Did you know that most homeowners can save an average of $9,000 or more by utilizing the federal solar tax credit. The federal residential solar energy credit can be claimed on federal income taxes for a percentage of the cost of your solar photovoltaic system.
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When it comes to the all-in price of installing solar panels, several factors can have an impact. Some of the most common factors that affect the pricing of solar panel installation are the type of solar panels you’re using, the number of solar panels you’re installing, your roof type, and interconnection costs. You can learn more about solar panel costs in this resource.
Solar panels, or solar photovoltaic panels, transform sunlight into usable energy by converting the light into an electric field that then flows into a conductive wire. The conductive wire flows into the inverter which then transforms the electricity to an alternating current which can then be used to power a property.
You can read our full article about how solar panels work here.
Solar panels are typically going to be able to produce between 245 watts and 400 watts per hour. This means that if you live in a place that gets 6 hours of direct sunlight each day, a 300-watt solar panel will produce 1.8 kilowatt-hours and a 400-watt solar panel will produce 2.4 kilowatt-hours. Multiplied by 365, this adds up to about 650 kWh to 875 kWh per year.
Solar panels have a typical lifespan of 25 to 30 years. Once solar panels reach this point they begin to decline in efficiency. However, with recent advances in solar panel technology, it could make more sense to replace your solar panels in 10 years to maximize the improved efficiency.
In order to figure out how many solar panels you need, you’ll need to determine how much energy your household uses, how many panels you can fit on your roof, the peak sunlight in your area, how efficient the panels you’re considering are, and whether net metering is available in your area. The easiest way to find out is to get a solar panel estimate from a local installer.
In most cases, cleaning your solar panels isn’t really necessary. They get a great rinse off every time it rains. However, if you live in a dry state you may need to clean them from time to time. It’s generally advised that you hire a professional to do this so that you don’t do any unintended damage to your solar panels. However, if you plan to do it yourself, it’s not all that difficult. All you really need is a hose, a good brush, and some patience. Make sure to take your time and gently, but thoroughly scrub the panels until all the dirt and debris is removed.
Typically, an average-sized house will need 20 to 25 solar panels. However, depending on the size of the house, the sun exposure, where you live, and how much energy you consume, you could need more.
