Should You Put Solar on Your Home - Is Solar Worth it?

[@dannypowers4995]

From experience. My experience was not worth the cost. $21,000 to install completely. Return on investment was at best $70.00 a month. That was middle summer when sun was it's highest. Was not told that panels on my roof would avoid roof warranty . The panels shade the shingles keeping the shingles wet longer per day . When roof needed replacing I was then told new roof warranty would not cover the roof If I put the panels back on roof. Solar companies want to put the panels on roof to catch more sunlight. Winter forget about it. Low sun = less sun light per day = for me about $50.00 A month return. Will never go solar again. To each there on. Oh, pollen ,road film etc covers glass on panels and you got to get up on roof about every 6 months for a good cleaning. IMHO

[@chrism2025]

@dannypowers4995 comments are ones that I am running into as I look into solar for my location. High cost with roof at a steep angle in my case along with angle of house not the best for performance. Degradation of performance due to dirt/pollen etc, requiring yearly or more often cleaning. I live in an area where hail can be expected every 3 to 5 years requiring replacement of roof, the cost to remove the solar panels, store and then reattach is never mentioned. May be better with your acreage to seriously look into a stand alone frame with the panels on top. You can set up a specific angle and direction for best performance and make it easier to clean and repair if necessary. May be better than a tracking system with all of its moving parts.

[@CR-ow2wp]

@dannypowera4995 Thanks for sharing your honest experience with solar. These are the types of facts that you don't hear from the solar companies pushing their products in our neighborhood.

[@carlfloto7547]

…well said.

[@AbbyMom100]

As an owner of lots of panels, I will say, Unless you plan on, and can pretty much promise that you'll own the property for the next 15 years or more, it's not worth it. I LOVE my solar panels, but it's important to note that I own my own business and don't need to or want to move...like ever, until I'm past retirement, so it works for me.

[@GRCook-md2yf]

Regarding your true-life experience, I do not own solar panels. As an Accountant and a numbers guy, I have calculated and analyzed several times the break-even point is 17 to 19 years so I am glad to receive from you, a confirmation on my analysis.

[@AbbyMom100]

@@GRCook-md2yf Absolutely, it's totally the case. I'm a numbers guy too. The only probable major adjustment to the ROI is the variable energy costs over time. I would suspect of course for these to go up as they always have. Depending on the steepness of that curve it could be a little faster, but in general, yes, 17-19 years ROI. The same could be the inverse if power costs go down, I just doubt that will happen much if at all over time.

[@CR-ow2wp]

17 to 19 years to break even is crazy. I've always wondered about this, as we've had numerous solar companies pushing their products in our neighborhood and all of them had rosy estimates of 5-7 years for when we would be at break-even. I've always suspected they weren't completely forthcoming with key information and had overly optimistic estimates.

[@phillipingram4909]

@AbbyMom100 - Agreed. Your ‘reply’ ROI calcs are dead on. Not saying there aren’t viable positive considerations for some circumstances, but I just couldn’t make it work for me. (And I wanted it to.) I’ve had two companies pitch to me, but after I showed them my energy spreadsheets and calculations, both agreed it wouldn’t be the best solution for me.

[@AbbyMom100]

@@phillipingram4909 it’s certainly not for everyone. Different houses, different energy needs, different house lifespan expectations…..lots of variables have to be right for it to make sense.

[@travels3577]

What is the maintenance of the panels? How long does a panel last? Is it possible for the panel to burn out if it’s too hot 100 degrees or so? What kind of damage can happen to the roof once these things are installed? What happens to the panels during a hurricane? And how does this affect insurance on the house?

