Purchasing a solar system for your home can be a large up-front investment that will pay off over time. It may also add a great deal to the value of your home. When making this crucial decision, make sure you do your homework to buy a system that will last, add value to your house and provide you with the benefits needed.

Can You Find Any Satisfied Customers?

it’s critically important that you purchase a system and hire an installer with a strong track record. Word-of-mouth is a tremendously powerful sales tool for solar investors and the companies that make solar power panels in NY.

While it’s always important to get the best deal you can, you want to buy panels with a great warranty and have them installed by a professional who know how to protect your roof from leaks.

Also take care to review the rules and regulations for selling power back to the grid. This may be a great marketing point, but if your local power provider doesn’t support this, your ability to earn money from your solar power system is limited even if you’re saving on your utility bills.

What Type of Panels Do You Need?

When choosing solar, work to get the best panels you can afford for the sake of efficiency. You may wind up getting a smaller system than you truly need to power your home, but with the right set up, you can add panels as you can afford new ones and expand the system as you go.

Make sure in your purchase that you’re capitalizing on rebate programs and government perks. Some solar systems will provide you with a tax break. You may also find state tax breaks for solar installation. Some installers and manufacturers will claim their system qualifies, but make sure you confirm this promise before you buy.

Where Will You Install It?

Every home and home orientation is different. While southern exposure has long been considered the best option, many who dwell in climates with strong sunlight harvest the most power from western installation.

Be certain to have the condition of your roof assessed before installing solar. Roofs, like everything else in your home, will wear out over time. Also, if you live in a climate that includes a strong threat of hail, a rooftop solar system may not be your best option.

How Will You Turn Solar Power Into Usable Power For Your Home?

Having a basic knowledge of how solar power is turned into usable power once inside your home is a great course of study. For example, what type of power is produced by solar panels? Direct current. What power does your home need? Alternating current. This requires an inverter.

If you buy excellent solar panels and get a poor inverter, a great deal of the power captured will be lost in the transfer. Additionally, if your inverter can’t handle the load and ultimately fails, your solar panels are useless. Make sure that the inverter that you purchase is backed by a reputable company with a great warranty and excellent service.

How Will You Choose An Installer?

Check references! This cannot be said strongly enough. Solar installers may be affiliated with other home repair organizations, or they can be part of traveling teams that install only solar power systems. While you may be a rugged individualist, being the first buyer from a brand new solar installer may not be a good choice. You want your system installed by a qualified, experienced investment team who knows how to properly install the system and protect your house from roof damage and your home from leaks or wear.

Additionally, review each manufacturer for

• strength and longevity of the company
• customer service history, and
• warranty

Final Thoughts

As previously stated, a solar power system may take time to pay off. You may actually not see your investment back until you sell your home. However, a quality solar install can save you a great deal of money on your utility bills and is a great way to reduce your carbon footprint.