Top 10 Things They Don't Tell You About Getting Solar Panels on Your Home

DENVER, April 17, 2019 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Going solar is easy

Once you make the decision and sign up to get it done, you don't have to worry about anything. Your solar provider will get the permits, and even handle any discussions with your HOA if required. (Here in Colorado, no HOA will oppose your solar installation.) There is nothing for you to do, except follow along with the process, approve the official documentation and sit back and enjoy the sunshine. Once up and running, your system requires no maintenance, and it should run for many years completely on its own.

There is no money out of pocket until your panels are up and running

Of course, you can choose to pay cash. However, most solar financiers make going solar virtually seamless. They don't start your payments for the system until after all the permitting, installation, inspections are completed and it is up and running (actually can take a few months), so you won't ever have to 'double pay' for power. There are still many rebates available, depending on your utility and state. These funds usually show up before the first payment is due, so if you use a rebate to make the first few payments, even your first few months of solar loan payments are covered. Talk about 'no money out of pocket!'

Not all warranties are created equal

This is an important detail to discuss with your solar installer. Ask how many years your system will be covered, and more importantly, make sure it is a comprehensive warranty (parts, labor, travel, etc.) If their warranty is just 'parts-only', you might find out the hard way that it takes a lot of labor to diagnose and repair one of the rare solar problems that can occur. Be sure the company isn't luring you in with a low price initially, just to set you up to pay a big bill down the road. Read the fine print!

Solar panels hold up to hail very well

Somewhat surprisingly, solar panels hold up to hail much better than Craig initially expected. In recent years, many Colorado homeowners suffered extraordinary roof damage, but their panels came through without a hitch. Statistics have proven it is much more likely a good hail storm will take out any uncovered roof around the solar panels and leave the panels undamaged. Homeowner's insurance takes care of solar panel claims, just the same as they would your roof. No worries.

Most solar systems make more power than was promised

Your solar system will probably make more power than promised. With today's solar panels, there is a power-production warranty that covers a full 25 years, which is way longer than warranties for just about any other consumer product! The claimed power also is also based on conservative estimates for sunshine statistics in your area. You'll likely be pleasantly surprised after your first year of production to see the system outperform what was promised, making your power bill even lower than you thought. Craig's system out-produced the original estimate by more than 12%.

There are several "hidden" financial benefits

There are more financial benefits than just your power bill going away with solar. There is the tax break. There is industry-proven increased home equity. There are even some passive benefits of having solar installed on your home. For example, one factor often overlooked is that solar panels shade your attic, like a large tree, so the heat doesn't build up the way it used to on summer days. A solar home is naturally and noticeably cooler and more efficient - just based on that fact alone.

Solar is fun to talk about

It is fun, and potentially profitable, to talk about solar. If you have a solar provider that pays for referrals, the financial benefits extend to referral check payments. More and more neighbors are discovering the benefits of solar energy on their homes, so we can all help each other learn how to save, and make, money during this growing energy revolution.Studies show that over 90% of the people who choose to go solar, do so for the financial benefits. The fact that the environment is so positively affected is just icing on the cake!

To find out if your home is a good candidate for solar, visit solar-colorado.com. With just four quick questions, they'll let you know if solar will work on your home.

John Craig has been in the solar field since the early 1980s when he created software for several of the world's largest commercial solar energy fields.His book detailing high-accuracy sun position calculations for solar projects has been an Amazon best-seller for years now. He and his family decided to have solar panels installed on their Colorado rooftop three years ago.

SOURCE Solar-Colorado