Solar panels are a growing trend and with good reason. As we move towards using sustainable energy to meet our needs, solar panels offer an excellent alternative to traditional means of power generation. Let’s look at some important advice you should follow to buy the best solar panels.
Ask Friends & Family
Ask around if anyone you know and trust has had solar panels installed. They’ll tell you about their experiences that will help you make better decisions. Maybe they’ll share some mistakes they made or things to watch out for. Also, ask them about any issues they face when using solar panels and any tips and tricks they found to deal with them.
Have Realistic Price Expectations
Don’t be too tight on your purse strings. If you find very low prices, there is a chance you are getting poor quality equipment/installation. Remember that quality solar panels don’t exactly come cheap. While you should certainly try to get the best price and not get ripped off, you need to consider this as an investment that will pay off in the long term.
Check Length of Warranty
Take note of how long is the manufacturer’s warranty. In the case of a reputable manufacturer, the solar panels will carry a long warranty, around 25 years or more. However, the company still needs to be operating to honor the warranty. So be wary of frauds!
Choose a Type of Panels
Previously, if you had limited roof space, you would have needed very efficient (and quite expensive) mono-crystalline solar panels. However, this is no longer the case. Now you can also choose thin film panels. A major consideration is size vs. output. You can discuss your needs once you find a solar panel company or someone who installs the panels.
Choose an Efficient Solar Inverter
A power inverter converts the DC electricity from the solar panels to AC electricity to be used in your home. Since not all solar inverters are made equal, you need to choose one that is efficient to minimize electricity wastage and optimal performance within your house. It’s best to choose reliable brands over generic ones.
Consider the Solar Panel Mounting
You need to ensure that your roof, tracking system or ground mounting is engineer certified for your area. You also need to determine the wind certification and warranty arrangements as well as get copies of all relevant documents.
Get Multiple Quotes
As with every important purchase, it’s best to get quotes from multiple sellers. As you compare prices, don’t be swayed just by lower prices. Low quality solar panels and installation will end up costing you more in the long run. You’ll get a great deal if you compare different quotes while focusing on quality.
Avoid High Pressure Sales People
Sadly, aggressive sales people and their pressure tactics are quite common in the solar power industry, like many others. Remember, you don’t have to make the decision on the spot. No matter how urgent the salesperson sounds, just ask them for their offer/quote and tell them you’ll get back to them. It’s not every day you purchase solar panels. You need to make this decision carefully so don’t be hustled by any smooth talking salesperson.
To make the most of your solar panels, find a professional solar panel installation service rather than try to do it yourself.
Filed under : Solar Systems