Solar Panel Installation : Solar Panel Installers - Choosing the Best Solar Panels For Your Home

How Do I Choose Most Appropriate Solar Panels for My Home?

Solar panels are classified into three types based on their size and cost.

Some solar panels have a higher return on electricity (the amount of sunlight converted to electricity), whereas others are less expensive but necessitate more roof space.

Each of these technologies can be a viable method to go solar depending on where you live, your budget, the size of your roof, and how much power you require.

Here are the three options available to today's consumers.

Monocrystalline Silicon Solar Panels

This first-generation solar technology has been proven to be durable and long-lasting.

Many of the modules that were installed on roofs in the 1970s are still producing power today.

This technology has even withstood the harsh environment of space.

Monocrystalline PV solar cells convert more solar energy into electricity than any other type of flat solar panel.

Their performance gradually declines at a rate of only 0.5% per year.

The majority of performance warranties cover these panels for 25 years.

As a result, monocrystalline panels are ideal for use in urban areas or where space is limited.

Monocrystalline panels do have a disadvantage.

They are, for one thing, the most expensive.

The entire circuit may fail if these panels become partially obscured by shade, dirt, or snow.

If you anticipate this issue, you should consider purchasing micro-inverters, which will prevent your entire solar power system from being impacted by shade, even if only one solar panel is shaded.

Polycrystalline Silicon Solar Panels

Polycrystalline solar panels, first introduced in 1981, are made by fusing cells from multiple silicon crystals and pouring hot silicon into a mould.

Whereas square solar cells take up less space than their rounded single-crystal monocrystalline counterparts, they are less efficient at converting sunlight to electricity.

The panels end up being less expensive, and the manufacturing process is less wasteful.

Because of lower levels of silicon purity, the efficiency of polycrystalline solar panels drops to 13-16%.

Furthermore, they do not have the space efficiency of their monocrystalline counterparts.

As a result, more roof area is normally required to deliver the same amounts of electricity.

Polycrystalline solar panels are also less heat tolerant than monocrystalline counterparts.

As a result, in high temperatures, they tend to underperform monocrystalline solar panels.

Excessive heat can even shorten their lives.

Finally, monocrystalline and thin-film solar panels are often more aesthetically pleasing than polycrystalline silicon's speckled blue colour because of their more uniform appearance.

Thin Film Solar Panels

Thin-film solar panels are less expensive to produce than mono or poly solar panels because they are made by coating a piece of glass or steel with a thin layer of amorphous (non-crystalline) silicon, copper indium, cadmium telluride, or dieselize.

Thin-film module prototypes have achieved efficiencies of up to 13% based on the technology used to create them, but production modules only achieve about 9%.

These efficiencies are expected to reach as high as 16% as processes improve.

Because thin-film solar is less efficient, more panels are required to produce the same amount of electricity as a crystalline panel.

The panels are lighter, more flexible, and versatile than the others.

Thin-film panels' homogeneous appearance may appeal to some as more aesthetically pleasing.

Another advantage is that high temperatures and shading do not affect their overall efficiency.

Thin-film solar panels can make sense if space is not an issue.

On the downside, while thin-film solar panels are inexpensive, they do "take up a lot of roof space." Monocrystalline solar panels generate up to four times the energy as thin-film solar panels for the same amount of roof space.

This tends to raise costs by requiring more support structures and cables.

Another consideration is that thin-film solar panels deteriorate faster than mono- and polycrystalline solar panels, which describes why their warranties are much shorter.

Selecting the Perfect Solar Installer for Your Home

So, you've researched the advantages of solar power and have decided to install a solar panel to power your house.

What now? The next critical step is to select a solar installer to install the system for you.

Choosing the right installer is critical because poor workmanship can result in faulty wiring or a leaky roof.

Because of their numerous technical characteristics, solar products are easier to compare.

It can be difficult to determine which ones are more dependable than others when it comes to installation specialists.

Here are some pieces of advice and recommendations to help you make the right decision when looking for a solar installer:

Don't be nervous

Most individuals have hired specialists to handle minor housework such as electricity or plumbing, and some have even experienced larger repairs.

