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5 Tips on Picking Solar Installers for Homeowners

5-tips-on-picking-solar-installers-for-homeowners

Switching to solar energy is not just a positive for your household, but for the environment as a whole.

Making the switch to solar power protects the environment, lowers your carbon emissions, and helps you keep more money in your pocket since you won’t have to worry about an electric bill.

With these matters in mind, it’s crucially important for you to find the help and assistance of a solar energy company that can look out for you.

Not all of these companies are created equally, so give yourself the chance to get help from professionals that will look out for you. Picking solar installers becomes easier when you follow the tips in this article.

1. Do Your Solar Energy Research

Do as much research as you can into solar energy. The more that you know about this form of energy, the better chance you have of making a qualified and informed decision.

Come up with a list of questions to ask your prospective solar power experts and you’ll be well ahead of the game when it’s time to hire somebody.

2. Get Referrals on the Best Solar Installation Companies

Referrals are worth their weight in gold when you’re trying to find the top solar installation company in your area.

Just knowing that someone you trust hired the company and had a good experience can put your mind at ease. When you speak to the solar power company, you should also ask them if they can provide you with any references for customers that they have done business with.

This cuts out a lot of the red tape and helps you gauge a company’s credibility.

3. Browse Some Solar Panel Designs

Think about the aesthetic aspects of installing solar power.

Look through the portfolio of your solar power professionals to see what kind of designs they can set you up with. Choose a design that accentuates your roof and brings your entire home to life.

This will buy you plenty of great years out of your panels and will serve as a positive return on investment (ROI) for your home.

4. Get Cost Estimates

Speak to several different solar power professionals to see how much they will charge you for their systems. Ask them if they can apply the federal tax rebate to the purchase as well.

When you know how much these systems cost you, it becomes easier to shop around until you find a fair deal. Ask these professionals if they can price match as well to find the best solar power system for your budget.

5. Find a Company That Will Also Address the Maintenance

Finally, take a long-term approach with your solar panel installation. The company you hire for the installation should also be able to address your ongoing repairs.

Bundle the installation with a maintenance program, and use this as a deciding factor when choosing between different competitors.

Use These Tips When Picking Solar Installers

These tips will help you out if you have the task of picking solar installers. Solar panels provide power to your home that is clean, green, and sustainable.

By putting these tips to use, you’re closer to getting the solar power service that you need.

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home renovation

Switching to solar power? Avoid these 3 mistakes

switching-to-solar-power-avoid-these-3-mistakes

Solar power technology has finally caught up with the promise. For decades, solar has been promoted as the future of renewable energy, but it had a lot of shortcomings that needed to be addressed before it could be adopted by the masses.

It finally has fulfilled its potential and many homeowners are jumping on board the solar wagon. However, that doesn’t mean that it is as straightforward as setting up a traditional electrical system in your home. 

To keep you from making a misstep when getting your solar power system set up, we’ve put together this list of common mistakes people make.

1 – Not understanding grid vs off grid

When you get solar, you aren’t off grid. Unless, of course, you are actually going off grid somewhere. If you will still be living in your home in a city or suburb, then you are still going to be connected to the grid. It’s actually the law in most places that you stay connected. 

There’s nothing stopping you from buying a house in the woods and setting up solar panels and battery packs and not relying on civilization at all. For the sake of this article, we will focus on when you are living in a connected house and simply want to go with renewable energy. 

You’ll actually get a better return for your investment when you go with a grid based solar system as you will be paid when you put more energy into the grid than you take out. Batteries are expensive and can make it take a long time to pay for themselves through the savings.

2 – Not understanding your energy needs

When you are in the planning stages of installing solar, finding the best electrician that understands your needs and solar power in general is essential. 

The solar panel company that you are in contact with likely has a salesman that is working with you and is eyeing his commissions while he talks you into a system. An electrician will let you know exactly what you need for the type of household you have. This way you don’t end up with too weak a system and end up relying on the grid, or too much so you overpay for a system that is more than what you need.

3 – Not shopping around for solar power options

A lot of times, when somebody decides to go solar they end up with the first company that they talk to. It isn’t like your regular energy company in that you don’t have much choice. 

So, make sure to talk to several companies to zero in on the right deal and the one that will be with you throughout your time with their panels. Customer service is very important when it comes to installing solar. If you struggle to get answers then it is time to move on. 
And be careful when it comes to being sent off to third party suppliers. Some people can save money when this is an option, but many more end up paying more and you can’t use net metering which is when you are paid for generating excess electricity for the grid.

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home renovation

8 Home Battery Storage Buying Tips

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Sick of dealing with power outages or have appliances and devices that can’t be placed at risk of turning off without a moment’s notice? Buying a home battery storage system is the best solution. Homeowners often find themselves overwhelmed by the sheer number of options out there. Read on to find eight home battery storage buying tips that can help make the decision easier.

1. Determine Power Needs First

It’s important to take the household’s power needs into account when sizing a home battery backup system. To do this, homeowners must estimate the power consumption of all their essential devices and appliances in kilowatt-hours (kWh). Homeowners working on a budget should keep in mind that many power-hungry devices such as air conditioners are not strictly necessary and can be turned off in the event of a power outage.

2. Consider Installing Solar Panels

Homeowners whose houses are tied to the grid can install a battery backup system without solar panels, but it will only provide power for a short period of time. Installing solar panels to power the battery bank will allow residents to access power even if the grid goes out for days at a time. Solar systems with battery banks can still be hooked into the grid. If they produce surplus power, homeowners can sell it to power companies to make back some of their investments.

3. Look Into Tax Credits

Homeowners who choose to install both battery banks and solar arrays may be eligible for a tax credit through the solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC) program. Only batteries that are charged using solar panels exclusively are eligible for the tax credit, so those who choose to use grid-tied systems may not be able to get it.

4. Choose the Right Battery Configuration

There are two types of battery configurations that are common in residential homes. They are known as critical load backup systems and self-consumption systems. While critical load systems only run vital devices during grid failures, self-consumption systems are designed to operate during peak utility hours even if the grid is working as intended. They can help to reduce high energy bills but require a larger upfront investment.

5. Learn the Difference Between AC and DC Coupled Battery Systems

Homeowners who want to install solar arrays to charge their battery banks need to learn the difference between AC coupled and DC coupled battery systems. To put it in its simplest terms, the main difference is that DC-coupled systems are more efficient since they don’t require as many power conversions. However, they also require a larger upfront investment.

6. Hire a Professional Installation Technician

Whether homeowners plan to tie their battery banks into the grid or use solar panels to power them, they should always hire professional installation technicians. Working with electricity can be dangerous.

7. Buy the Right Inverter

Inverters are designed to convert the DC power produced by batteries into AC power. Make sure to buy an inverter large enough to power all essential devices and appliances.

8. Keep Batteries Safe

Batteries should be stored indoors but away from living areas. Ensure that they are kept dry and at above freezing temperatures to avoid problems with premature failure.

The Bottom Line…

Installing a battery bank is the best thing homeowners can do to increase their energy independence. Whether they choose to install full solar systems or just store power from the grid for emergency applications, it’s worth the investment.

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