Between the environmental and financial benefits, there are quite a few reasons to invest in solar panels at home. That said, this is not a project you should jump into quickly. Instead, planning the ideal system takes time and preparation. Luckily, the list below will help you begin your preparation the right way. Keep reading to learn the top things to know before installing solar panels at home.
Roofing Quality
One of the first things you should consider before the installation is the state of your roof. Simply put, is your roof in good or bad shape? If your roof is in poor condition, you should invest in repairs or a replacement to ensure the solar panel crew can conduct their work safely. Even if your roof isn’t in awful condition, updating old roofs before installing solar systems prevents having to uninstall and reinstall them throughout your roof repairs.
Alternative Designs
Luckily, when a roof isn’t the right fit for solar panels, you can find alternatives. For example, one of the most helpful things to know before installing solar panels at home is that solar pergolas exist. The pergola sits in your backyard with the panels lying across the top, providing clean energy to your home and convenient shade in your yard. However, this still begs the question, Do you want to be off-grid or grid-tied?
Going Off-Grid
It’s understandable for homeowners to assume that buying solar panels inherently means they’re off the grid and won’t have to worry about power blackouts. However, the topic is a bit more complex. If you want to enjoy the benefits of off-grid solar energy, including avoiding grid-related blackouts, that’s a design aspect you must discuss with your service provider beforehand. For instance, off-grid solar systems require a solar battery to store energy on-site independently.
Learning much new solar-related terminology can be daunting, but it’s an education that will pay off in the long run. After all, having solar panels at home is one of the best ways to teach your kids about solar energy, passing that knowledge on for years to come. Now that you know the first steps to take, you can plan your ideal solar system today.
