Common Pitfalls To Avoid When Purchasing Solar Systems
It’s undeniable that installing solar panels on your roof brings a sense of modernisation and environmentalism to your home. It also adds value to your home. Although going solar can be exciting, you should be very careful not to get overwhelmed while going about the process. There are some pitfalls that you should avoid. Here are the key mistakes people make when buying solar panels.
Not Asking the Right Question
The majority of people are usually overwhelmed by the idea of installing a solar system, and they fail to ask important questions. Some of the crucial things that you need to know about the system are its capacity, the warranty, certification and the ability of your specific roof to harvest sunlight. Some of the buyers do not research or ask for such information, and that’s where they get it all wrong. Remember that both the buying and installation can be expensive and the last thing you want is ending up with an inefficient system.
“Getting multiple quotes from various outlets helps you compare different manufacturers before settling on one”
Not Getting Multiple Quotes
It’s important to note that solar panel brands sell at different prices depending on the manufacturer. Some of the established brands may be selling at a higher but still offer the same quality as the upcoming brands which could be cheaper. But you cannot realise the difference unless you get quotes from different manufacturers.
Getting multiple quotes from various outlets helps you compare different manufacturers before settling on one. Many buyers do not sample prices from different shops, and they end up with a low-quality solar system or highly priced brands.
Buying Cheap
Buying cheap products is another mistake that many buyers make while shopping for solar panels. In the desire to cut on their spending, they are easily confused with lower priced products which most of the time ends up being substandard. Unless the government is providing incentives or rebates, you should be ready to pay a substantial amount of money for a good quality solar power system kit.
“Not all solar panels are designed to interface with each other, and so they may not work well together.”
Mixing Various Brands
This is another mistake that many solar buyers tend to make. The idea behind mix-and-matching different brands is that it would increase the efficiency of the system and help in cutting on then overall cost. But this is false, and the idea is likely to backfire on you. Not all solar panels are designed to interface with each other, and so they may not work well together. You might find the system less robust or require more maintenance than expected a few years down the line.
Not Knowing the Right Size
Most homeowners do not have an idea of the right size of solar panel that they need for their homes. They have no idea of their load which is crucial in determining the size of the panel that’s required. Many people end up buying a system that is small and cannot meet their power demand. On the flip side, some end up buying a system that’s too large for the load. Unless they sell excess power to the grid, most of the investment ends up being underutilized.
Reference:
- http://www.cleanenergyauthority.com/blog/5-common-mistakes-homeowners-make-when-buying-solar/
- http://www.sunwiz.com.au/index.php/2012-06-26-00-47-40/73-newsletter/375-the-top-6-mistakes-people-make-when-buying-solar-systems.html
- http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/worst-mistakes-buying-solar-panels/
