on average during the month. Too few solar panels or solar panels that are too small will not be able to produce all of the energy that you need. Thus, it is important to know your average household energy usage before you schedule a date to have solar panels installed. A simple way to determine your energy usage is by collecting all of your electricity bills from the past year. The solar contractor that you work with will be able to use the information from your electric bills to determine how many solar panels you need and what size they should be.
Figure Out How You're Going to Pay
Prior to having solar panels installed, you will need to figure out how you're going to pay for them. Homeowners typically have the option of purchasing the solar panels or leasing them. If you decide to purchase the panels, you can either pay in full or look into financing options. When you lease solar panels, you will not own them, but you will make a small payment each month to use them.
Contact a company that offers solar installation services to learn more.
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