There’s no denying the fact that the current environmental concerns are more pressing and apparent than they have ever been. With this, many residential buildings are also choosing to go the route of using renewable energy. This effort is no longer limited to commercial buildings, with many households getting in the loop of this effort, too.
This is perhaps why going solar for your home may have crossed your mind many times. It is as ideal as it is beneficial, not only for the environment but even for your household. If your budget can speak, it will certainly say thank you for the cost savings you’ll also get to enjoy. Going solar will be one of the best investments you’ll make for your home.
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Yet before jumping right into it, it’s crucial to learn how to prepare your home for making this big switch. You may check out expert installers at https://www.smartsolarenergyco.com to know more about the advantages of having solar installations in your home. It’s not like you’re installing a small item, like a television. It can be complex, so it’s better to prepare your home for it.
With that said, here are six tips you can consider doing.
1. Check That Your Home Is Well Insulated And Air Leaks Are Sealed
When was the last time you submitted your home to an energy assessment? If it’s been too long, you should consider doing so before even installing solar energy in your home. The purpose of doing this is to reveal areas where air leaks from your home.
If your energy or utility bills have been higher than the conventional average for the size of your home, then that’s a sign that there could be air leaks in your home. Even if you’re switching to solar energy, you’ll want to ensure your home is properly insulated and that no energy and heat are leaking.
Along with this process, you can take other steps early on to ensure that your home is as energy efficient as possible:
- Get rid of old appliances that may have been skyrocketing your electric bills and replace them with newer and energy-efficient ones.
- Switch to energy-efficient lighting, such as LED bulbs.
- Consider other planned changes, too, such as switching to an electric vehicle from a gas-powered one, which may be something you’ve thought about within the next few years.
By doing these, you may identify the real energy consumption of your home. This will also make you more practical with your solar power panels installation, as you wouldn’t have to install a bigger system than what you require in your home.
2. Review All Your Options First
Before you decide on installing solar power for your home, you’ll first have to confirm that your home is suitable enough for it. This is possible through a solar audit of your home, performed by a qualified solar assessor.
This solar audit will also present you with your home’s cost/benefit survey. The assessors will review your current energy bill and give you a quick estimate of your projected savings should you decide to push through with going solar.
Lastly, the solar audit is necessary for you to have information on whether or not your home produces enough sunlight to power your solar energy system. Otherwise, installing solar energy may not be the best course of action for your home when the supply isn’t enough to power your home efficiently.
3. Check If Your Roof And Structure Is Suitable For Solar Panel Installation
The older your home, the higher the likelihood that your roof may no longer be strong enough to withstand the added weight of the solar energy system. Moreover, the more panels you have to position on your roof, the higher the added weight it will need to bear.
Before the installation day, have your roof and structure inspected first. This will enable you to determine if any repairs and renovation works are needed before the installation.
It’s best if you also coordinate with your prospective solar energy installer in this process. With this, you can determine the slope, size, and shape of the panels you’ll be installing. An expert’s advice will also let you know the proper positioning of the sunlight you need, so you’ll know which roofs in your home will have to withstand all the added weight.
4. Get Hold Of The Four Main Solar Power System Technologies And Types
To be more efficient with your time, preparing your home for solar power installation should also be done simultaneously with getting hold of the five main solar power system technologies. You need all these in order to go solar. You’ll want to ensure that your home is indeed equipped to handle the added systems for each of these technologies.
- Solar panels. This is perhaps the biggest and the most immediately apparent part of the entire solar power system you’ll be installing in your home. The main factors you’ll have to consider when choosing the proper solar panel are the technology type, efficiency, warranty, and cost.
Likewise, solar panels are categorized as either monocrystalline or polycrystalline. The former is more efficient, but also more expensive. They usually come with a black or bluish outward tint. The latter is a cheaper and less efficient option, and comes in a lighter blue color.
- Inverter. This comes into play during converting direct current power to alternating current power. You can choose from string inverters, power optimizers, and microinverters.
- Solar racking. One thing that homeowners may be surprised to learn about is that the solar panels aren’t technically directly attached to the roof. They’re mounted on solar racking equipment. So, it’s vital to check whether or not your home’s roof and structure are still strong enough to withstand all that added weight.
Solar racking plays a critical role, as it’s responsible for achieving the optimal angles for maximum performance. It also helps attach the array to your roof without causing significant damage.
- Performance monitoring and tracking system. This technology reports on the hourly production of your solar energy system.
It’s also responsible for helping you recognize any performance issues your solar energy system may have early on. This enables you to ensure maximum production of solar energy in your home.
5. Consider Your Future Needs, Too
Preparing your home to go solar isn’t just about the present. It also necessitates preparing for any future additional needs. Remember that solar energy equipment installation is expensive and may burn a hole in your pocket. For it to stay effective for your household for many years, it has to be capable of withstanding your present and future energy needs.
Most solar panels are expected to last an average of 20 to 25 years. So, look forward to those coming years as well. For example, newly married with a family home. If all things go well, you and your spouse envision yourself having three kids at most. This means your home should be prepared to accept and withstand solar energy systems that can power a home for a family of five.
6. Check Trees Or Any Shading In Your Property
Having trees around your home is appreciated for their shade and aesthetics. However, it’s not the most ideal if you’re thinking about installing a solar power system at home.
Note that this is another decision you’ll have to make with professional installers. After all, they’ll decide where best to install your solar panels where they can harvest the most sunlight.
Once that decision is made, that’s when you can phone local arborists to take care of safely removing the trees, as necessary. If you don’t like cutting down trees, you can always make an arrangement to relocate them, too, if there’s any other area on your property where the trees can be moved without obstructing your direct supply of sunlight.
Final Thoughts
The development of rooftop solar power for residential and commercial properties in the mid-1990s has been a game-changer for homes and business establishments. Imagine the savings it has brought since then, along with the many gadgets and appliances it powered up through the years. This technology has been embraced globally, and more will follow suit in the future, especially with the market competition bringing in more alternatives people can readily choose. Some may find shifting to solar power costly, but eventually, you’ll see it’s a worthwhile investment with the benefits you’ll receive for many years.
If you’ve been considering installing solar power in your home, you may have already spent much time researching and learning more about it. However, gaining more insights about solar power installation will never be complete without preparing your home for it. Remember that you’re trying to power your entire home, not merely installing a single solar light. Most importantly, don’t think that you have to go through this preparation process all on your own. When you have a professional solar power installer in mind, give them a ring so they, too, can help you in this process of prepping your home.
