How To Prepare Your House For Installing Solar Panels

Some states require an energy audit before you can buy a solar system or before you can collect any available rebates.

How to prepare your house for installing solar panels.

If the roof structure is old you may need to get a structural engineer to verify the load imposed by the solar system is adequate. In preparation for installation consider building a separate utility nook or storage cabinet to house a battery electrical inverters and balance of system bos equipment to integrate the solar modules for use with the home s existing electrical system. How much roof space will a system take up. Consider the pitching of your roof.

Your roof should allow at least 200 to 400 square feet of space to accommodate a solar power system so measure your space before making a commitment. Review the physical installation options. Some contractors may not install on sharply pitched roofs. If not you may have to reinforce the roof to accommodate the panels.

If your roof is old please put a new roof on before installing solar on it. Solar systems last at least 25 30 years or longer. This may be achieved in several ways. To do this bury a grounding rod with about six inches of its body sticking out.

Check with local solar installation companies if you need specific information about the angular facing of the solar panels during the cooler months. About 4 solar panels will generate 1 kilowatt of solar energy and take up 100 sq ft 9 3 m 2 of space. Solar power isn t a perfect fit for every type of home. An obvious but often overlooked area of preparation is to trim down on the excess usage of power in the smaller appliances and bulbs around the house.

Measure your open roof space and make sure you have enough area for all the solar panels you ll be installing. Installing solar panels on your roof is also a wonderful way to generate electricity for your home and business as well as the grid without increasing your impact on the environment. In order for the solar panel arrays to be safe for human hands to touch without being grounded you will need proper grounding for them. See if you have 100 sq ft 9 3 m2 of roof for every kilowatt of energy needed.

One side of the roof must face the south or southwest and the roof s slant or pitch must be at an angle that presents optimal exposure to. You can do this either on a wood surface or on the ground. Installing a solar power system for your home.