As you get a little closer to pulling the trigger on a solar power system, one of the final steps before actually purchasing a product is to have a professional installer come out to your home and do a site visit.  The purpose of this visit is to make sure your roof is appropriate for solar power, determine what kind and size of system you will need and then put together a quote that will show you the pricing and details of your new system.  While a good installer will walk you through this process, being a good consumer means having some solid information going into your site visit, so here’s a look at what you need to know before the installer arrives.

Know Your Energy Usage
The size and type of system you install will be based primarily on your energy usage.  The idea behind most solar power systems is that you want to generate enough power to cover your electricity usage, but since the power company won’t pay you for excess energy, you don’t want to have it be much bigger than you need either.  Gather your electricity bills for the last year.  Since energy usage varies drastically between winter and summer months, a good installer will look at your usage over the course of the whole year and then design a system that generates your yearly average usage.  The beautiful part of net metering with your utility means that if you make twice as much as you need one month, then use twice as much as you generated the next, you only pay the utility for the net energy you used.

Know What to Ask
A reputable installer will provide you with all of the important information related to your system, but you will want to make sure to ask a couple of questions if they’re not provided to you by the installer.  Make sure you get a breakdown of the costs, materials, installation, taxes, rebates, etc.  Get a proposed timeframe for installation in writing.  Make sure that the installer will handle your rebates and subsidies, and if they pushback, consider going with a different installer.  Lastly, make sure that you get a written warranty for all of the work.  Your solar power system will be under warranty for as much as 25 years, so make sure that your installer is willing to stand behind his work as well.

Know When to Say No
Finally, know that having an installer come out to the house for a site visit is not a done deal.  You’re basically interviewing the installer to see if the terms, pricing and overall feeling you get from them is a good fit.  A solar power system is a big investment and something that you will have as part of your home for decades.  Even if you feel good about the first installer you see, get a second opinion so you have something to compare it to and only make the call to go ahead and start the work when you’re completely comfortable with the entire process and terms.

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  Components: The Solar Panel is Only the Beginning

  There's a lot to know when it comes to building and installing a solar power system.  The components that go into a system are like the parts on a car in that they all work together for the same ultimate goal, but the quality of each component can make a big difference in performance.  
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  Guide to Choosing the Right Solar Installer

  A solar power system is one of the biggest investments a homeowner will make, so it's important to make sure that everything is installed properly and built to last.  Components vary quite a bit in terms of electrical output, form factor and weight, but most panels will come with a 20-25 year warranty, making solar a long term investment, dependent on a strong foundation of a quality install. 
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  Why Professional Solar Installation Matters

  The age of the internet has also ushered in a new wave of DIY thinking.  Where in the past, information was a precious resource, today you can learn how to do just about anything with a couple strategic Google searches.   Just because you can learn how to do something, however, doesn't mean you should, and when it comes to installing a solar power system, or anything heavy you plan on putting on your roof, it's a good idea to always use the services of a professional installer. 
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  What to Expect From a Solar Site Installation Visit

  As you get a little closer to pulling the trigger on a solar power system, one of the final steps before actually purchasing a product is to have a professional installer come out to your home and do a site visit.  The purpose of this visit is to make sure your roof is appropriate for solar power, determine what kind and size of system you will need and then put together a quote that will show you the pricing and details of your new system.  While a good installer will walk you through this process, being a good consumer means having some solid information going into your site visit, so here’s a look at what you need to know before the installer arrives.
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  About Solar Shingles

  Green energy is a growing trend that helps the environment and can save you a lot of money over time.  Nearly every neighborhood in America will have at least one or two homes with solar panels on the roof, but some homeowners will resist adopting solar power simply because of the look of the panels.  Furthermore, although your homeowners insurance will cover your solar panels, installing anything onto your roof can often void your roof's warranty, discouraging some would-be solar converts.  This is where solar shingles come into play, and this new spin on a well-established technology makes a lot of sense for any homeowner considering the switch to solar.