THE PROCESS

The cost of solar panels can vary depending on a few different factors such as the size of the home, how much energy is used annually, available roof/yard space, etc. On average though, the cost of installing a solar system at your home can range anywhere from $15,000 to $30,000. However, there are rebates, grants, and interest free financing programs available at the Federal and Provincial level that can really help bring down that overall cost and make it easy to pay for! 

Solar panels require little to no maintenance as there are no moving parts involved in the system. They do require some upkeep periodically which includes keeping dust, debris, snow, off the panels so they receive the maximum amount of sunlight. Lastly, utilizing your monitoring system that is included in the purchase of your system can help with preventive maintenance.

The goal for solar panels is that they are installed on your roof for many years to allow you peace of mind when it comes to saving money and helping the environment by producing your own green energy. If your roof’s shingles are brand new there is no reason to replace them before installing your system. Between 10-20 years old you may want to consider having the roof checked by a professional before installing your system. 20+ years of age we would highly recommend you put a new roof on to eliminate the need for us to come back and charge an hourly rate to uninstall and reinstall your system.

A south facing roof is ideal for peak efficiency of a solar system. You can install on an East/West roof face and still see benefits to your electrical bill although you will need to add more panels to achieve a similar offset to a south facing roof design. The only roof face that is avoided when installing solar is the North, as it has the least amount of direct sunlight resulting in poor efficiency of the panel.

In the event of power outage, simply shut down your system by flipping the solar disconnect labelled “Rapid shutdown switch for PV system” next to your net meter to the OFF position. This should be the first step before doing your normal generator starting process depending on your set up. Failure to follow these steps could result in equipment fault.