Nearly half of all American homeowners are giving serious thought to adding solar panels to their homes. Perhaps you’re one of those people—but you want to know more about the process before signing up for it yourself.
Solar panel installation will vary from property to property. However, here’s a general idea of what to expect if you have solar panels put onto your abode.
1. Pre-Installation Planning and Permits
Whether you hire solar providers or opt for a DIY solar panel installation, you will have to do lots of planning and prep before you can actually have solar energy in your home.
An engineer will have to evaluate your roof to make sure it’s stable enough to support a solar grid. An installer will visit, too, to provide a cost estimate and make a plan for the panels so they can absorb the most possible sunlight throughout the day.
After you agree to the project, they won’t be able to get to work right away. Instead, they will need to obtain the right permits to allow for building work to be done on your home. Every state has different rules when it comes to solar panel installation, so it’s good to have an expert on your side—they’ll make sure your grid is sturdy and up to code.
2. Installation Day
With all of the necessary paperwork approved, your solar providers can schedule the actual installation of your residential solar panels. After one final check to ensure the integrity of the roof’s structure and shingles, they’ll lay down the electrical wires that will send energy from your panels into your grid.
The solar panel installation will likely require them to install racks to hold the panels, too. They will make sure these holders are stable and level before finally putting the panels into place.
The last step will be to install the inverter, which swaps the sunlight into alternating current energy, which is what’s used to power most residential properties.
Finally, it’s important to note that the length of this process will vary, depending on the size of your property and project. It can take between one and three days to install solar panels.
3. Turn Them On
You won’t immediately have solar energy flowing into your home. A local official will have to come and inspect the solar panels before they can be connected to the grid to ensure they have been installed properly. That’s why it’s recommended to hire a pro, rather than opting to install your panels yourself.
After that, an official from the electric company will greenlight the connection of your solar panels to the grid. In total, all of these approvals will take between two weeks and a month.
Sign Up For Solar Panel Installation
Every solar panel installation will be different. But you can expect the process to follow this general flow and timeline. In the end, though, the outcome will always be the same: you’ll have a home powered by the sun’s rays, saving you money and protecting the planet.
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