Residential Solar Installation

Residential solar involves installing solar panels on your home to produce electricity and offset your energy usage. Systems are typically sized to cover 100 to 120 percent of your home’s electricity needs, reducing or even eliminating your reliance on the utility grid. This helps you save significantly on energy costs year after year.

Yes, residential solar is one of the best investments for your home. It lowers your electricity bills, increases home value, provides tax benefits like the federal tax credit, and helps you avoid rising utility costs. Many homeowners see savings from day one, especially if they finance the system. Typically, you’ll see a return on investment within four to five years.

The cost of solar and a battery for a 2,000-square-foot house depends on the home’s electricity usage. On average, it can range from $16,000 to $19,000. If financed, monthly payments typically range from $136 to $140, depending on the financing option chosen. While there are variables that affect the price, this gives you a general idea of the cost for a home of this size with a battery included.

With recent changes to the net metering policy, it’s now more financially beneficial to install a battery and store your excess solar power rather than sending it to the grid. Storing power in a battery is a better financial option, so we recommend pairing your solar system with a battery under the new net metering policy.

If you’re getting a new system under the NEM 3.0 program, you will need a battery. The buyback credits for solar changed in April 2023, and to get the most out of your solar system, new installations after this date should be paired with a battery.

The number of solar panels needed is entirely based on your home’s electricity usage. On average, most homes require between 20 and 30 panels to meet their energy needs. We calculate how many panels are required by looking at your consumption and the sun hours your roof receives. We also size the system with a little extra to account for natural power loss over time, with the goal of offsetting 100% or more of your electricity usage.

There are several ways to pay for solar. You can pay upfront with cash, finance it through a loan, or choose a solar lease or Power Purchase Agreement (PPA), where you essentially rent the system and buy the power it produces. Most homeowners opt for financing with zero money down, allowing them to see immediate savings and enjoy the benefits of solar from day one.

The quoting process involves a few steps. First, we gather your home’s energy usage data from the past year. If you don’t have a full year of data, we estimate based on your home’s size and appliances. Next, we design a custom solar system for you. We then review the design and financing options together to find the best fit for your needs. If everything looks good and fits your financial goals, we start the project.

Most solar panels today come with a 25-year manufacturer warranty, but they often last 30 to 35 years. While they do lose a small amount of efficiency each year, they still produce significant energy even at the end of their life cycle. The materials used in modern panels are of much higher quality than those used 5 to 10 years ago, ensuring long-lasting performance.

Yes, absolutely. Solar is worth it for homeowners. With how expensive electricity is in California, it makes all the sense in the world to invest in solar. The only qualification for whether solar is a good investment is if your roof gets enough sun. If you have good sun exposure, solar is a no-brainer. With tax credits available, most people see a return on their investment within five years. So yes, absolutely, solar is worth it.

Yes, it’s typically easier to sell a home with solar, especially in areas with high electricity costs. Buyers are often attracted to homes with solar because the expensive utility bills are already offset by the solar system. Plus, many solar systems are locked into or grandfathered into older programs, making them even more beneficial for the new homeowner.

Yes, solar panels do increase a home’s value, especially in areas with high electricity costs. Homes with solar are generally more attractive to buyers, and you can expect an average increase of about 2% to 3% in your home’s value compared to similar homes without solar.

The best way to choose a solar installation company is to do your own research. Start by looking at their online reviews and what previous customers are saying about them. Check what kind of information and knowledge they provide to their customers. It’s also important to consider whether they’re a local or national company. Local companies tend to offer better service and quicker response times for any future maintenance or issues, making them a great choice for long-term support.

Solar systems typically need to be cleaned two to three times per year. It’s also important to check that all the panels are producing energy and that the inverter is working properly. You can usually monitor this through the app provided by your solar company or by checking the equipment on the side of your house to make sure there are no red LED lights.

Usually, solar systems that are connected to the grid will not work during a power outage to prevent back-feeding if the utility company is working on the lines. However, if your system includes a battery with backup capabilities, your solar system can continue to power your home during an outage, using the battery until the grid is restored.

The solar tax credit is based on the total project cost of your solar system, allowing you to take a 30% credit from that amount to offset your federal income tax bill. If you don’t use the full credit in the first year, you can roll over the remaining amount to the next year until it’s fully used.

Net metering is a solar buyback program where the utility allows homeowners to send excess power from their solar system to the grid and receive credits. The program has evolved over time, and the newest version, NEM 3.0, is quite different from the previous NEM 1 and NEM 2 programs. Under NEM 3.0, the use of batteries is required to maximize the benefits of the program.

When we install solar, the process is based on your roof type, with composite shingle and tile being the most common. We use a mounting system specifically designed for your roof, connecting directly to the structure, usually to the 2x4s beneath. Our professional team ensures that everything is sealed properly to prevent any potential leaks, providing a secure and safe installation.

Yes, you will still have an electric bill, but it’s usually just the connection fee, which ranges from $10 to $30. Our goal is to offset 100% of the power consumed in your home, but during the summer, if you use more energy than your system produces, you may see a small bill. For the rest of the year, you’ll likely only have the connection fee.

If your solar system is leased, the lease will be transferred to the new buyer, and they will take over the lease payments. If the system is purchased and there’s an existing loan, it’s usually paid off during the sale of the home. This increases the property value, and the new buyer will get the home with a fully paid-off solar system.

Solar panel installation typically takes one to three days, depending on the scope of the work. If electrical upgrades are needed or if you’re adding backup capabilities with a battery, it may take longer. But in most cases, the installation is completed within this timeframe.