Solar Panels: What You Need to Know
If you know anything about clean energy, odds are you have heard about solar panels. Solar panels can reduce your electricity costs and increase the value of your property, all without damaging or affecting your roof.
There are plenty of residential areas where homes are beginning to use solar power instead of the traditional electricity from the main grid. And the great thing is, solar power isn’t just for family homes; the real estate experts at Northern Virginia Home Pro explain that you can make the transition to solar panels even if you live in or own a condo. Here’s everything you need to know about solar panels.
Electricity
The point of investing in solar panels is electricity, isn’t it? A lot of people are less clear about how solar panels work. A solar inverter takes DC electricity from the solar array and creates AC electricity. What happens is the sunlight will make contact with the solar panel. The panel then converts the energy to power your home. This is a simple process that provides your home or condo with clean and affordable energy.
What happens to the energy that you do not use or what happens at night when there is no solar energy?
You need to know that during the day, your solar panels will produce more energy than you need. The energy is fed back to the grid. When this happens, you receive credit and you can draw from the conventional grid whenever your solar panels are not fed. You get the best grid tie inverter from the solarenergyhub.com.
Roofing
Most condo residents maintain the interior of their condos, but the condominium association will look after exterior maintenance – and that usually includes the roof. Before you make any changes to your condo roof, get in touch and find out what your rights and requirements are.
Ultimately, your roof should take priority in terms of considerations before you install solar panels. Your roof has to have enough access to natural light. If your roof is covered in shade, you may have to reconsider positioning or what’s causing the shade around your property. You should also consider how much maintenance your roof needs. If you need maintenance or repairs soon, then you may want to wait until it’s time to redo your roof, because you can install the solar panels around the same time which will be a lot cheaper.
In addition to the state of your roof, you need to think about your yard. Do you have a lot of trees or do you plan to plant new trees around the yard that may turn into an issue for your solar panels in a few years. You want to make sure that you’re prepared to handle pruning and landscaping to ensure that your solar panels aren’t obstructed by anything.
Longevity
Before you or your condominium association install solar panels, it’s crucial that you know how long they are going to last. First, you may appreciate the fact that the solar panels do not need a lot of maintenance. There are only extreme circumstances where your solar panels may need to be washed or cleaned and that is the only type of maintenance that you really would need. If you have a problem with your solar panels, most come with a warranty.
Solar systems are incredibly durable. Most last around 25 years and have a warranty for that time. Most solar panels are going to continue to generate electricity throughout the length of its lifespan.
Costs
Energy costs are on the rise. As electricity prices go up, so does the bill that you receive every month. When you invest in solar power, the panels are absolutely an investment but they eventually begin to pay for themselves. When you invest in solar energy, you not only increase the value of your home, but you no longer have unpredictable electricity costs. It’s easier for customers to predict the price of the electric bill every month. For most, solar panels reduce the bill, but it’s also important to recognize that every bill is different. Your bill will still depend on your energy usage and other fees.
Funding
A solar loan provides you with the ability to pay for solar panels over a length of time. This type of loan works similarly to other types of loans. You receive a loan for the money to pay for the solar panel installation and then you can pay it off. A lot of homeowners do not have the money to install solar panels right away. Yet, they still want to be able to take advantage of the benefits of solar panels as soon as possible. A lack of funds should not prevent you from taking advantage of the various tax credits and other incentives that investing in solar panels can provide.
FAQs
1. How to install solar panels?
The most important thing to know about solar panels is how to connect it to the home’s existing electricity supply. Once you have the solar panels for your home and other required parts, you’ll need to put the inverter inside the power outlet and plug it in. Doing so will charge your battery.
Then, you’ll have to place a plate over the inverter to protect it from any moisture and sunlight. It’s also necessary to place a plastic sheet over the inverter to protect it from the weather and any moisture. Once you have everything installed properly, you will be able to use it.
2. What are the benefits of solar power?
Solar is a great source of renewable power that provides plenty of benefits, such as saving money on electricity bills and help save the environment by reducing your carbon footprint.
3. How should you choose a solar system company?
Look for a company that has plenty of experience in dealing with your needs. It’s also helpful to look for reviews online or in forums to see if there are any complaints about a prospective company. You also want to look for customer service reviews as this will help you decide on a company that you feel comfortable working with.
There are some companies that offer free estimates, but it’s important that you take the time to get the best deal possible. Also, make sure you look into the different companies to see if they offer any kind of money-back guarantees. If they do, it’s a sign that they stand behind their products and their quality.
4. What are the important considerations before installing solar panels?
Make sure that you know the pros and cons of each type of panel, as well as how it will work in your situation. To make sure the parts aren’t going to be a problem down the road, find out the manufacturer’s warranty on the panels so you can check.
There are so many reasons why homeowners should consider solar energy to power their homes. Not only is it better on the environment, but it can also cut your energy bills down to nearly nothing. While most people know that solar energy is cleaner and may have monetary benefits, there are a lot of uncertainties too. Most of these uncertainties come from a lack of knowledge about solar panels. This guide is here to ease your mind on solar power and what’s involved in installing solar panels to your roof.
