We live in a time of great innovation and convenience. Today, clean energy resources provide plenty of opportunities for people looking to upgrade their homes and make them more modern.
The solar panel industry grew by 40% recently and has been on the rise each year. If you’re ready to look into this technology, it’s important that you start by exploring the savings available to you. This article will get you started down the right track.
The points in this article are helpful when you’re interested in finding solar panel savings that can help your household to the fullest.
The Benefits of Solar Panels
Get to know the benefits of solar energy so that you can look for an installation that will make a difference. You’ll be glad to know that there are plenty of advantages available by simply upgrading to this new type of technology.
Here are a few of the advantages that you can get to experience when you install some panels onto your home:
You Can Save Plenty of Money on Energy Bills
When you’re making any kind of change to your home energy infrastructure, it’s important that you consider your monthly bills. Electricity is often the most important bill that homeowners pay, so getting your electrical costs under control can make a difference.
You’ll definitely want to reduce your electric bills in both the summertime and wintertime. These are months where your bills tend to spike the most due to the amount of time spent at home and the fact that you run your Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system more frequently.
Reducing your utility bills lowers your household overhead costs and helps you manage your money better. You’ll have peace of mind and plenty of money available for other projects when you take the steps to get your energy bills under control.
Solar Power Is Clean and Eco-Friendly
People appreciate that solar energy is great for the environment and can cut down on the amount of emissions that you create. This lets you protect the environment so that the amount of waste that you create makes less of an impact. People interested in curbing their environmental waste often turn to solar panels as a remedy.
Your life will be far more green-friendly and you will have an easier time reducing your carbon footprint. Much of society is beginning to move toward more green-friendly forms of energy, and solar is chief among them.
They Are Aesthetically Pleasing
You’re also improving the way that your house looks when you outfit it with a set of solar panels. Installing new panels on your roof will help you make it look its best, which can enhance your home with curb appeal.
People find solar panels a nice addition to their homes. They have both a modern and futuristic look, while also remaining timeless in appearance. You’ll be more likely to find a suitable buyer for your home if you make these kinds of aesthetic upgrades, and will be able to improve your property values for the next several years.
Pros Are Experienced at Installing Them Correctly
The solar professionals that you turn to will also be able to make sure that your panels are installed correctly. It’s a business that has plenty of skillful experts that you can rely on. By turning to these professionals, you’ll know that your home is cared for and will be able to keep it structurally sound.
They have perfected their process enough to address the installation correctly the first time so that you don’t have to worry about shoddy work. Always turn to the help of some qualified pros that can assist you with your installation work. You’ll be able to count on the craftsmanship that these professionals provide, which will carry you a long way.
You Can Get Tax Breaks
Another great advantage of investing in solar energy is that you can count on some potential tax breaks. These tax breaks can lighten your financial obligations this upcoming April.
This tax break comes in the form of a credit offered by the federal government to incentivize people to switch to clean energy sources. Make sure that you stay up-to-date with this year’s federal credit to know how much you can expect to receive.
How to Buy and Care for Your Solar Panels
If you’re going to move forward with getting solar panels installed, it’s crucial that you understand the best steps to take. There are several professionals available that you can rely on for this work. Here’s how you can find the right match:
Assess Your Needs
Make sure that you also factor in your needs before purchasing a set of solar panels. This means considering the size of your home and how much electricity you use on a regular basis.
As a good rule of thumb, you can check your electric bill to see precisely how much you use on a specific billing period. When you understand how much electricity you’ll expend, you will be in a better position to find the right setup for your household.
Bring a Professional Out for a Consultation
Look for a premier solar installation company that can offer you a skilled and accurate consult. You’ll be in an excellent position to get quality work when you have the assistance of a professional that specializes in these panels.
They will measure your roof and give you an idea about which panels will be best for your household. Consulting with a company will give you the best advice so that you move forward with the project with full peace of mind,
Hire the Best Company for the Installation
Getting a consultation is the first step, but you also need to keep your options open for hiring a company to do the work. Explore your options to make sure that you hire a solar panel installer that is licensed, insured, and credible. Explore your options by talking to a handful of different professionals and have them take your questions related to solar panel work.
