Solar panel degradation per year is smaller than most people expect. NREL research on fielded systems has found a median loss of roughly 0.5% per year for crystalline silicon panels, and many newer panels are warranted to lose less. A panel that makes 400W today will still make most of that in 25 years. The […]
How many solar panels do I need to power my house? You can answer that yourself in about 15 minutes with three inputs: your yearly kWh use, how much a kilowatt of panels produces at your address, and the wattage of the panels you’re quoted. Installers use the same math, plus a shade report. Step […]
A solar lease buyout is one of three ways to deal with leased panels when you sell your home. The others are transferring the lease to the buyer, or (rarely) having the panels removed. Owned systems are simpler, but financed ones come with their own paperwork. Planning early avoids last-minute closing problems. Solar Lease Buyout: […]
This home solar FAQ gives short, sourced answers to the 40 questions we see most, each linking to a deeper guide in our Home Solar series. Are solar panels worth it? That’s the question behind most solar threads on Reddit and homeowner forums. The honest answer depends on your electric rates, sun, roof and how […]
The Tesla Powerwall 3 warranty is a good starting point for comparing home batteries, because every major brand words its warranty a little differently. Most cover around 10 years, but the details that matter are capacity retention (how much storage is guaranteed at the end) and any energy throughput cap that can end coverage early. […]
Is a solar panels on roof fire hazard worth worrying about? Rooftop PV fires are uncommon, and most trace back to installation faults rather than the panels themselves. Modern codes add protections for both homeowners and firefighters. Knowing what causes problems, and what good installs do differently, puts the risk in perspective. Electrical work can […]
Solar panels for 1000 kWh per month usually come to somewhere around 20 to 27 panels, with typical sun and 400W panels. That’s 12,000 kWh a year, a bit above the US average. Batteries are a separate question, and depend on whether you want backup, bill savings or both. Solar Panels for 1000 kWh per […]
An off grid solar system for home use has to do everything the utility does: make power, store it and deliver it on the worst winter week. That makes it far bigger and more expensive per kWh than a grid-tied system of the same size. Sizing starts with your loads, not your roof. Electrical work […]
A home battery backup for power outage use, paired with the right inverter and switching equipment, is what keeps lights on when the grid goes down. A standard grid-tied inverter must shut off in an outage to protect utility workers, so many solar owners are surprised the first time their panels stop powering the house. […]
How many solar panels to charge a Tesla or other EV? For a typical driver doing about 12,000 miles a year, the answer is usually around 6 to 10 panels of 400W added to your home system. The exact number depends on how far you drive, how efficient the car is and how much sun […]
