Solar Panels

Avoid Unexpected Costs… Be in the Know! [[in CITY]]

So you made the great decision to purchase solar panels.  What a fantastic choice for so many reasons!

Keep in mind that there will be a few expenses associated with solar panel installation [[in CITY]] before you can start producing your own electricity, namely:

1.	Permit and Inspection. This requirement is likely to cost you $.06 per watt.

2.	Panel Purchase Price. Average cost of solar panels is between $10,000 and $26,000. To get a more precise figure, take into account the size of your home compared to the national average of 2,000 square feet. Consider, also, the number of appliances you expect to power.

GOOD TO KNOW: Unlike most consumer products, the cost of solar panels has decreased substantially over the past decade.

3.	Labor Cost. The labor involved in installing solar panels averages about $.27 per watt. This cost will go up if your home has more than one story, protrusions in the roof such as chimneys or skylights, or an exceptionally steep roof pitch.

4.	Mounts and Inverter. Adjustable mounts are commonly recommended, at a cost of $50. You’ll also need an inverter, to convert the electricity generated by the panels into the correct voltage for your home.

5.	Ongoing Maintenance. You may have to spend several hundred dollars annually for maintenance and repair of your solar panel system. Examples of these charges include: professional cleaning, repair of cracked panels or loose connection, and replacement of your inverter.

*Please note the above costs are representative only, your costs will vary

Do Solar Panels Need Cleaning [[in CITY]]?

Solar panels are made of glass, which like all glass, gets dirty sometimes. Small amounts of grime will not affect your solar panels’ output much and are likely to be washed away the next time there is a rain shower [[in CITY]].

However, in less rainy periods – or when an unusual eventlike home renovation creates a lot of dust in the air — you may want to clean your solar panels. It’s not a difficult task when done the right way.Find out how.

1.	Clean in the morning while the day is still cool, if possible. Once the sun has heated up your solar panels, contact with cold water can easily crack them.

2.	Stay safe: Turn off your solar system before you begin and use a sturdy ladder to access your roof.

3.	Be gentle with the panels to prevent scratching or breaking. Pressure washing and abrasive cleaningproducts are not advised, since they can do damage. (A regular garden hose is fine, though.)

4.	Start by removing heavy dust with a soft dry brush or cloth.

5.	Follow up by washing the panel surface. Leave the wiring alone! Some experts recommend using distilled water, which will not leave a residue. A glass cleaner such as Windex is also good, but it can get expensive because you will have to use a large amount. The best products are a sponge, warm water, a mild dishwashing liquid and perhaps a little vinegar.

How Many Solar Panels Are Needed To Run a House [[in CITY]]?

If you are thinking of making the move to a solar powered home [[in CITY]], good for you. You will be taking a step toward independence, as well as spending less on utility bills and substantially reducing your carbon footprint.

When you make plans to supply all of your home’s electrical needs via solar panels, calculate carefully to ensure you’ll have enough power. The following factors will determine the final figure.

On average, an American family consumes about 11,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity per year. You’ll need less if you are a super energy-conscious type with a house smaller than the typical 2,000 square feet, more if you live in a large home and are fond of running multiple energy-hungry appliances.

A premium solar panel might be 290 watts. Multiply that by, say, 4 hours of direct sunlight a day, on average. That amounts to 1,160 watt-hours; in other words, 1.16 kilowatt-hours daily. Over a year, the total will be about 423 kilowatt-hours.

Divide the total kilowatt-hours you’ll need every year by the annual kilowatt-hours output of your panels. The result will give you the number of solar panels required to run your house.

11,000 kilowatt-hours required annually ÷ 423 kilowatt hours per panel = 26 panels needed

According to solar energy experts, it’s best to oversize your system slightly to compensate for periods of cloudy weather.

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