[@jbooker]

- Mostly maintenance free. You can hose them down if they get dirty, but usually rain will take care of that soon enough. - Longevity depends on the panel and brand. Usually rated for 20-30 years. - There is a maximum rated operating temp, but it's well above 100 degrees. My panels are rated to 185 degrees F. Higher temps do start to slightly reduce generation performance. Like most electronics, they work better when they're cooler. - The biggest worry is sealing the holes made in the roof to mount the panels. There are good solutions/products for this now, so it's generally not an issue, just something to double check the first few times it rains after the panels have been installed. The panels generally protect the roof other damage. The panels are impact resistant, but large enough hail can shatter them. They'd take the brunt of the damage before allowing the hail to hit the roof. - The mounting brackets are rated for certain levels of wind resistance. They've thought of this and designed the mounts accordingly, but it's something to ask your installer about. Different types of mounting hardware has different wind ratings, so find out what your installer plans to use. - The panels increase the replacement value of the home, so I'd expect it to raise the insurance rates slightly. How much would depending on the size/value of the solar system and your local insurance rates. Unless you get a huge system, the rate increase is probably not enough to really matter though.

[@Gkrissy]

This is my question as well.

[@JohnZeman-c5r]

Go solar Doc. I bought a house in Arizona last year that has solar already on the roof and i love it. So far for the year I have a $650 credit with the local electric company. I have not had a bill from my electric company in the almost 11 months i have been here. I just bought 2 Tesla batteries and cant wait for them to be installed so i cant give my 2 cents yet on batteries. I am very happy with my system and i say if you can afford the cost to do it.

[@stevenyoung3187]

Doc, regardless of where you finally mount the solar panels, ensure the mounting rail system allows individual panels anywhere in a string to be removed easily for repair or replacement. Some companies use rails that require all panels in a string to be removed to get to the inner ones. Also, the proposed cable run between your barn and house is quite a distance, so make sure the voltage drop is calculated correctly based on the maximum current, and the right size conductors are used to ensure the voltage at your house is within specification for the input to the inverter. Others in these comments have questioned the placement of the panels on the barn-I too think you should reconsider and collocate all of the equipment near your house to minimise voltage drop and to provide a safe clean environment for the electronics-it’s an expensive investment. Cheers.

[@raybr1727]

Why deal with ANY roof access when you have so much land! Find a permanently sunny spot and get a simple welded structure built at ground level, perhaps with seasonal tilt capabilities if you want to get fancy. You can easily service panels or swap them out when higher efficiency become available. Build a battery house near the panel farm and put your generator next to it. You can add more panel structures, add battery capacity and maybe add an a/c split system to the battery house as your capacity grows. Start small and leave room for expansion so you can analyze the economics. If it doesn’t pay off it will be fun to geek out on the design and research. I am sure you have land open to the south and the west where you can hide these contraptions!

[@GroverGarage]

I worked for a solar company in accounting for a few years while in college. I highly recommend to everyone that you have a FULL 12 months of usage. Solar companies can project usage, but I found us dealing with unhappy customers due to inaccurate projections.

[@GroverGarage]

And it’s typically not that the solar company is wrong, but it’s just that they don’t know you. I do a lot of wood working in the winter because my garage is too hot in the summer. They wouldn’t be able to account for something like that.

[@SilverMonsterCoind]

@@GroverGarage They dont put roof pitch in their formula. That is what degrades mine during the summer.

[@Royale_with_Cheeze]

@richd392 Where are you getting that 20-22% efficient number? I have panels. They produce more energy than I need in spring and summer consistently.

[@teamantleraddicts]

Tesla Solar with power walls battery storage is the way to go, great software too.

[@larryblack2102]

Have 8000 watt solar system , feeds my home and extra goes to local grid. Runs the meter backwards during day time , selling them power at retail when meter going backwards. At night I’m buying from them, meter moving forward. Lowered electric bill over 50%. Keep in mind, your using the sun as a source, comes up every day. Equipment warranty for 25 years, has not blinked in the last 10 years.

[@walterbenvin297]

Instead of putting the solar panels on a roof, considering how much acreage you have, would it be better to put the panels on a rotating solar array that can track the movement and angle of the sun? I think you can get a lot more production that way.

[@bubbme]

The added complexity and mounting hardware would cost him a bundle - much more cost than the difference in electricity generated. Roof mounts are comparably cheap since that is how most installs are done.

[@raymondharrell2534]

My only concern here would be ALL the critters that are on the property. So can you or the installer build the ground mounting system so that is mostly critter proof? Squirrels and raccoons love to chew on wires on roof mounted solar panels.

[@chadhowell1328]

Sun tracking for the most part isn’t worth the hassle from what I’ve seen.

