Solar Panels

The expected lifetime is 35 years or more. Many solar panels that are already installed and generating have been producing for 35 years already. Tier 1 bankable solar panel manufacturers offer:

Power Output warranty periods = 25 – 30 year

Product material & workmanship warranty periods = 12 years

Solar panels are built with tempered glass, and aluminum frames. They are very robust and can withstand extreme weather. If by the slight chance they were to be damaged by a severe hail storm, solar panels are covered by your home or business insurance.

A good way to think about it is if a window is damaged by a storm in your home or business. This is covered by insurance, just as solar panels are covered by insurance as well.

To date, many studies have been done from industry and academics in regard to the impact that snow has on solar production. The consensus is that solar production, on average, only has around a 2% impact from snow falls in the southern most populated regions of Canada. Usually, snow cover will melt and slide off once the sun hits the panels.

An offsetting benefit of winter is that the solar panels/modules are actually more efficient in colder weather.

During a power outage, if a storage/battery system is not in place, then will not receive any power. This is due to the fact that everyone is tied to the grid which is where the energy you produce is held and stored. Your system is shut down automatically so that line workers can safely repair do repairs. When utility power is restored, your solar system will automatically restart.

When you install a solar energy system on your property, you save money on your electricity bills and protect yourself against rising electricity rates in the future. How much you can save depends on the utility rates, solar policies and current equipment costs in your area. Going solar is a smart investment regardless of where you live.

Solar power, like other renewable energy resources, has many environmental and health benefits. Going solar reduces greenhouse gas emissions, which contribute to climate change, and also results in fewer air pollutants.

Net metering is the system that utilities use to credit solar energy system owners for the electricity produced by their solar panels. With net metering, you only pay for the electricity that you use beyond what your solar panels can generate. Net metering policies differ by jurisdiction (province and state).

Studies have shown that homes with solar energy systems sell for more than homes without them. An estimated percentage increase is between 5 to 7%. In most parts of the country, going solar will actually increase your property value more than a kitchen renovation.

Solar panels absorb the sun’s energy throughout the day and convert it into direct current (DC) electricity. Most homes and businesses run on alternating current (AC) electricity, so the DC electricity is then passed through an inverter to usable AC electricity. At that point, you either use the electricity in your house or send it back to the electric grid.

The amount of power your solar energy system can generate is dependent on sunlight. As a result, your solar panels will produce slightly less energy when the weather is cloudy, and no energy at night. However, because of high electricity costs and financial incentives, solar is a smart decision even if you live in a cloudy city.

Unless your location is off grid meaning no connection at all to utility company, you will still receive a bill from your utility. However, you can dramatically reduce your bill, or even cut the amount you owe to solely the service charge. A common monthly service charge is around $20 – $30 / month.

We will file the paperwork necessary to have your system approved. What is needed for permits is electrical and building permits. The actual installation typically takes around 1 to 2 weeks. At this point then we will contact your utility for an inspection and to have a bidirectional meter installed.

Solar panel systems are made of durable tempered glass and require little to no maintenance for the 25 to 35 years. In most cases, you don’t even need to clean your solar panels regularly due to rain & snow taking care of this.

If you can afford to pay your electricity bill you can afford to go solar. Lenders favor renewable energy financing as it is seen as an investment and also is a hard asset offering the lender tangible collateral. For businesses there are many low rate loan products. For residential $0-down solar financing options, including both solar loans and solar leases, make it easy for homeowners with good credit to start saving on their electricity bills by going solar.

Southerly-facing roofs with little to no shade and enough space to fit a solar panel system are ideal for installing solar. However, in many cases we also install on east and west which also generate good production levels. The only side of a roof that is not worth installing solar panels is the north side. This is due to North America’s location relevant to the equator.

The size of your solar energy system will depend on how much electricity you use on a monthly basis, as well as the weather conditions where you live. A good thing about solar is that it doesnt have to be all installed at one time also. A common goal for alot of our customers is to 100% off set there electricity usage.

Solar energy systems can last from 25 to 35+ years. It can be costly to remove and reinstall them if you need to replace your roof. If your roof needs maintenance in the near term, it is best to complete before installing your solar installation. We have a significant amount of experience in roofing. Reach out to us if this is a concern.

If you own your solar energy system, your solar house will sell at a premium: studies have shown that solar increases property values a significant amount. If you lease your system the title is transferred to the new owners. This will be welcomed, as monthly utility bills are reduced by half the regular costs.

There are a couple main differences in solar panels currently:

1) Bifacial or Monofacial

Bifacial is becoming the norm but traditional monofacial panels still exist. Bifacial has tempered glass on both sides allowing not only solar production from the front of the solar cells but also the backside.

2) Size

Solar panels come in two main sizes: 60 cell (66”x40”) and 72 cell (84”x41”). 66 cell is a new size. This size of panel is in circulation somewhat now.

With every installation we do a solar energy monitoring system is included. We only install manufacturer products that have good high quality monitoring platforms.

Solar panels offset tons of carbon every year, even smaller residential systems. A 5kW or 13 module system can offset upwards of 4,000kg of carbon every year. If you install a 5 kW system depending on location in North America, over 30 years your solar panels will have offset between 120 to 170 tons of C02! Carbon offsets are an ever growing concern given our current state of emissions.

The best way for us to determine this, is to contact us! But in general, if you have a south, east or west facing roof, we can make solar panels work for you. If you have trees, chimneys or other shade sources covering part of your roof, we will position the array to optimize your system specifically to your needs. As a professional solar contractor, we analyze all site conditions on every project to maximize your solar harvest.

Not likely, but it does happen. Solar panels have been designed to prepare for exposure to harsh outdoor elements. There are first-generation solar panels still in service after 40 years that still produce 75% of their original output. Plus, they are relatively simple, with no moving parts and so it is rare for issues to arise. If cracks or breaks do emerge, it is typically best to get your system looked at and assessed.