How To Avoid The Most Common Solar Panel Mistakes At All Costs

Did you look at the news over the last few weeks? You’ve come across stories about rising oil and gas prices. This has a direct impact on your ability to reach your financial goals.

People are turning to solar power to save money. They have more control over their energy bills and they contribute to the environment.

Solar panels are appealing for many other reasons. The cost of solar decreased by 70% since 2010.

The benefits of solar aren’t guaranteed, though. Homeowners make common solar panel mistakes when choosing and installing solar panels.

A little knowledge can take care of that quite easily. Keep reading to learn what the most common solar mistakes are and how you can avoid them.

1. Thinking You’re Completely Off-Grid

One of the most common solar panel mistakes people make is that they think solar panels free them of utility companies forever.

Solar panels take energy from the sun and convert it to power. Solar panels need to store that energy.

Going off-grid means that you have no ties to the power grid. You’ll need to have solar panels with a battery bank.

If you want to go off-grid, expect to pay for it. Battery storage is expensive and will increase the cost of your solar installation.

Most solar panel installations are tied to the grid. The connection to utility lines lets you store power without the need for an expensive battery.

You have an agreement with the power company. You contribute extra power to the grid. The utility company credits you for the contribution.

You’re able to draw power from the grid on an as-needed basis, so you will see a reduced power bill.

2. Ignoring the Sun’s Orientation

You can get the most out of your solar panels with a proper installation. The best solar panel installation is on a roof that faces south. The angle of the solar panels should be between 30 degrees and 45 degrees.

That doesn’t mean that your house is excluded because it falls outside of those benchmarks.

You can still get benefits from solar panels if they face east or west. You don’t want to have any obstructions between the sun and solar panels.

If considering solar, work with a professional solar installer to find out if your house is a good candidate for solar panels.

3. Not Taking Advantage of Financial Incentives

You might be aware of the federal tax credits available. Were you aware that they get reduced each year and they will expire?

Right now, qualifying installations can get a tax credit for 26% of the system. That drops to 22% in 2023. The tax credit is set to expire in 2024.

Congress could decide to extend the tax credit, but you don’t want to take that chance. Odds are, the credit won’t be as strong as it is now.

There are other financial incentives available for solar installations, too. Most states offer rebates and tax credits on solar panels, too.

Counties and municipalities may have solar power incentives. Do your research and learn what financial incentives you’re eligible for.

The best solar company knows every incentive available in your area. They may even help you with the paperwork to get the rebates and credits.

4. Underestimating Your Power Needs

Homeowners tend to think that they’ll install a couple of solar panels that will take care of their household needs.

They don’t realize that solar panels can only do so much. Plus, you have to have the right solar panels installed.

What you’re really doing is designing a mini-utility system. This requires careful planning and calculations.

Installers and homeowners must consider the size of the home, future needs, and current power usage.

People often don’t think about their future needs. If you have more kids or buy an electric vehicle, your power needs will change.

Solar panels last for 25 years. You want to make sure the panels you purchase now suit your needs later on.

5. Going With the Cheapest Option

It seems like all solar panels are the same, right? They’re not.

There are differences in voltage and storage capacity. The price of solar panels has dropped dramatically, but you’re still about to make a significant investment.

Don’t go with the least expensive panel based on price alone. You’re going to regret it within the first few years. You’ll probably end up spending more money to fix a bad decision.

6. Installing Solar Panels Piecemeal

Homeowners take costs into consideration, and it’s often the only consideration. In the interest of saving money, homeowners buy components from a variety of vendors.

They get what seem like great deals. Then they try to make the components work together in one fantastic solar system.

Solar panels don’t work like that. The best thing to do is invest in the entire solar panel system. You’ll have the safest system with compatible parts.

7. Not Evaluating Solar Panel Installers

Homeowners see an ad for a professional solar company and use them for the installation. They don’t bother to get quotes from other companies.

Compare quotes from at least three companies. You can see if there are companies that are overpriced or underpriced.

Get referrals and recommendations from the installers. Ask questions and thoroughly research the companies.

Avoid These Solar Panel Mistakes for the Best Residential Solar System

Solar panels are a great way to save money on energy bills when they seem to be going sky high. There are plenty of benefits of solar, but you could miss out on them if you make one of these solar panel mistakes.

Follow the tips laid out in this article, and you’ll have the perfect solar energy system for your home.

If you’re ready for more tips, be sure to check out the other articles on this blog.