[@chadfleming8234]

I have had solar for about 10 years! My question 100% is going to be on power storage i.e. batteries. Selling back to the grid you get just pennies. I want to know how to most effectively use my own power my panels produce. BTW I have 9.5KWH of panels. Thanks and appreciate the content! Peace My Brother!

[@Royale_with_Cheeze]

I've had solar panels for 6 years. My net metering program credits me pretty much the same rate that they charge for electricity (roughly 22 cents per kWh), so over those 6 years, my credit is currently over $900 with a little more coming for what I sell back this month. Different states have different net metering programs. I'm in MA. Ours is great. The amount paid, as I said, and zero cap. It just keeps adding up.

[@ctskidoo]

I did not put my solar on my roof. I went with arrays on steel posts in the yard, which i can manually adjust tilt for season. I also have a Kohler whole house automatic generator. Ive had mine since 2019, I sell back my excess power and havent had an electric bill since. Grid tied system currently. I would consider adding batteries now to be totally offgrid. Solaredge Inverter. Q-Cell panels. 13KW max output. Better battery technology now than back in 2019.

[@ctskidoo]

It is,definitely worth it in my case. 30% Fed tax credit at the time plus state rebate helped reduce initial cost. I've had no system maintenance expenses since.

[@disgruntled9296]

Have you considered the cost of removing and re-installing the panels when it is time for a new roof?

[@spacecoastkid5033]

That's one of many concerns I have living in Florida.

[@pierreshasta1480]

It is much easier to maintain (clean) solar panels on the ground than high up on a barn. Personally, I would have placed them near water, because the reflection increases productivity and the humidity decreases heat in the summer (heat decreases the performance of the panels).

[@rosendo9953]

How much of the power do u get to keep? How much goes to the power company? I heard insurance rates go way up for the home. Thanks Doc! Semper fi!

[@Hopefullymarried]

Solar power is definitely a good thing for us. We just finished our yearly billing and we again, not paying. We have banked $175 this past season….it’s up and down each year but once it kicks in and the panels we have are paid off so we are in the green

[@Theo_1984]

I wouldn’t mind solar panels but my roof is 18yrs old and thinking I would need to replace it first? Just waiting for that hail storm to come through…

[@zack9912000]

Solar is a big hell no, home insurance companies have and still drop people who get them. People need to call your insurance company first. The life cycle of them do notnlast long enough to pay for them, not every part of the country makes sense for them.

[@yolondanatividad395]

How new does your roof need to be? If you have solar panels on your roof and later down the road you need a new roof, do you need someone that has experience removing the panels and then reinstalling the panels? How long do the batteries last and where are they disposing them at. How long does the charge last on the batteries? Have the panels ever cracked and what is their lifespan.

[@imragen]

Id love to see you add solar to your estate. I know you’ll provide the most honest assessment I can find anywhere. What I really want to know is if there is a way to validate the configuration/cost of what a solar company provides, specifically the estimated number of panels. I have a neighbor that says they produce way too much electricity and can only resell a limited amount back to the power company. They feel they were way over charged and have too many panels. Any comments on the subject would really be appreciated because I too am looking to add solar to my home.

[@pit4955]

Ok my number one question the guy you sign off the contact with where’s he going to be two yrs from now? You probably will never see him again. Your roof needs repairs who’s going to disassemble and reassemble the panels. There’s an awful lot of electrical work with many sensitive sensors during a storm when you have a malfunction how long will it take for repairs. Insurance companies are pretty much walking away from homeowners insurance specially down south so if you get hit with a storm that damages the panels and the panels are the cause of damage to your roof is the insurance company going to make good for both? If you sell what happens to your contract for instance the buyer doesn’t want solar? Just some quickies, good luck

[@WhittyPics]

I talked to one of my neighbors about his solar panels. He didn't get the batteries. He sells his excess power back to Duke. He is paying around $120 a month for 20 years on the loan for the panels. He still has a small power bill every month of around $17 a month. My monthly power bill is around $115 a month. His house is a 2 story while mine is a one story. I just don't see it myself. You have these HUGE upfront costs that you either have to pay or finance with a bank. His savings on his power bill may be around what his monthly payments are and I hear these panels will only last about 20 years. I don't see where he is saving a damn thing. Pay the bank or pay Duke power.