Nevertheless, very few people know how to locate a solar contractor.

Of course, going solar is more complicated than fixing a leaky faucet, but nothing is frightening about it.

In general, the process of selecting a specialist follows the same principle: you must thoroughly investigate the firm you intend to hire, as well as the products they offer, and carefully scrutinize the contract.

After you've narrowed down your options, contact the company representatives to inspect your roof and ask them a few questions.

Make a comparison list of solar installers.

To begin comparing different companies, draft a list of all the solar companies in your neighbourhood.

You can either create a file on your computer or write down the firms by hand - whatever works best for you.

The best approach is to list both local and national solar providers in your area.

To begin, use your preferred search engine to look for 'solar installers' and the name of your region.

Once the list is complete, use the following guidelines to specify what you will learn about each company.

Do not compare solely based on price.

Price comparison websites are great for booking hotels or renting cars, but they are useless for finding solar companies.

The main disadvantage of using such resources is that they compare offers based on pricing while underestimating the other parameters.

Installing solar is a time-consuming process that requires permission from local authorities.

The majority of this work will be done for you by qualified solar contractors.

Companies with significantly less expensive services than competitors should make you sceptical since you might experience concealed drawbacks.

Nevertheless, the costliest quotes are not always the best.

Most manufacturers claim to be able to prepare a quote based on satellite images of your home.

Special software can estimate how your roof is pitched and oriented, as well as which objects will cast shadows on your panels.

This enables the Solar panels expected power output to be calculated.

But no satellite image can provide a complete picture.

An astute contractor will come to your home to inspect the site to assess the state of your rooftop, the capacity of your electric board that will be loaded by several additional kilowatts of energy generated by the solar panels, and the nearby plants that are likely to grow shadows in future.

Obtain several quotes

The same as with any other project, the more commercial proposals you receive, the better.

In addition to allowing you to compare prices, this method allows you to estimate the credentials of various contractors.

Some installers may try to convince you that your home is ideal for solar installation when, in fact, it is not.

Instead of simply selling their product, a trustworthy specialist will inform a homeowner of any potential issues.

If most of the companies you've contacted say you shouldn't install a Solar panel, but someone insists everything will be fine, consider some alternatives.

One more thing to compare is the equipment used by the operators and how the panels are mounted to the rooftop.

If solar modules are not installed correctly, they can cause roof leakage and cost you a fortune, cancelling any savings from generating solar energy.

If your installation company ignores the question of how the mounting is done, it is a sign that you should keep looking.

Examine the available financing options

A solar power system installation can be financed in various ways, including cash payments, loans, leases, and PPAs.

Check to see if the contractors you've chosen propose the preferred payment method or choose those who offer various payment options for the installation.

It is entirely up to you which financial scheme you choose, but it's strongly advised against leasing or power purchase agreements.

Some big solar companies will try to persuade you to participate in one of these programs because it is more profitable for them.

But, if you give in, your ROI will suffer.

The main disadvantage of such options is an escalator clause that raises your power costs.

Select from small and big solar companies.

National installers are more likely to be well-established, offer a longer warranty, a variety of financing options, and a variety of post-installation services.

Local contractors, on the other hand, are more familiar with regional permission and rebate programs.

Furthermore, because they do not have as many clients as large firms, they may provide their services more quickly.

When deciding between small installers, make sure the company you're thinking about hiring has enough experience.

Lately, some businesses have expanded their operations to include solar projects.

You can confirm this by directly contacting an installer or using resources such as license board websites.

Companies with a solid track record have more technical expertise and are more likely to be in business for the next few years if the installation requires warranty repair.

Learn about licensing, certifications, and insurance

Check that the solar company you've chosen has the requisite qualifications.

The relevant certifications and licenses should attest to the expertise in the solar installation business.

The types of licenses and insurance required vary by region.

Most solar installation companies must be licensed as general contractors, electricians, home performance or improvement contractors, or both.

