Suppose you’re looking to install a solar system on your roof, in your yard, or on an adjacent pole barn. While all residential solar installations share similarities, each type has unique factors to address before and during the installation process. That’s no different than any other major project in your home.
And just like any other major project, there are certain considerations that should be accounted for during the planning stages. Assessing your roof material, the mounting system, and panel positioning, among others, all have big impacts on the structural integrity of your panel system, but also the money and energy savings you secure from it.
Five Key Considerations Before Installing Any Solar System
Before you install your solar panel system, a little preparation goes a long way. Asking the right questions, understanding the process, and knowing what you want will help you choose the right system that delivers maximum savings.
Starting from the top, here are five important considerations you should make before installing your residential solar system:
- Where do you want your panels installed?
- Assess your roof
- Energy needs and system sizing
- Find the best positioning
- Understand your local regulations
1. Where Do You Want Your Panels Installed?
While this sounds obvious, this is an important question with no single correct answer.
Most residential solar installations fall into three categories: they’re either installed on the roof of a home, the roof of a pole barn or attached garage, or on the grounds of the property. Each type of installation offers benefits that suit specific homeowners.
- Rooftop Solar Installation: The most common type of residential solar, roof-mounted panels can be installed on a variety of roof types and angles, from flat to pitched, tile, and even metal roofing.
- Ground Mount Solar Installation: Best for properties without adequate roof space, ground-mounted panels are installed on a dedicated mounting structure, usually in a homeowner’s yard. While more expensive to install than traditional roof-mounted panels, ground-mounts offer easier access for maintenance and greater flexibility to angle and position your system to maximize energy production.
- Pole-Barn Solar Installation: These are best for larger properties with a pole barn. Installing panels on a pole barn generally gives homeowners the roof space to install a larger system or supplement their pre-existing one. Pole-barn and ground-mount installations are also great alternatives for homeowners who want to preserve the appearance of their home’s roof by mounting their solar panels elsewhere.
Further Reading: Can I install Solar Panels on a Pole Barn? Rooftop vs Ground Mount Solar Panels
2. Assess Your Roof
This is just as important for a pole barn as it is for installing panels on your home’s roof. Consider the roof’s condition, age, slope, and orientation. Solar panels typically last around 25 to 30 years, so it’s best if your roof is also in good enough condition to last that long without needing major repairs.
Orientation is also important. If you can, prioritize installing your panels facing south so they can capture the most sunlight. Above all else, structural integrity is the most critical aspect of your roof to assess – if it can’t support the weight of a panel array, it’s not safe to install.
3. Energy Needs and System Sizing
People often think that the larger your system is, the better. At first glance, this sounds like sound logic; after all, more panels mean more energy, and producing more energy means better savings.
However, solar panels are an investment. To lower the upfront cost while retaining as much of the benefit as possible, it’s important to choose the right system size for your energy needs, rather than just getting the biggest that space allows.
To find the right system size, analyze your past energy bills, your current costs, and how much energy your home actually needs every month. Understanding this information will help your installer recommend the appropriately sized solar panel system for you.
4. Find the Best Positioning
We’ve already mentioned that it’s best to position your panels facing the south to capture the most sunlight, but there are other factors to consider that help capture even more. Positioning is key to maximizing your panel’s energy production – how your panels are tilted is another component of this.
As the hours of the day pass, the sun changes its position relative to the Earth, which means the angle and direction of the sun’s rays shift from morning to night. Finding the precise tilt angle for your panels can help capture more sunlight for longer periods of the day, improving your panel’s energy production and efficiency.
5. Understand Your Local Regulations
A licensed solar installer will always make sure your installation is compliant with your area’s local building codes and other regulations. However, understanding those regulations remains important, especially if you’re planning a pole barn or ground-mounted installation.
Zoning laws, building codes, and HOA regulations may pose some challenges to overcome for your project. While HOAs can’t outright prevent anyone from installing solar panels, they still have rules that must be followed. Understanding which laws and regulations apply to your area will help you account for them.
An Often Afterthought: Solar Battery Storage
Another consideration before committing to any solar installation is whether you want to add upgrades that improve your system’s efficiency and potential energy generation. For homeowners, the best example is a solar battery storage system.
A solar battery storage system stores excess energy generated by solar panels for later use. Since residential solar panels often generate more energy than homeowners use in a day, this system prevents that energy from going to waste.
During the fall and winter months, when sunlight is limited, this system can provide backup energy. Homeowners who effectively manage their energy generation can use these batteries to avoid relying on grid energy, leading to significant savings on monthly bills. With the tactful use of a solar battery storage system, it’s even possible to eliminate your energy bill altogether.
Further Reading: Stay Disaster Resilient with Solar Battery Storage
Solar by CIR: Expert Solar Installation for Rooftop, Ground-Mounts, and More
Solar by CIR offers high-quality solar installation services wherever you need them; whether you’re looking to install on your roof, using a ground mount, or even your pole barn, our experts can recommend and implement the best positioning, angle, and equipment to maximize your system’s money and energy-saving potential. Contact us to find out if solar is right for you.