[@CR-ow2wp]

Also factor in current interest rates which are at a 20+ year high. Financing solar now is significantly more expensive than just two years ago.

[@thederpyworks]

What is the typical power loss per foot for a long run like the one you are planning?

[@rct8884]

Hello Doc, here are a few questions I suggest to ask of solar companies. "from an fiscal perspective' how many years does your company have either allready approved funding and or funding saved to cover operating expenses for continued business". "In the event that your company is disolved or is no longer a valid concern, would the manufacturers of the products sold honor and take on the ongoing support and customer care? (Ask for proof).

[@Punisher210234]

I want to know the weight of the solar panels and how much stress it would put on the roof of the house? I also want to know what does the payback schedule look after the initial upfront cost is taken into account? (And the confidence level of those savings)

[@Jmxine]

Theyre about 40-60 pounds and it takes quite some effort to get them on the roof especially 2 story houses. Definitely a grind

[@mikenotta7079]

Advantages/disadvantages to ground mount solar? Especially with solar tracking mounts.

[@bubbme]

Complexity cost of ground mounted (in general) and even more to install a tracker. There is also a lot of money associated with the distance (due to materials cost) due to the size of the conductors required to carry power to the location of the meter and battery

[@raymondharrell2534]

Advantage: gets rid of the insurance liability issues

[@raymondharrell2534]

Advantage: easier to maintain/clean

[@imdmusic2012]

General consensus: since you have so much land, just mount panels from the ground. That roof area you mentioned has sun now, but what about in November through March?

[@jcarey65]

I have thought about it many times, but for all the reasons you mentioned I never pulled the trigger. What about roof leaks? Storm damage? How long will a panel last? Servicing?

[@charlescoker7752]

If you have, or plan to add solar. Be sure your home owners insurance will replace if hit with hail or high winds!

[@RudyAlbrecht]

I have a similar situation as far as size of need. From start to finish what is your out of pocket?

[@donaldrichard1050]

Hey Doc: What happens When & If you need new roof & you already have panels installed on it? Thanks Great videos as always!

[@choochooman336]

What’s the cost for getting rid of those panels in the end? Aren’t they considered nuclear waste?

[@chezkyletters]

What does the pitch of the roof need to be and if you have a high pitch will it still work? How do I measure my pitch?

[@austinvanderveer1496]

Would like to know more how how insurance would protect your investment. Insurance companies I have talked will not cover or very little.

[@walterbenvin297]

If you mount the solar panels on the roof of the barn, is that roof secured enough to not get blown away during a strong tropical storm? I would imagine that might be a risk for you for storms coming up through the gulf.

[@jvcyt298]

I just saw a report about Florida homeowners losing their home insurance after installing solar without asking the insurance company about it first.

[@thufir8055]

Have you asked about how much power you loose with a long cable run from the barn to the home? There's a formula that can calculate loss based on the resistance of the cable, current, voltage,, and such. I would also make certain that not only is the in ground cable properly marked, but that the trench is deep enough so that it doesn't act as a giant antenna. Proper power filtration should take away and spikes in power from nearby lightning strikes. I would look at a lightning arrestor for the barn. Also check your home owners insurance for changes on putting a solar system on the barn. I live in Florida and had a solar system installed here last summer. My electric bill dropped to the minimum you can have and still get power . I own my system instead of leasing. I love it. I didn't get the batteries as I already have a whole home backup generator that uses natural gas and starts automatically. I have been working with battery technology since the early 80's. I have seen the transition from the old wet cell battery room to the new battery types. Not a fan of the new stuff. I have see too many failures over the years of the large batteries. I use smaller UPS units on things I want to avoid a power hit on. Every few years I replace the batteries on those UPS units. One last thing. If you don't already, put a few fire extinguishers close to your generator and at a second fall back spot. Not a fan of gas and electricity close together. People who buy the home generators need to pickup a few fire extinguishers in case. And of course, make certain they know how to operate them. Ever see the guy use one without pulling the pin or not pointing it at the right spot for the type of fire?

