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How to Prepare for Your Solar Installation

May 24, 2023

It's never been easier to have a solar installation in your home. More Americans are interested in turning their houses into more environmentally friendly environments. In addition to the clean energy, homeowners can look forward to the cost savings that come with accessing solar power. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, since 2014, the average cost of solar PV panels has dropped nearly 70%. Once you've decided to convert to this energy source, you'll need to prepare your home for the installation. Read on for some insight.


Consider Your Energy Needs

Before you make the leap to a solar power system, make sure you have considered all of your energy concerns. All solar panels and companies are not the same. You want to shop for a solar system that can provide the type of energy you need to power your entire home. Do you have a small space or a vast multi-room property? Think about any current and future appliances in your home. Objects such as refrigerators and washing machines will use more energy than a light bulb. However, if you have a large family that constantly has many things plugged in, such as computers, TVs, and so on, you should account for all that energy. Once you install solar panels, they can easily last for many years with proper maintenance, so you want to ensure you account for both your current and future needs.


Calculate Future Savings

Take an honest assessment of your monthly energy bills. When you account for how much you tend to pay every month compared to how much less you'll be paying once you install solar panels, it'll make you feel even better about your decision. Start planning for how you may allocate the money previously spent on such high energy bills. You may think about putting it into an investment account, or use those savings to further upgrade your home. For example, the type of appliances you have can affect the solar energy system you should install. If you currently have old appliances, installing new energy-efficient ones can save you money since they use less energy. You should also account for any future tax deductions you'll receive by installing solar panels.


Prep Your Roof

Solar panels will go on your roof. Therefore, you need to get your roof ready for the installation. How you prep your roof can change based on the type of roof you have and where your home is located. If your roof has damage such as holes, cracks, and loose shingles, call your local roofing contractor to make the necessary repairs. Or better yet, do a replacement if needed. Do you have a satellite dish on your home? If so, you may have to relocate it if it's in the way of the solar installation. Remember, where you place the panel on a roof can affect the amount of energy you get from the sun. If the sun's rays can't properly hit the panels, you won't have enough energy to fuel your home. It's important to confirm that your roof is compatible with solar panels before installation.


Get Permits

A typical solar installation means getting the right permits from your local government. Whether your solar panels are for your business or your home, the type of permits you need may change. The time it takes to get a permit can change based on where you live, so make sure you plan accordingly. Check with your solar installation company to see if they have any recommendations on assessing permits or if they can help you obtain them.


Remove Obstructions

Before your solar installation, you must ensure nothing gets in the way of the solar panel installation company. Take care to park your vehicles far from where the team will set up and work. They'll not only need space for the panels themselves but their vehicles and tools as well. Before they arrive, ask the installation team how much space they need to complete the job.


Solar panels are one of the best upgrades you can make to your home. Not only can you benefit from clean energy that helps the environment, but you'll also help your home budget. When ready to make this modern upgrade, contact Solar Savings Direct, Inc today. Our solar panel experts will ensure you have the best solar energy system available.

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If you have solar panels, or you're thinking about getting a solar system, you might have maintenance on your mind. Fortunately, solar panels don't really have moving parts that need a lot of upkeep, so maintaining them isn't a complicated process. Still, though, you'll need to be aware of their basic performance and condition, so you can maintain them or have them repaired as necessary. Dirt and debris can get onto your panels over time, and that can affect how well they do their job. Especially if you've had a big storm recently, experienced a long dry spell, or haven't performed any maintenance on your panels in a while, cleaning them can help. You can use a bucket of water or a hose, and just rinse or spray them off. If you aren't comfortable getting onto a ladder or the roof, it's easy and usually inexpensive to hire someone to wash off your panels for you, too. That's really the only kind of self-maintenance task your panels need, but it's a good idea to have them professionally inspected once per year, as well. That way, any potential issues beyond normal maintenance can be quickly corrected, so your panels stay working the way they should. There are even apps that can give you information about how well your panels are performing, so you can see when they need a maintenance rinse or other support. How often you need to clean your solar panels depends on where you live. A desert area could mean more build-up of dust on your panels, but an area with stormy weather might lead to increased debris such as leaves. It's important not to let too much time pass, though, because panels can be harder to clean if they become dirty and stay that way for a while.  The company that installs your panels, along with the manual that comes with them, can provide you with good scheduling advice. Having a schedule makes budgeting for maintenance easier, since you know basically what to expect. Maintenance is generally not very expensive, but it's still a good idea to be aware of and prepared for the costs of keeping your solar panels in good shape. If you have any other questions, check out our FAQ page or contact us today !
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