To install solar panels for your home might be a dream solution to minimize electricity bills and have a renewable energy source at any time. Like any construction project, you need to go through several steps throughout the solar panels installation process. Solar energy has a range of advantages and disavantages which you can read about here.
What to Consider Before you Install Solar Panels
These are the factors you need to consider to ensure that everything related to installing your solar panels go according to your expectations. Let’s go over them.
Roof Type
There are many different roofing materials; each can affect how easy or challenging to install the individual solar panels.
- A corrugated iron roof is probably the best-case scenario to install a solar panel because you can easily attach the brackets to the roof’s battens.
- Terracotta roofs require a more meticulous process since each tile has to be removed and replaced carefully.
- Concrete rooftops, which you can find on commercial buildings, are the ones that usually take longer to install solar panels. The concrete roof density makes it difficult to install the brackets, but it is achievable.
In some cases, you might need to put extra support for your roof if it’s too brittle to handle the weight of your new solar panels.
Type of Solar Panels
Whether you want to install only the solar panels or solar panels and batteries can also impact the installation process.
When you want to install solar panels without a battery, the process is relatively simple. The installation crew only needs to connect the panel to your home’s electrical wiring, and that’s all of it.
But installing solar panels and batteries will require an additional step of connecting the panels and the batteries – which prolongs the installation process. Having batteries to store the power generated by your solar panels is a great energy solution when there’s no sun to power your house. For some tips on how to charge solar panels without the sun click here.
The Size of Solar Panel and Installation Crew
The larger your solar panels’ size, the longer it’s going to take. But even a large solar panel project can be handled quickly by a team of several skilled installation personnel.
Generally, an entire solar panel system could be installed in a few days, but it might slow down if the crew in charge is particularly new or small in size. That’s why you should do your homework in picking the right installation company and estimate how many team members you’ll need.
Be sure to work with the right company to provide a quality installation with a quick turnaround time. Most of the trouble during a solar panel installation comes from the lack of preparation – so ensure that you hire a team that checks all the boxes before installing solar panels for your home.
Inspection and Local Regulation
Depending on where you live, you might need a specific permit from local authorities before you can even start getting solar panels installed. The process of obtaining such a permit could either be quick and easy or dragged on.
When the permit is out, there is likely to be an inspection from your local authorities. When you work with a solar panel company that understands the local regulations, they’ll know what to prioritize to pass all the requirements. In turn, they will help you speed up the panel installation process quite dramatically.
Once you have your solar panels installed, there’s likely going to be a requirement to submit an application to the local utility company. Before turning on your solar panel roof for the first time, their representative will likely conduct a final inspection to ensure that everything runs correctly. In addition to an inspection, there might also be a new meter installation.
Weather
Since solar panels for homes are more than likely installed on your roof, the weather plays a vital role in shortening or delaying the process. Unfortunately, you can’t exactly see the schedule of a storm, a rain, or a blizzard – so it’s much harder to predict how long the installation is going to be in the spring or winter.
You can install solar panels at any time throughout the year with the risk of delay due to the weather, but the best course of action is to install your solar panels in summers where there’s less chance of rain.
Accessibility
The more accessible your location is, the faster the solar panels installation process would be. That also extends to the accessibility of your house’s roof. In commercial buildings with multiple stories, the access would be much more complicated than in regular homes.
It’s not only about how the installation crew can get up to the roof, but also how you can move the panels along with the required tools and materials up there.
Conclusion
Choosing the right solar panels company is a significant part that can affect how long the installation process will be. Be sure to work with a professional solar panel company that knows your local law’s ins and outs about renewable energy. When you can find those criteria in a solar company, the process to install solar panels on your roof will be quick and easy.
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