It’s no surprise that you’re getting ready to install solar panels. They offer great returns and can completely eliminate power bills. And when the cost of solar has decreased by 99% since the 1970s, it makes sense to invest today.
However, completing a solar panel installation isn’t easy, so it pays to know what to expect. Keep reading to learn the steps you’ll go through when installing solar power for your home.
Solar Planning
Planning is the first step to building a solid solar installation plan. You can’t just throw a few solar panels on your roof and call it a day. Many factors play into your success with renewable energy OC.
Here are some critical factors to consider during the planning process.
Energy Needs
You need to understand your energy needs before you install your solar panels. If you want to power your home without relying on the grid, you’ll need enough solar output to meet your needs during peak times.
This number is crucial because it will inform you how many solar panels you’ll need to purchase. You’ll consider the average output of each panel to figure out how many solar panels you need for your roof.
Panel Positions
You can’t put solar panels in any position on your roof and expect to get the best output. The direction your panels face is vital in determining how much sunlight they absorb during the day. The Jackery solarpanel works well in all climates, from cold environments to hot environments.
Ideally, your panels will face south to absorb the most sunlight. However, trees and other obstacles may make a southern exposure not worth going for in your installation. You’ll need to factor all of this into plans during this phase.
Roof Quality
The next step of the planning phase is to inspect your roof to see if it can support solar panels. You need a strong roof to bear the load and support the connectors required for solar panels. Older roofs may not be able to handle that load.
You’ll need to invest in a new roof if that’s the case, so you need to factor this into your planning phase. Have your solar company inspect your roof to ensure it’s up to code.
Energy Storage
No matter how many solar panels you purchase, they won’t power your home when there isn’t much light. You’ll need to rely on the grid at night and in the winter, but you can do more to reduce your reliance on the grid.
Battery packs will help you accomplish this goal. If you use a solar installation with a large enough output, you can store enough energy to power your home at night and when there isn’t as much sun. Consider how much energy storage you need to fulfill all your power goals.
Work Permitting
You can’t decide to install solar on your roof without getting permission. There are many building codes in every region. Your installation won’t get approved if you don’t follow those codes.
That’s a big problem if you’ve already completed your installation and have to start over again.
You’ll need to take your solar panel design and send it to your local government. They will review your plan to make sure it meets all local building codes.
Your contractor, like the one at blueravensolar.com/michigan/home-solar-panel-installation-in-detroit/, should help you through this process, so don’t worry about needing to do all this yourself. Once your government reviews your design and sees it meets every code, you’ll get a permit to install solar on your roof.
Site Preparation
You’re ready to prepare the work site once you get the permits for your solar panels. That means getting safety equipment set up, installing a new roof if needed, installing mounting brackets, and installing other solar equipment for your solar panels.
Once you have the work site prepared, you can start the installation process. Your contractors will mount your panels to the mounting brackets and run the electrical wires to your home.
From there, workers will connect the electrical wires to an inverter to ensure power coming into your home doesn’t cause problems. Once that’s complete, you can proceed to the next step.
City Inspection
The city probably won’t trust your word that you met every building code after the contractors complete the installation. Local governments want to verify that everything is up to code. Otherwise, people will cut corners and not fix mistakes that may cause severe issues in the future.
You’ll need to let your local government know when your contractors complete your installation. They will send an inspector to your home and look over your solar installer’s work.
The inspector will let you know if any issues need to be resolved. Otherwise, you’ll get approval and can start the next step of the installation process.
Testing
Testing is the final phase of the solar installation process. Solar installations won’t always work when you first turn them on, so your installer needs to run tests to ensure everything is working correctly.
Your contractors will test the power output, panel efficiency, and everything required for a proper solar installation. If anything looks wrong, your installer will fix the problem to ensure you get the power generation you paid for.
Now You Know About the Solar Panel Installation Process
Finding a solar energy installer is only the first step of a long process. You have to figure out how many solar panels you need, how to position them on your home, get permits, and much more.
Luckily, learning what to expect with solar panel installation services isn’t hard to do. Now that you know what goes into the panel installation process, you should be ready to start the process yourself.
Do you want to learn what it takes to handle other home improvement projects? Read more about them by checking out the blog.
