The Most Important Decisions When Shopping for Solar

When you are shopping for your first solar panel system, you may be unsure where to even start. There are so many decisions that need to be made, and it might seem extremely overwhelming at first. But don’t fret, we’re here to help! In this blog, we’ll look at the most important decisions you’ll make when you install solar. That way, the rest of the decisions won’t seem so intimidating and will fall into place right along with the major key decisions.

Deciding which equipment is right for your home.

The very first decision you’ll need to make is choosing the correct equipment for your home. First thing’s first: deciding which panels you’ll want to install.

The first type is monocrystalline, which is one big silicon block. Wafers of silicon are cut individually and then affixed onto the panel. These cells are more efficient than the other two we will be discussing, but making them requires much more difficult labor, making them also more expensive. The second type is polycrystalline, which are made by melting together multiple silicon crystals. These crystals are refused into the actual panel. They are not as efficient as monocrystalline, but, as suggested earlier, are also less expensive. The last type is amorphous silicon. These cells are able to create a more flexible solar panel and are therefore most often worked into thinner panels. Unlike the other types, these aren’t crystalline, and are directly attached to glass, plastic, or metal substrate. This allows them to be bendable and thin. They are great for how easily they adapt to any kind of surface, but they are also the inefficient type.

Then you’ll need to decide if you want to be on-grid or off-grid. Click here to learn all the differences. The reason this is important is because you’ll need to decide if you’re going to need batteries for storage or not.

Next, you’ll need to pick the perfect solar installer.

The next step after you’ve figured out all the specifics of which system you want is finding the perfect solar panel installer for you. You’ll want to do your research and find out what experience your installer options have and what their rates are. If someone is cheaper but just started installing solar yesterday, you might want to pay more for someone with more experience.

You’ll also want to make sure whichever installer you choose provides you with a warranty. If they don’t install your panels well and they end up falling off your roof, but you didn’t ask them for a warranty, you’re kind of out of luck.

Finally, you’ll need to figure out how to pay for it.

The final key step to installing your new solar system is figuring out how you’re going to pay for it. After all, it’s all well and good to know which system you want and who the perfect installer is, but if you can’t pay for it, it won’t even matter.

If you aren’t planning on paying up front, you’ll need to think about if leasing or loaning the panels are the right choice for you. If you’re planning on staying in your home for the next 50 years, loaning might be the most ideal option for you.

Want to learn more about how to make the switch to solar? Check out the HahaSmart blog for daily updates!

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