The average solar installation for a household in the United States is 20 panels or 5KW worth of panels.
However, installing residential solar panels is no small task. It’s an investment that can be costly and time-consuming. Installing these home solar panels in the wrong way will fail to provide any savings and create an additional cost for homeowners.
So how do you know what’s the best way to install residential solar panels?
This article will highlight the most important factors to think about before buying solar panels.
Where You Live
The climate and weather conditions in your area will determine how much sun hits your roof. And this will determine how effective installing solar panels will be for saving money on energy bills.
For example, if it’s cloudy or raining most of the time, installing residential solar panels probably won’t do much good.
On the other hand, installing solar panels will be well worth it if you live in an area with lots of sunlight and clear skies throughout the year.
Before installing residential solar panels, check to see how much sun your roof typically gets each day by using tools like Sun Hours Calculator.
How Much Energy You Consume
The amount of electricity you consume will determine how many solar panels you’ll need to buy and install.
But installing too many solar panels can be costly. And installing too few will leave you with a smaller return on investment over time.
So how much electricity do you use? You can find out by checking your last electric utility bill.
The size of your solar system will typically be determined by how much energy you consume. So installing too little power may not provide enough savings for homeowners to justify the cost.
How Much You Can Spend
Installing residential solar panels is an investment. And installing too many or not enough can be costly mistakes that could lead to a failed system and added expenses for homeowners.
So how much you spend on installing your solar power system will depend on:
- The size of the proposed project (i.e., number and wattage of panels)
- System design parameters like mounting type, array configuration
- Labor costs
The average cost for installing residential solar panels is about $12,000.
Tax Credits and Incentives
The cost of installing residential solar panels is high. And the return on investment can take years before homeowners see any savings from installing these systems.
To help offset the initial costs, several tax credits and incentives for installing residential solar panels will lower your total system price.
The Energy Policy Act of 2005 offers a 30% tax credit for installing solar panels.
In addition, some utility companies offer rebates and other incentives to homeowners who install residential solar power systems on their homes.
Choosing a Solar Contractor
Before installing a home solar system, homeowners will want to consider hiring a licensed contractor.
Hiring someone who is not properly trained or qualified can lead to problems during installation and long-term maintenance issues.
Your best bet is installing solar power systems with contractors like Blue Raven, who are experienced in designing and installing residential solar panels.
Installing Residential Solar Panels Simplified
Installing residential solar panels is a significant investment. It’s important to consider all of the factors that go into installing these systems on your home before making this decision.
If you follow the best practices highlighted in this article, you’ll be installing solar panels with confidence.
We hope you found this guide helpful. For more interesting articles, keep visiting our blog.