Ask your neighbors or friends you know who have gotten solar work installed and ask for references on the solar professionals.
Examine Your Cost Options
It’s of the utmost importance that you also weigh your cost options. Tax breaks aside, you’ll get the biggest savings when you get as many estimates as possible on the work. The solar professionals will give you estimates on the labor and parts, and will provide a written estimate that you can compare.
Solar panel installations can cost you between about $18,000 and $35,000 depending on the work that you require. By exploring these cost estimates of a few different professionals, you’ll have the best shot at getting a deal that you can afford. You stand to save several thousand dollars depending on the deal that you find, which gives you more bang for your buck with this investment.
Decide on the Correct Equipment
You stand a bigger chance to save money when you shop for quality equipment. There are a variety of options that you can explore depending on what you need from your solar energy. The main types of solar panels that you can buy include thin-film, polycrystalline, monocrystalline, and Passivated Emitter and Rear Contact (PERC) solar panels.
Study the difference between these various panels, and study the specifications, such as:
- Wattage rating
- Temperature co-efficient
- The size of the panels
- The number of cells
- The type of battery
Get to know the differences between the equipment and accessories so that you’re able choose what’s best for your home. This will help you maximize your savings while also getting impeccable work for your electrical system.
Consider How You Will Address the Tax Break
Discuss the tax break with your solar panel installer and weigh your options on how you’d like to address it. You might choose to take advantage of the tax break on your return, or you can take advantage of the rebate at the time of the purchase.
Many people opt to take the tax break upfront so that they can get substantial savings on their installation. Determine which option works best for you so that you’re able to take full advantage of the money that you’re entitled to via the tax credit.
Keep Your Documents Handy
If you’re going to save as much money as possible, you owe it to you need to also make sure that you manage your documents. You’ll need to keep accurate records that allow you to manage your work and your take advantage of any incentives as they come along.
Some of the documents that you will want to hold onto include the permission to operate (PTO), a copy of your homeowner’s insurance, paperwork for any tax breaks within your municipality, and a checklist that shows you quality for federal tax incentives.
Attach a Warranty to the Solar Work
When you’re about to get solar panel service installed, it’s important that you also look into adding a warranty. Attaching a warranty to the solar panels will let you get a repair or replacement for the equipment that you get installed.
This means that if something goes wrong with the solar panels throughout the course of the warranty, you get have it taken care of without it costing you out of your own budget. The manufacturer or repair shop will address the service for you as long as the panels are still covered under the warranty.
Hire Ongoing Maintenance
In addition to a warranty, you will also save money with your solar panels when you spring for ongoing maintenance. There are a variety of maintenance plans that you can look into which will let you get service like having the panels cleaned, getting an annual inspection, tightening connections, and running a variety of tests.
Taking care of the work on your solar panels will be much less expensive when you get a handle on the work required to care for them. Neglecting to repair and maintain your panels will leave them more open to breakdowns and spikes in your electrical use.
You can address this in advance by purchasing a preventative maintenance plan. This plan saves you more money in the long run than you would pay by handling each repair on a case by case basis. Make sure to also add your solar panels to your homeowner’s insurance plan so that they are covered in the event that your home experiences weather events and other issues.
Monitor your energy usage so that you have a heads up when your system seems to be malfunctioning and using more electricity than it should. This is a sure sign that you should call in a repair professional to handle the work head-on.
Further, take care of the structures around your solar panels. This means regularly getting your roof inspected, getting your gutters cleaned, and springing for repair work when necessary. Get your roof inspected annually and have a licensed and insured roofer clean your gutters at least twice per year.
Take Advantage of Solar Panel Savings
These points are helpful when you’re looking into solar panel savings that can make a difference for you. If you’d like to get the best solar panel service available while saving money in the process, use the tips above and hire the help of pros that can assist you.
Utilize this guide and browse our site for more articles related to energy-efficient upgrades and home maintenance.
