Factors That Affect The Costs Of Solar Panel Installation In Your Home

The Roof

When considering a solar panel installation from Houston, you must consider how much space you have on your roof. If you have limited square footage on your top, you'll need smaller solar arrays that are less expensive. The solar panels’ orientation will have to be towards the south or the west to give you the desired output you require.

If your roof cannot support solar panels, then you will have to construct an entire rig to support an array that stands afar from your roof. Check out your rooftop and consider the kind of installation that would work best for you.

Electricity Usage

Every house has a different electric bill because every home differs in its electrical usage. A home with a family of six will consume more power than a home with only two occupants. Consider the power consumption of your household before you go for solar panels. If you want your entire house to run on solar energy, then your investment will significantly increase. The best thing would be to try to reduce the overall power consumption in your home.

Solar Panel Type

There are two primary types of solar panels used for home solar systems. These are panels made from monocrystalline solar cells or polycrystalline solar cells. Mono-type cells are proven to be a little more efficient than poly-type cells. For this reason, they tend to be more expensive.

Keep in mind that a small solar array with mono-type cells will be more energy-efficient than a large one with poly-type cells. This doesn’t mean you should rush to get mono-type cells because you still don’t know the number of panels you will install. It is essential to consider the overall cost by speaking with the professionals before you make a decision.

Panel Mounts

The solar panels cannot just lie on top of your roof. Their installation requires a solar array with a rack system. The kind of support needed for your installation will depend on the amount of space available on your roof and external conditions like the weather.

If the racking is done improperly, then your installation runs the risk of falling off the roof. Another factor that can impact your installation is pits or depressions in the roof. If the array’s anchor-point is too low, additional fixtures will be required to raise the panels.

Inverter

Every solar panel comes with a power inverter unit that connects the system to the utility grid. These inverters are responsible for converting the Direct Current produced by the solar panels into an Alternating Current that traverses through your home. The type of inverter you need will vary depending on the number of solar panels, the overall size of the installation, and the type of panels you are going for. The professional installing your solar panels can guide you on your options.

Labor

The amount of labor required for solar panels is quite vast. You have to pay for transportation and installation costs, which vary according to geographic location, roof size, roof orientation, and inclement weather conditions. Most installation companies will give you an estimate after including these ancillary costs. If you’re unsure, you can get estimates from several installation companies and compare them accordingly. 

As We Advance

All the factors mentioned above are part of the residential solar power equation for determining the cost of the installation. Instead of looking for a cost-benefit analysis of solar panels, you should primarily consider your requirements and what you expect a solar panel installation to do for your home.

There are many ancillary costs involved with a solar panel installation, so make sure you ask many questions of the solar installer to get a viable estimate. Of course, the only way to get an honest estimate is to go with a reputable and reliable solar panel installation company.