Solar Panels For Home Use Near Cedar Rapids
Are Solar Panels Right for Your Home?
Electricity costs can be quite expensive for many people and may be hard for them to handle every month, particularly if they have a relatively large home. Thankfully, solar panels for home use in Cedar Rapids, Iowa can help you out. Before you contact us at RJ Construction and pay for some, though, you should decide if they are truly worth your time and money. That’s because you could end up paying a lot for a solar system only to not save any money. The following questions are all important to ask before investing.
What Do You Pay for Electricity Every Month?
Before you decide on adding solar energy to your home, you need to gauge how much you pay in your utility bills every month. This process is essential because not everybody uses enough electricity for solar to be beneficial. Simply put, the costs of the system will be above the savings that you might get every month. As a result, the system will end up costing you more money than it is worth and could end up being a colossal mistake.
Typically, professionals will gauge how you pay based on the electrical bills you spend on a month to month basis. You usually don’t have to worry about your heat bills, unless you use your electricity to heat your house. Most homes don’t use this system, though, because it is less efficient. If you do, though, solar power might be wise for you. That’s because you’re probably paying much more for electricity than the average person.
So, just how much should you be paying before solar power helps to save you money? Typically, experts estimate that solar panels for home use are helpful in homes that pay at least $75 or more every month. Once you add solar power to your home, if you pay this much money, you can decrease your electrical bills to the point where you can pay much less. The exact amount will vary depending on your energy use and the positioning of your panels.
Will Your Roof Get Enough Sun?
Another element to consider when choosing solar panels for home use is whether or not your roof gets enough sun. This element is one that can be hard to predict because a roof usually has a pretty specific slant that is set in stone for its design. As a result, you need to make sure that you talk to solar specialists who understand this facet to ensure that your solar system is beneficial for your home. Without this help, you may spend too much.
For example, your roof needs to be relatively open and facing east and west to get as much sun as possible. While you can place solar panels on the north and south areas of the house, they are much less efficient here and not likely to save you as much money on electricity. Just as importantly, you need to make sure that your roof isn’t covered or in any shape, or you could run into complications with how much electricity you produce.
In this situation, you should talk to a professional who understands how to gauge this element of your home’s solar power potential. Typically, they will come and check your roof to see how well it captures sunlight. If they find that it has a good enough solar profile, they will suggest other things that you can do to improve your ability to capture sunlight. Often, these steps include adding hardware to change panel position.
Is Your Roof Compatible?
Once it is decided that your roof will get enough sunlight, it is essential to gauge whether or not it is compatible with solar panels. This process is a relatively simple one but does require the help of professionals. Typically, they are going to gauge the strength of your roof and its slope and other elements that dictate its adaptability with these panels. They also want to make sure that your home’s electrical system is compatible as well.
For example, solar panels for home use typically work best when paired with reliable and durable homes. You want to avoid adding them to roofs that have materials such as metal or steel. While it isn’t impossible to add panels to these surfaces, it is a lot harder. You’ll usually experience the same kind of problems with clay, mortar, or wood shake roofs as well. Just know that you’ll have to pay more here, and you should be okay.
Don’t forget, either, that the slant of your roof is also essential to consider. Roof slopes impact your solar panels by detailing how much electricity they can produce. Thankfully, you can adjust the incline by adding various types of hardware to make them steeper or shallower. Just know that you’ll, again, have to pay a little bit more. If you don’t have the money to pay for these extras, solar panels may not be a wise investment for your needs. Talking with a professional about their recommendations will help make this decision easier.
Does Your Roof Have Any Problems?
Lastly, you need to make sure that your roof does not have any severe problems that could affect your solar panels for home use. If you don’t have a durable roof for your solar system, installation experts may not even try to install a unit because they won’t consider it efficient enough for your energy use.
Just as importantly, problems with your roof could also compromise the safety of your home and your solar system. For example, a typical solar system is usually quite heavy and requires a sturdy roof to prevent real problems. If the roof is weak and not adequately supported, there is a good chance that the system could crash through the roof or cause strain on it that makes immediate roof repair a necessity for your house.
Therefore, many people often consider either replacing the shingles on their roof or completely upgrading the roof at the same time. This option varies depending on a variety of situations. First of all, you might not have the money to pay for this upgrade and your solar system. As a result, you may want to wait for a while and repair your roof first. You may also not have the patience to wait and decide solar power isn’t worth it for you.
Get Help Today
As you can see, the best solar panels for home use in Cedar Rapids, Iowa can provide many benefits. And if they are right for your home, they can save you a surprising amount of money nearly every day. Just as importantly, you need to make sure that they are right for your home if you have any more questions about their use. So please don’t hesitate to contact us at RJ Construction today to learn more. Our professionals will work hard to ensure that you get the best solar power experience possible.