[@jayweber3851]

How do you keep the panels clean. How much does power fall off when they are dirty?

[@AroundHouse]

Doc, ask them how solar panels make sense for a house that has an average electric bill of $130 a month? Located in DFW 0 Texas . Selling a house with panels is also challenging.

[@Doug_E_Dee]

Same question! I use less than 400kw/mo, bill is usually

[@NateBraska]

How are you only paying $130 in DFW? Not using the AC or smaller footprint to cool? My yearly average in Austin is $175. At least right now, the utilities is over 350 (need to check the electric specific numbers)

[@jimm6339]

Doc. Looking forward to you documenting the work and the data afterwards. Thanks

[@cardiackid48]

Doc I've been following your channel for about 3years now and from what I have seen from your work at your old house and the giant investment you put into this house, you can obviously afford a reg. electric bill!!! Why do you think you need solar anyway?? I've read a lot of the comments and payback is trivial at best plus the cost of keeping up the panels and wiring or batteries that's involved..I would give a right you know what to have what you have and at your age, I wouldn't want the headache that comes with solar!!

[@aliciawang-u2g]

What is the typical price for installing a solar panel?

[@cjudas777]

What do the warranties on the panels actually cover? What are the benefits of having a battery vs no battery?

[@waynewallace2061]

The warranty actually goes with the installer ergo: if installer goes out of biz you're out of luck.

[@flambayscateringservices8686]

I live in high cost California. PG&E is the number 2 pimp when it comes to cost. My PG&E bills in the winter are $400. Plus, and in the summer, $500. Plus, running the AC in 90° to 100° plus. So, I decided after calling several solar companies to take advantage of the government incentive programs to go solar. I have a 2 story home, so I needed over 20 panels to be efficient enough to produce enough energy where I live in a full sun day. And I'm renting my panels instead of owning mines, so for any reason to do any removal or repairs, the solar company is responsible. Sunrun is the solar company. My PG&E bill now is from $11.00 to $12.00 a month now from where I stated earlier. I am also grandfather in on the price of the rentals with no batteries. If I decide to install backup batteries as the price of the cost comes down to purchase them, I will take a vantage to buy and get totally of the grid.

[@NateBraska]

Sounds like a pretty good deal. I don't know your situation but interested in how it's going. This is the first I've heard of the rentals being worth it. How's it work if you sell the house? What's the rental period for?

[@flambayscateringservices8686]

@NateBraska 5 months into the installation of the solar panels , I haven't had any issues so far into the actual leasing process of a 20-year program. If I decided to sell my house I just inform Sunrun and the will talk to the new owners to see if they want to take over the leasing agreement if not the will remove the panels with no cost. As far as my electric bill being from hundreds of dollars to a few dollars a month, yeah, it's very worth it 💯% for my personal financial expenses.

[@ledpaul713]

Cliff notes from my trip down the solar worm hole this year: Microinverter for each panel, AC-coupled battery system, and lithium iron phosphate batteries... only setup I have found to make any sense. We specifically avoided DC coupled systems to avoid high current DC wiring through or around the house, and I only had to watch one video of a lithium NMC battery fail test to choose LFP batteries. Also note most batteries have allowable temperature ranges which make putting them outside or in unconditioned spaces problematic. Looking forward to this video series!

[@tomd6853]

What is the ROI? Can you use battery backup on a grid connected system? Are the batteries Glass Matt/Lead Acid/Lithium? Can you sell back to the grid? Are credits convertible to cash?

[@bjones8354]

Are the panels covered by your homeowners against hail damage?

[@GRCook-md2yf]

Question: What is the cost of the diminishing returns as solar panels collect the environmental elements and debris if not installed on the ground for accessible cleaning purposes.

[@rmutell]

Doc, starting from the beginning and doing the math to assess needs would be appreciated and helpful.

[@kvmjcharlottehottraio]

i want more information on solar shingles. i'm located in south carolina and there is company wanting to replace shingels with solar shingles.

[@ryanwhitlow2464]

Can insurance cover hail damage etc for your panels and if so, what does that do to your rates?

