This is definitely a loaded question when it comes to Solar. The reason you can’t find a simple price tag online is because of the many different variables to consider when financially assessing a solar panel installation. How much sunlight does the roof get? What direction does your home face? Are there trees shading your home? What are you currently paying for electricity right now and how much are you using? Your solar consultant should know all these things and input the numbers into a highly advanced software that uses decades of weather data to predict the system production with pinpoint accuracy. From there, we can assess the differences between traditional electricity versus a solar panel installation.

Solar is cheaper. For the homes that qualify to install it. About ⅔ homes receive enough sunlight to make solar more affordable than buying energy from the grid.

A solar panel installation may be scary to some with a price tag that can reach the 10s of thousands. You won’t need that much to buy solar. In fact, most solar installers expect $0 down for the install. It is much more common that the customer receives a monthly bill 15-30% lower than what they are currently paying. That solar payment replaces their older, higher energy bill. If your system is at 100+% coverage, you should not receive 2 bills. For example, a bill that was $250 might come out to be $200 with solar. The benefit is that you’ll see savings immediately, have locked in your price to protect you from inflation and rising rates, and can easily transfer the solar payment to new residents when you move. This method is made to essentially guarantee that solar will be a net positive financial decision.

Most panels have a power production guarantee of 25-30 years. This means that if the panels fail to hold their efficiency above 88-90% (depending on panel manufacturer) they will replace the panel, free of charge. Generally, manufacturers don’t want to be replacing a lot of panels as it is bad for business so they drastically under-promise the panels lifespan. It is generally expected of a solar panel installation to continue to produce energy for at least 35 years however 40-45 years would not be uncommon.

Any guesstimate would be shotty information without all the variables. All you have to do is submit a picture of your electricity bill to a solar installer and they should be able to get you a price. Generally, it is good practice to meet with the customer to explain to them what they’re buying, how they’re buying it, and how it saves you money. They’ll also be able to answer any additional questions you may have.

Solar panel installations are not unlike any other contractor work. The cheapest, flashiest company isn’t always the highest value for your pocket. It is important to find a solar consultant you trust to give you the info you need with honesty and integrity. It’s also important to check reviews and ask to speak to referrals. Realistically, you might spend a whole weekend or two trying to find the best deal while I can tell you in 15 minutes if solar is going to save you money or not.

Take a walk outside and look at it. Use a compass and find the south facing side. That is your money maker. Is it relatively free of pipes, vents, etc..? Is it broken up into pieces or one big side? If trees are shading it, can you trim them? Chances are, if your roof isn’t caving in, and isn’t obstructed by shade, it’s good for solar.

There are leak protection guarantees for your protection. It is incredibly rare that any roof problems occur because of how secure the panels are bolted down to the roof and the flashing techniques installers use to prevent any kind of problem from happening.

If the roof has passed the warranty, you should probably replace it before getting solar. Ask your solar consultant about this as they may be able to offer some key advice for doing a new roof/solar panel combo.

If it’s a 2 story, chances are you’ll have to go out of your way to even see them. If it’s a 1 story, someone might see them from the sidewalk and think about how cool your tech savvy house looks. In the end, it’s all subjective. If aesthetics concern you, ask your consultant for a black on black panel. They look much sleeker and professional in my opinion.

When you buy a solar installation, you aren’t just buying the panels. It comes with the inverters, mounting systems, monitoring software, wiring, HOA and city approval and inspections, and the man hours it takes to install the system. All of that still beats traditional electricity more often than not.

No. As electricity rates increase with 7.79% inflation, solar panels may follow the increase, yet stay around 20% under traditional energy rates. I also advise setting your installation before 2023 to take advantage of the 26% federal tax credit.

ZIllow says homes with solar are sold for 4.1% higher than their counterparts without it. This shows that home buyers are willing to pay a bit extra for the paid off equity of your solar installation.