Furthermore, any installer must provide general liability insurance.

Look for reviews from credible sources.

Aside from being certified and licensed, a solar installer must assist customers at every stage of the solar transition.

A good specialist will help a homeowner obtain a permit, choose Solar panels with appropriate specifications, apply for a tax credit, and so on.

Look for customer feedback to learn how solar companies interact with their customers.

At the very least, you will learn any complaints and how the installer resolves the issues.

While a few websites are paid to post positive or negative comments, there are more trustworthy websites.

Inquire about the warranties that are provided

Solar Panels are made up of several components, each of which must be warranted by the manufacturer.

Inquire with your installer about any warranties that are provided.

Product warranties typically last 10 to 25 years, while performance warranties typically last 25 years.

Because the output of a PV panel decreases over time, an efficient warranty guarantees that a solar panel will produce a certain percentage of electricity by the end of the warranty period.

Solar inverter warranties typically range between 10 and 25 years.

The mounting system should also come with a minimum 20-year warranty.

Because solar batteries are an expensive component of the system, ensure they have a long warranty period.

Which solar installers should I keep away from?

The process of interviewing a solar installer is similar to that of hiring a home contractor for a major renovation.

A home solar panel, like renovating your house, will cost a fortune, so take your time finding a company you trust.

If the company looks bad, leave and find somebody else to work with.

Here is a list of red flags that you are dealing with a fairly terrible solar company:

Aggressive sales techniques

The home solar installation industry is growing, which means there will be more competition for your company.

Solar companies must spend a lot of money on sales and marketing to get your business – these are known as customer acquisition costs.

Suppose the customer acquisition costs account for approximately 9% of total system costs.

That means that if the total cost of your system before rebates was $20,000, the installer has to spend $1,800 on sales and marketing to get you as a customer.

That's a huge sum, so it's understandable why some businesses use aggressive sales tactics to get more business from their sales team.

Repeat door-to-door visits or telemarketing calls, or salespeople who bother you even after you've told them you're not interested are examples of aggressive sales tactics.

This is a red flag since better businesses do not need to be as aggressive.

Solar installers who have been in business for a long time and have a good reputation in their community are more likely to receive referrals and positive word-of-mouth.

Door-to-door sales aren't always a bad idea, but if you have a sales representative who won't take no for an answer, you should question why the company is so desperate for your business.

They gloss over the project's technical details.

A competent installer will explain exactly what equipment is being proposed, why they chose it, and the benefits and drawbacks of the various equipment options.

Choose another company if they gloss over this part of the sales process or, worse, don't list the exact equipment in the proposal.

The selection of equipment is among the essential aspects of the project, and it is one of the places where the customer can make a critical decision that will affect the system's success.

Don't accept the notion that it will be too technical for you to comprehend.

Unanswered questions

Any credible installer will provide you with clear and concise answers to your questions.

If you feel like your questions are being sidestepped, it's a good indication that you're asking something that the company isn't comfortable with.

Or they might say something like, "You don't really need to know that, and here's why." If you find yourself in that situation, simply leave and look for another company.

The company outsources the installation work.

Some solar companies are simply marketing firms that subcontract out the installation work to another company.

While there is nothing wrong with this, it can cause issues with a warranty claim later on.

It can also indicate quality issues if the company does not use the same subcontractor consistently but instead works with various companies.

The company may have excellent online reviews, but you may have a very different experience than previous customers if they change subcontractors.

The company pressures you to take out a lease or a PPA.

Solar installers make more profit when you use a lease or power purchase agreement (PPA) to install your solar system rather than purchasing the system outright.

While the company will have a significant initial outlay, a lease or PPA agreement will provide them with a consistent source of income for several decades.

However, the same reason it is profitable for a company to own the system and rent it to you is also why it is more profitable for you to own the system yourself.

Leases and PPAs are critical components of many companies' business strategies, particularly large national installers.

As a result, a company may make a concerted effort to dissuade you from owning your system.

If a company gives you that impression, it's a sign that they're not looking out for your best interests, and you should leave.