[@howiephoucup]

How big are the panels, (sqft). What is the output per panel? How many are recommended to be installed? Is there a minimum number or maximum number of panels that can be installed? Is more better? What is the expected output of the panels on September 21/March 21 on a clear, sunny day?

[@johnhamilton9229]

I would love to see the process and background of company

[@chezkyletters]

Will it be enough to charge 3 or 4 teslas? And power 4,000 square foot home?

[@arnharo75]

Are you buying or leasing?

[@robertmaples9516]

Are you buying your panels or leasing them.

[@goldblueberries326]

I currently have a 5kw grid tied solar system. No battery back. So when the power goes out I have no power. I want to connect a back generator to my house, but I am not sure what I need to consider since my solar is connected to my panel, and I will be feeding generator power with my solar at the same time. Maybe this is not a big issue? Maybe it would be no different than the solar with grid power and solar with a generator?

[@ericcomfort6228]

Do Georgia power companies offer net metering?

[@explorerred63]

My question is how spent or replaced solar panels deposed of?.. in landfills? Can they be re-cycled?

[@jeffreychan7453]

Questions I would have is how durable are the solar panels, especially during a hailstorm/tornado. Are there specific roofing materials that are better suited for solar panels?

[@SilverMonsterCoind]

Mine are rated cat 3

[@jbooker]

You'd want to look up the spec sheet for the type of panel you're getting. They're all rated for different hail resistance and loads for wind/snow. The mounting brackets are rated for wind resistance too, with lots of various products having a wide range of ratings. Your installer can help select the best product for your area.

[@herbmiller848]

What is the life of the panels? How much do the panels lose efficiency over time?

[@bubbme]

Most panels come with a 25 year warranty, but there is some loss of capacity during that time.

[@chezkyletters]

How long to get ROI? What happens if I sell my house with panels will I get my money back? Either in sale price or send panales back?

[@JW-lo2bh]

What's the actual cost?How long do the panels last? How long is the payback? How long is the system warrantied for?

[@jboy1757]

Does insurance cover uninstalling and reinstalling solar panels if roof has to be replaced because of hail damage?

[@lovingmyhomeyall5605]

Is it better to have solar panels or would it be better to have a wind turban. It is windy enough in GA (Atlanta area) to use these I would think. Just a thought.

[@mikehouser5430]

Cost vs savings at retirement age is a pass for me

[@whtmmat]

If you go with lithium ion batteries store them in a structure away from your house or anything else that you do not want to burn down. If a lithium ion battery malfunctions and catches on fire it is not extinquishable.

[@thomasdragosr.841]

My neighbors had a lot of damage from a fire that started when charging a vacuum cleaner in their garage. What saved them was the fire burned through the PEX tubing feeding the water heater and the water put out the fire.

[@fredwebster1091]

i have had panels since 12/2019...i have net metering in Indiana...are there any battery walls that you could charge up with a gas generator if you don"t have much sun like here in Northern Indiana in December or January if you have an extended power outage?

[@KennAdventures]

QUESTION: Would you consider installing a smart electrical panel from SPAN? It can help reduce costs by identifying circuits that unnecessarily draw phantom power (wall warts, etc) and provide other options in cutting costs by integrating with home automation (timers for lights, pumps, filters, etc).

[@dllanzy]

I would to see you do this… been thinking about it for years.

[@Spago11]

What is the name of the company you are using

[@brianovercash4976]

I would like to know what the real time frame is for ROI. Will parts need to be replaced before the system has paid for itself and it becomes a money pit.

[@andrewclary872]

It's going to be highly, HIGHLY subjective based on location. For instance, I just ran the math for my house based on the video MKBHD just posted today based on his Tesla Solar roof. Living in TN, we're currently charged between $.088-$.104 per kWh in my area, and my usage over the last 12 months was roughly 16,785kWh, meaning I paid roughly $1,500 in electricity last year. The way my roof is pitched, and the direction it's facing, based on my latitude, I'd get roughly 4.93 solar hours a day, and am recommended to install 1,004sqft. of panels on my roof, generating 11.9kW to cover 100% of my usage needs. That system would be quoted to me at $32,000. Since my energy co-op doesn't do individual grid buyback for solar generation, (they're using a solar co-op where a household can opt into leasing 2 blocks of panels for $20/month, and get credited back any generation from those blocks, which sounds dumb to me), I'd be in it for the full 21.3yrs to break even. That's also without any EVs in the garage.

