The promise of solar power is definitely an exciting one. It means you’ll save energy and you can lower your carbon footprint at the same time. However, a lot goes into purchasing, installing and using solar power, which means you may have some questions you didn’t ask. We’re here to help with some common questions that home and business owners, often forget to ask…
Typical solar panel installation for a home takes 3 days
How Long Does It Take to Install a Solar Power System?
It depends on the size of your system. However, on average, it won’t take any more than three days. For many homes, the job actually gets done in a single day. Installation time for businesses can vary from days to weeks, depending on the size of the project.
That being said, keep in mind that there are many things that must precede a solar installation. For one thing, you’ll need a permit. Depending on where you live and what the solar market is like there, this could take several months.
Will I Have to Remove the Panels If I Decide to Sell My House?
No, there is no requirement to remove your panels simply because you’re selling your home. In fact, most people will likely find that keeping panels on their roof helps to sell the home at a higher price. After all, the new owner has big savings on their utility bill to look forward to.
However, if you are only leasing your panels, you will either need to move the system to your new home or transfer the agreement to the buyers of your old residence.
Is There Seasonality to the Amount of Electricity That a Solar Power System Produces?
As solar power systems need exposure to sunlight in order to produce energy, there is definitely seasonality to how much electricity they can produce. Obviously, the more sun exposure, the more electricity a solar power system is able to create. Homes that see more sun throughout the year will get more electricity. Of course, even a house with only a few hours of sunlight a day will still be producing energy from the sun.
As the seasons change you may see a fluctuation in solar power performance
Will I Be the Only One in My Neighborhood to Have Power When the Electricity Goes Out?
This is a common misconception. As most solar panels are hooked up to the power grid. If the power grid goes down, your panels will shut off. That’s because it would be dangerous for your panels to be forcing electricity back out to the grid while technicians may be working on wires. This is why your own inverter will shut the panels down.
If you’re storing your electricity in batteries, then your system could continue to provide electricity to your home during a blackout.
However, if you live in an area prone to power outages or severe storms, you might consider purchasing a generator. This way, if a blackout does occur, you have all the energy you need for days at a time. A great place to start looking at backup generators is our article: When the Power Goes Out – These Generators Keep you Going
How Will I Power My Home at Night?
This will happen one of two ways. Like we mentioned above, you may be storing electricity in batteries, meaning when the sun goes down, you’ll use that stored energy.
On the other hand, if you’re connected to the power grid, you’ll get electricity from the power lines connected to your home.
Can I Recharge My Electric Car with the Power from My Solar Panels?
With the right set-up, you can charge your electric car with sun power
As long as you have the required equipment, you can power an electric car via your solar panels. Technically, you can power just about anything with the electricity your solar panels harvest. It just takes the right setup and sufficient energy on hand.
Hopefully, this covers most of the questions you might have about installing a solar power system. With those out of the way, you can focus on choosing the right installer and all the benefits that your solar system will be providing for many years to come.
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