When you have decided to install solar panels on the roof of your home, then you will have to consider several things before installing solar panels, including solar panel maintenance, types of solar panels, etc.
Asking the right questions is essential when installing solar panels. Here’s a list of what questions you need to ask to make sure you cover all your bases.
Questions to consider when wanting to install solar panels
Is the type and shape of your roof right for installing solar panels?
This question will allow you to know the suitability of the type and shape of your roof in this regard. Usually, you can find roofs with slopes on its two sides, which meet at a point on the top. But you can also find roofs in various sizes and shapes in the US, including mono-pitched shed, curved, lean-to, mansard, flat, dormer, hip or pyramid, etc.
Whatever the type of roof, the critical thing to consider is which roofing company to hire. Also, you need to provide enough space to install the solar panels and must get enough sunlight.
Can your roof support solar panels?
The next important thing to consider before installing solar panels is the support provided by your roof to them. It will allow you to know whether your roof needs to be replaced or repaired if it is old or damaged. So, before installing panels, it is better to fix the defects of your roof so that it can support the panels properly. It is necessary to make your roof structurally strong as it has the bear the weight of the solar panels also.
How energy efficient is your home?
Along with ensuring the condition of your roof, you should also focus on whether your home is energy efficient or not. You can quickly improve the energy efficiency of your home in an affordable manner before installing solar panels. If you have improperly sealed doors and windows, old HVAC system or insulation this would qualify as insufficient. It will allow you to install a smaller solar panel as your energy consumption will be reduced.
What about warranties?
Many companies offer different types of warranties to ensure the quality of their solar panels. You must know the cover provided by the warranty so that you should not spend any more on them if anything happens to them throughout their life. These warranties can vary by manufacturer, but they usually cover the performance of the equipment produced by them.
Which direction is the slope of the face of your roof?
The slope of the face of your roof should be in the direction of the sun so that it can absorb as much energy as it can from the sunlight falling on the solar panels installed on it. Your panels will not be able to produce maximum solar power if the slope of your roof is not sun-facing.
It is essential to place the solar panels on a south-facing surface of the roof to get the best results. You can also install solar panels on your roof if some of its parts are west facing. Sometimes, the north or east-facing surface of the roof can also be used for installing solar panels depending on its azimuth and pitch.