[@redhead1804]

Are you more likely to be hit by lighting with solar on your roof? Will home insurance cost go up? How much will the solar power out put go down in high summer temperatures? Hail damage ??

[@bernardtubera7104]

We just moved into 3400 sqf home in CA and are considering solar. In the 2 mos we’ve been here our electric/gas charges totaled $1800. My FIL purchased this home. FYI we consumed power/gas energy like it was free. That being said we would like to consume the same amount of energy only if you believe that going solar is a viable option. We moved in 7/23-8/23 average weather temp in these 2 mos are 90+ A/C on auto 24/7 avg. temp 72°, Along with that pool equipment, 2 refers, a level 2 EV charger, kids that leave exterior doors/led lights on/open (until reminded) ceiling fans, pretty standard stuff/appliances and so forth. Can you help with this and recommend anything or refer the company you are going with to install your system to us? Thanks in advance

[@ripmaster896]

Hey doc lawnmaster here why would you put solar on a metal roof? With that much heat coming from the metal roof wouldn't that mealt the solar panels ? And you probably need to have a electrical fire extinguisher around the barn so if it does catches fire you can put it out.

[@ctskidoo]

We have several solar arrays here in New Hampshire on metal roofs. No issues. Except for the fire departments it makes roof venting more difficult with solar panels regardless of roof type.

[@ripmaster896]

@@ctskidoo yeah they tell you not to do that simply for that fact they should be put the on the ground with a stand .

[@ctskidoo]

My arrays are ground mounts. A bit more expensive but I think have advantages

[@CR-ow2wp]

Doc, I agree with several of the other comments here that you may want to consider installing the panels on the ground somewhere on your property rather than the barn roof. Although that may be more expensive upfront, it would allow for easy maintenance/replacement and reduce the potential for damage to your barn and its roof. Given the really bad storms you've had in your area, something on the ground rather than up on a roof may be the safer, better alternative over the long term.

[@ryanhum3941]

Doc, you may want to wait a couple of years as solar tech is evolving quickly with innovations like pyramidal lenses and cells made from alternative materials like the mineral Perovskite. Battery tech is improving as well. Would be cool to see your solar project demonstrate the highest efficiency system possible.

[@chericdesigns]

I remember as a kid my little private school in Memphis TN in the mid 70's getting solar panels. It was the only school in the city or surrounding areas that had added solar. It was probably one of the only places in town that added solar. It was going to be the next big thing that everybody had. Apparently it's still cost prohibitive all these years later just like flying cars. 🤪 Still so many questions and issues with solar like you mention and others highlight in the comments. I think primarily it's the cost for most. I'm eager to hear more from you on this and learn why all these decades later and it's still not commonly more available.

[@cathierainwater]

What do we look for in a reputable solar company?

[@Jman7840]

Sun tracker vs roof mounting cost, benefits, and cons comparison

[@mitga799]

Doc, I’m all about the numbers. Does the project have an ROI ? What is the break even vs electric and how many years? Will leave the tech questions to the experts.

[@Yokomohoyo69]

1. Only people that should look into panels are currently living in your for ever home 2. Understand the cost and how it will be added to the mortgage (If you cant pay you lose your house) 3. Wait time. Its a long process. You order and pay for installation, depending where you are it will be a few months 4 after installation the electric company has to come and inspect the whole system Before it can be turned on (can take months as well)

[@spacecoastkid5033]

I live in Florida, so there is plenty of sun. My question is about home insurance covering damaged solar panels. I'm just guessing that adding coverage for Solar panels won't be worth it specifically in states affected my hurricanes and tropical weather. My other question is if I need to replace my roof in 10yrs, what is it going to cost to have all the panels removed and then reinstalled. Obviously the best time to have panels installed is when you are having a new roof put on, but that's not going to work for everyone. I just don't see they're being enough of a difference between the savings in energy costs and the monthly payment for the panels. Then when I finally get them paid off will they even still be working? I think if I lived in another state I'd be more interested.

