There are a lot of misconceptions about solar panels that cause people to hesitate to explore solar on their property. Today we will address them!
1. Solar panels are too expensive and take too long to pay off.
There are many financing options for your solar system. With a loan or lease agreement, you can install solar for $0 down, meaning you will start earning money from day one.
A typical residential system will only take about 4 years to pay for itself. Thanks to generous tax credits, you will regain up to 40% of your system’s cost in the first year alone.
On top of that, Massachusetts is currently offering the best solar incentive rates in the nation, so you will pay significantly less than your friends in other states!
2. The panels will harm my roof.
Solar panels can actually protect your roof from harmful weather elements, like rain, snow, and UV rays, extending its life.
Some homeowners may be concerned about the installation process, which may require holes to be made in the roof. However, these holes will be sealed properly by the right installer. Thankfully, OwnMySolar will only connect you to pre-vetted, certified installers so you can have confidence in their craftsmanship. In addition, certain installation techniques allow for panels to be placed on your roof with little to no holes drilled, reducing the risk of problems.
3. Maintenance is hard and expensive.
Making sure your system is performing as it should is a necessary part of owning solar panels. Thankfully, in most cases, monitoring systems are pre-built into your system. They will take the data and send it to their platform or app, allowing you to stay up to date on its performance.
Panels have a lifetime of 25 years, although they usually last much longer. They are built to be very durable to the elements, and should anything happen, manufacturers typically offer a warranty on panels for 15-25 years.
Mother Nature should do most of the work for you in terms of cleaning your panels. If there is a lack of rain, the most maintenance you may have to do is cleaning off any dust, which can easily be done with a garden hose.Especially in the Northeast, many are concerned about having to clear snow off their panels. Thankfully, systems are designed at an angle so the snow will slide right off. On the off-chance some does collect, experts generally recommend you leave it to melt, rather than risk damaging the panels or being harmed by falling snow. Your losses on energy production will be minimal due to the winter’s short daylight hours.
4. I should wait for solar technology to improve.
Massive improvements have been made in recent years both in terms of panel efficiency and price. Although there will always be new technology, experts say it isn’t worth the wait.
Since government solar incentives are offered on a first come, first served basis, the longer you wait, the more money you will have to pay. (If you want to read more about the program currently offered in Massachusetts, click here).
This means that if advancements in technology are made, the increased efficiency you will have “lost out” on will likely not surpass the money you have made from the higher incentive rates being currently offered.
5. With solar, I will need a back-up generator for cloudy days.
Incorrect! Your house will still be connected to your local utility grid should your energy needs surpass your production.
However, if you would like to increase your independence from the grid, you can explore installing a battery on your property for storing excess energy.
6. Solar panels are ugly and will decrease my home’s value.
Studies have actually shown that a solar installation will increase your property’s value significantly. The exact numbers vary depending on location, but recent research has shown an average increase in resale value of $5,911 for every kilowatt installed. This means a small 5kW system will increase your property value by around $30,000!
7. The whole process will take too long.
The average time period between signing a contract to using solar energy is only three months. Installation of a residential system should only take between 1-3 days.
This is tiny compared to the amount of time they will be making you money for!
8. It all seems like too much work.
Once the installation is complete, you immediately start seeing returns on your investment with next to no effort.
In contrast, if you took that same money and invested it in the stock market, you would need to frequently check on the stock’s growth and worry about selling it. Here the solar panels do all the work for you!
Author: Jill DiMeo
blogownmysolar.wordpress.com 