FAQ’s

A lot of things affect how well-suited your home is for solar, including where your home is, the angle of your roof, how much shade it gets throughout the day, and how old your home is.

Our solar advisors can help you determine if your home is a good fit for solar at the moment. They’ll run a custom analysis of your home with our proprietary solar design technology and they’ll get a sense for your energy needs.

After you switch to solar, you won’t notice a difference. Your lights, appliances, televisions and everything else that uses electricity will work exactly as they did before.

The one key difference you will notice after switching to solar is in how you pay for your power. You will still receive a monthly bill from your utility company. How much energy you end up having to buy from your utility depends on the size of your solar system and how much electricity you're actually using. Ideally, your system size should be perfectly tailored to your energy needs and you wont have to pay the utility company anything at all.

On average, solar panels raise a home's value by 4.1%. One of the main reasons homes with solar sell for more is because of the future energy savings they offer as inflation and energy rates increase over time. When considering the value of a home with solar panels it’s important to work with an accredited green appraiser to properly assess the value of the solar system.

Source: https://www.zillow.com/research/solar-panels-house-sell-more-23798/

The short answer is yes but you might not have to pay anything even though you still get one. You will still get an electric bill from the utility company because your home is connected to the electric grid and electric companies usually charge you a fee just to be connected to the grid. However, depending on your system size, production, and time of year, you won't be asked to pay anything on your bill because your system will produce enough energy to cover for your electric needs and any extra fees. During times of high energy consumption (like the summer in Arizona) you may have to pay a small amount.

The simple answer is no. As of now, you have to be connected to the grid because battery storage for solar panels is not advanced enough to be able to store all of the power you need when the sun isn't shining. You will still need to pull some power from the grid during night time and during periods of high energy consumption. However, a battery can help reduce the amount of energy you purchase from the utility company at night and can help protect you from completely losing energy during a blackout.

Solar panels do not work during a power outage. They only work if you have battery storage. During extreme weather conditions or when consumer demand overloads the system, the electric grid shut downs. This power outage would include your solar panel system to ensure that crews can safely work on the grid and make repairs. The only way for your solar panels to continue generating power during a blackout is with battery storage. How much power you get from a battery depends on a number of factors specific to your household’s energy use and the battery type but on average you get about 6 hours of power with a battery.

Solar panels require little to no maintenance and can even reduce overall maintenance costs on your home by protecting your roof. To maximize the performance of your solar power system, it is important to keep your panels free of excessive dust and debris. The wind and rainfall will do most of the work for you, but annual cleanings can help to keep them functioning at their best. If advanced maintenance is required, it's often due to unusual circumstances such as pests or home renovations and can easily be performed by your solar company.

It's tricky to provide a 'one-size-fits-all' cost for solar maintenance, because the answer depends on a lot of variables like the system size, design, equipment, panel condition, roof slant, house height, location, and the surrounding environment.

That said, you can expect to pay anywhere from $250 to $750 or more for a typical solar maintenance or service visit

If you need panels cleaned, some solar maintenance companies will charge a flat rate for the visit, or between $15 and $35 per panel. For an annual solar inspection, the price is typically in the $150 to $300 range.

Whether or not solar is affordable for you depends on various factors like the size of your system, your energy consumption, and your credit score. The good news is most people can afford solar. In many cases the monthly payments for solar are the same or less than your average monthly electric bill.

In order to determine if your roof is suitable for solar you should get your roof inspected. Part of the process of getting a solar system installed is having your solar company complete a site survey of your home. Newer roofs are preferable because when you have a new roof you don’t have to worry about detaching and reinstalling the panels during a roof replacement or repair.

A roof that is damaged or near the end of its lifetime is not ideal for solar panels, but if you are getting a new roof or roof replacement, it could be the perfect time to switch to solar.

If you need a new roof, we can help you. You could save a ton on your new roof by getting solar panels at the same time — just ask us how you can save on your roof replacement and solar combination.

The perfect time to get solar is right after you install a new roof. Your solar panels can last 25-30 years without needing repairs or replacement so it's ideal that the roof beneath them can last just as long. Our in-house roofing company installs quality, affordable roofing that works with home solar systems. You may also qualify to save money on your new roof by getting solar panels at the same time.

We estimate that 30 years is the average lifespan of a solar array. Most solar panels today have a 25-year power output warranty, and may continue to produce power well beyond that point. In fact, some of the earliest systems installed in the 70’s are still working today.

No, under Arizona law, HOAs cannot prevent you from installing solar on your home.

The simple answer is no. Although it's certainly true that advancements in technology will continue to make the panels more efficient, it’s still smarter to switch to solar today. These advancements are changing the efficiency of the panels gradually, not exponentially which means you’d have to wait a long time to get a noticeably better product.

Another point to consider is that right now, we have federal and state incentives that save you money on the total cost of your system. Additionally, as solar becomes more popular Net Metering programs are going away and at the same time utility rates continue to rise.

So, while technological advancements seem enticing, the best time to go solar is sooner rather than later. You can start saving money today, receive the federal and state incentives, and take advantage of net metering programs to get better rates when you sell your excess energy back to the utility company.

First implemented in 2006, the solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC) is a 26% federal tax credit for residential, commercial and utility scale solar systems placed in service prior to 1/1/2020. The credit is a dollar for dollar reduction in the income taxes of the customer claiming the ITC, worth 26% of the basis invested

It is possible to install your own solar array, but it’s not advisable for a few key reasons.

1) The materials are typically more expensive.

2) It can be difficult to determine the best position for your panels.

3) The electrical work requires special training to complete.

4) A DIY installation may void any warranties on the solar panels.

Also, depending on where you live, the permitting process can be quite difficult and time-consuming. You may also miss out on tax incentives and rebates that a solar company will be familiar with and can help you navigate.