[@wesleyhamer152]

How many productive years do you get before the panels, batteries and other equipment stop working or wear out? That's my concern. I want to see a return on my investment before everything gives out because like you said it's expensive.

[@prontocharlie]

will you live long enough to see savings?

[@ninjajeepsta]

Unless you have large-expensive battery packs...solar is useless when the power goes out. I talk to a few solar door-to-door people and they all say the same thing. What is the point of having solar panels if you can't use it when the power company fails!?!

[@stileshumphrey4195]

What’s more advantageous, own or lease the equipment? Is there a lease to own option and what would be the advantage to that? Can the solar company guarantee I am going to generate enough electricity to power my home into the future? If I am generating more electricity then I am using, does the utility company purchase the excess? Are there any fees the utility company would still charge me even if I am able to provide 100% of my own electricity? Beautiful place you have there by the way 👍

[@maritimeshed]

What is the plan for disposal of the solar panels at end of life? They only last 20-25yrs. Is the runoff toxic to the environment?

[@cathierainwater]

Would it be worth having them in northwest New York state? (near Rochester)

[@bubbme]

Since I doubt Doc will address this question, I'll take a crack at it. You should be able to look up solar websites that will compute the amount of sun exposure you get by season - that will drive the number of panels you will need to satisfy your power requirements. Check a years worth of electric bills for kWH. Get a couple of quotes from solar companies in your area. Compute the ROI and total cost. You may find that in your area the cost wouldn't make sense.

[@Daniel-ns8bk]

A question that I came up with is the last statement. I've read the comments below and all of them are valid good questions. How popular really is solar right now? We need companies that are going to stay around because there will be issues, and when we need them to come out; and make the corrections, or fix certain things, how much is even those repairs? Is it really worth trying to self-educate to have solar at your house? Is it still best just to keep things the way they are, and having your generators for standby? Why change???

[@GiovanniLuna-z4w]

All great ideas and recommendations from everyone here. In addition to all of that, I would want to make sure that my panels were U.S. made and not from China.

[@SilverMonsterCoind]

If you have any questions let me know. I have a 17 kwh and six tesla battery system and went through every heartache you can imagine but I am happy now that I am stabilized.

[@andybanfield8905]

We actually have solar on the way after much research and some deep worrying about all the things that can go wrong. Based on the way things are trending with energy costs, our bills are going to continue to rise as our incomes will disappear with pending retirement. If we can mitigate that some, then it will be worth it. The question I have for them is on maintenance and potential damage to panels. This isn't an outlet or a light switch that I could replace. How are they replaced and how quickly do they respond? Second question that draws off the first, what about impact damage? Hail would be the obvious projectile to be worried about, but we also live on the "slice" side of a golf hole. Have many golf balls that I have collected in just 2 years from our lawn. Thanks for all you do!! Without your guidance, I would have NO clue how to deal with Bermuda Grass. Totally foreign for this Northern transplant to the South!

[@arsenal.j]

What if I don't want to tie it into the grid. Off grid solar and have the ability to switch from grid to solar.

[@imdcareys]

The journey would be fun to watch. I’m late to comment, and all of my thoughts have been expressed over and over by others. Also an idea about a wind turbine was mentioned as an alternative. I thought that was interesting.

[@mmartinez4117]

And if love to see you do it!

[@adamghazal9204]

Thanks Doc!!

[@sherryadams9686]

We are leasing our solar panels from Sunnova. And it works perfectly .The first 3 months we did not get billed, so I called the. After that they came and said they had a wrong part in and had to trade it out. The next month we got charged, but they said our bank refused the charge so they put on a past due plus a $25 charge they said the bank charged. I called the bank and they said a payment never tried to come threw or was denied and they did not charge a $25 fee. Iam now afraid we have been scammed. How do I get out of this???

[@francisbrown-d1v]

Will the system be owner or lease? , How much tax credits is your state give you.?

[@victoriamcwilliams6554]

? Is it upgradeable ? Is it worth the cost? I’m always thinking will I be alive long enough to actually see return for the investment..Just me though..🤷🏻‍♀️