Preparing Your Home For A Solar Panel Installation
Solar power is a convenient way to reduce residential electricity bills and start making a positive impact on the environment.
03/12/2021
Solar power is the future. It is a convenient way to reduce residential electricity bills and start making a positive impact on the environment.
If you’re a homeowner looking to save some money and the environment by installing a residential solar energy system, you’ll want to know how to prepare yourself and your home.
Here’s a list of the things you need to consider when getting ready:
1. Consider The Amount Of Electricity You Need
First, you should decide how much solar power you need. Most solar powered homes have a system that can produce close to 100 percent of their electricity usage. Still, this is dependent on the space you have for installation, as well as your available budget.
To determine how many solar panels you require, review your electric bill and take note of how many kilowatt-hours (kWh) you use in a month. Then, you can call a solar installer and ask for a quote. It’s estimated that the average home will need about 20 – 25 solar panels, depending on geographic location, the panel’s rated power and efficiency, and personal energy consumption, to cover 100 percent of the electricity usage.
2. Think About Local Regulations
In most cases, you’ll probably need a few regulatory approvals from your local government before installing your residential solar energy system. In addition to getting permits from your local building departments, you’ll also need a permit from your utility provider.
The paperwork for pre-installation can be both time-consuming and daunting. However, those two are essential in order to make sure you don’t run into troubles during and after the installation of your residential solar panels. Your solar installer should help you during this process since they are better acquainted with what kind of paperwork is required.
3. Choose The Right Location
In order to maximize the efficiency of your solar energy system, you need a sunny spot without any shade. The best area to place panels for homes in the northern hemisphere is the south-facing roofs. However, if the home is heavily shaded because of nearby trees, then you might want to consider having those trimmed or removed.
You can also place solar panels on your east- or west-facing roofs. While those areas are slightly less exposed to sunlight compared to south-facing areas, you can add a few more panels to compensate for not getting as much power per panel. If there are no good spots on your roof, you should consider a ground-mount solar system, especially if you have a wide property that gets nice sun exposure.
You’d want to keep the solar panels close to your utility connection in order to keep costs down and solar efficiency up. The further away your solar panels are, the higher the cost of labor and materials necessary to connect the system to your home.
5. Do Necessary Upgrades or Repairs
If you’re going for a roof-mounted solar system, you need to make sure that your roof can handle the extra weight. In general, a solar panel can weigh 2.5 – 27 pounds per square foot. Fortunately, most roofs can handle that much weight without extra support. Still, you should consult with a building inspector to make sure that your roof is structurally sound, especially if it’s already more than a couple of years old.
While you’re at it, ask the inspector to check for the condition of your roofing materials before starting with the installation. It makes sense to do any necessary roof repairs such as missing shingle replacement before installing the solar panels. You don’t want to have your solar panels installed only to be removed next year just to make way for repairs that could have been done long ago. Last but not least, you should also consider building a separate storage cabinet or utility nook to house other solar energy system equipment such as electrical inverters, or batteries.
5. Ensure Home Power Efficiency
Installing solar panels can only be efficient if other aspects of your home are accommodating or working perfectly with your new power system. You could make a few tweaks to enhance your solar system and overall home power efficiency.
- • Replace your old bulbs with high-efficiency LEDs or CFLs.
- • Check your attic and roof for leaks
- • Install ventilation systems
- • Replace air filters in HVACs, vents, and appliances
- • Check each window and door and seal any cracks, gaps, or holes
- • Invest in energy-smart power timers or strips for electronics
Conclusion
Investing in residential solar power is an expensive decision. Thus, when you decide to switch to solar power, you want to be fully informed so you can prepare your home for a streamlined installation process. Make sure to follow the above tips and you’d be able to enjoy the wonderful benefits of having a solar-powered home.