What about warranty coverage on a solar system?
Solar modules have a 25-year manufacturer's warranty, and most inverters have a 15-year warranty. Performance efficiency for modules, after 25-years, is warranted to be at least 80% of the initial output. Batteries for off-grid systems generally last 7-10 years if properly maintained.
How durable are solar modules?
Solar modules are UL certified and tested to withstand hail, hurricane force winds, and rainstorms. Solar modules are extremely durable: they come with a full guarantee and are designed to withstand severe weather of all types.
What is the maintenance on PV panels?
Solar modules are virtually maintenance free. Basically all that is needed is to keep them relatively clean. In most areas, rain cleans them off.
If I sell my house, can I take my solar electric system?
Although you can take your solar electric system with you if you move, it usually is better to leave it on the original house because it increases the resale value of a home.
How will the weather affect my solar system?
Solar electric systems are designed to withstand all weather conditions. Lightning, wind up to 80 miles per hour, and extreme temperatures are all things your solar system can handle. However, these conditions will temporarily reduce its energy production.
How do I determine what size of system I need?
Several factors affect system sizing. Perhaps the biggest is how much unshaded area is available for your array. Another is your budget available for a solar system. The third is the percentage of your monthly or annual power ususage that you wish to produce with your solar system.
Will the system still produce electricity on cloudy days?
Yes, though they produce less electricity. Under a light overcast sky, panels will probably produce about half as much as under full sun conditions.
How can I finance a solar energy system installation?
Many homeowners choose to pay for their solar electric systems by refinancing their mortgages or by taking out home equity loans. Solar systems significantly increase the value of your home. For those buying or building new homes, the cost of the solar electric system can usually be added into your mortgage. There are also lenders that specialize in renewable energy customers and we can help you explore those options.
Other financing options for commercial solar energy projects are property secured loans, capital equipment loans, equipment secured loans, and third-party financing.
Where will you mount the solar modules – how much space is needed?
The amount of space you need and the location of the solar modules will depend on both your site and your energy needs. We can install the solar energy system on either your roof or open ground space. The key factors are unshaded space and the amount of power you wish to produce.
How long does the installation process take?
On a typical roof mounted residential system, the physical installation of racking, modules and associated components usually takes one to three days. This is dependent of the size of the array and the height and pitch of your roof (for roof mounted systems). Ground mounted systems may take longer as they require setting of the pole(s) and the associated trenching and conduit back to the grid connection point.
A large commercial system obviously requires much more time and is dependent of many factors that are not found in home system installs.
