All You Need To Know About Home Solar Panels

A quick search of solar panel firms near me will show you there is no shortage of options when you are thinking about home solar panels. 

Although the upfront costs of thousands of dollars can seem prohibitive for many homeowners, there are all kinds of financial incentive packages available to lessen the load. 

This article helps guide you through the financing, and how to get your home solar panels project started! 

Funding your solar mission!

You have probably seen that solar panel cost can be quite high at the beginning. Do not let this put you off! There are a variety of 0% financing offers, lease agreements and grants. These are made available by state governments to help with the cost of solar panels and stimulate home solar panel uptake. 

Depending on your circumstances, you may also qualify for grants that do not need to be repaid. Similarly, tax credits are another way you can benefit from home solar panel installations. 

The first step is to find solar panel installers near me to get some professional advice on what you can capitalize on locally. 

Choosing your configuration

The next important step on your home solar panel journey is to figure out whether on-grid or off-grid setup will be best for your home. Both have advantages depending on the particulars of your location.

On-grid systems, also known as ‘grid-tie’, enables you to connect your solar energy supply to the grid system. The benefits of doing so are twofold. First, you can draw energy from the grid in the event of lack of sunlight or a failure of your system. 

This guarantees your home will always be able to get some kind of power! Second, you can put surplus energy into the grid in a scheme called ‘net metering’. To offset this, you can then draw from the grid during darker parts of the year to ensure you do not go without power.

You can also use a hybrid on-grid system with batteries that store any surplus you do generate. 

Off-grid home solar panels are good for rural properties lacking access to main power lines. You can store your surplus energy using batteries and feed your property even in the absence of mains power. 

Looking after your investment

Solar panels last a long time – in many cases at least 25-30 years. On top of their longevity, they are also quite low maintenance, requiring only the smallest TLC from time-to-time. Even so, you can add an extra layer of peace of mind with manufacturers’ warranties. 

Like many things in life, solar panels’ effectiveness drops a little later in their lives. Either way, they are durable and last for at least a few decades. 

Getting to the crux

As you move towards your decision, weigh up how long it will take before you start to see a return on your investment. This is not an exact science, but if you are spending above $1k on your current electricity bills, then there is a good chance you will be making a net saving sooner than later.