17 June 2019
 Categories: Environmental, Blog

If you live in a sunny climate, you may want to seriously consider investing in solar panels for your home. Having solar panels installed will help cut your electric bill substantially and you will also have the peace of mind of knowing that your household is reducing its carbon footprint. If you're interested in solar panels for your home, the first step to take is contacting a contractor. A solar contractor will be able to assess your energy usage, determine how many solar panels you need, and take care of the necessary permits.

As installation day approaches, there are also a few things that you will need to do. USe the following tips to prepare for solar panel installation:

Schedule a Roof Inspection

Before your solar panels are installed, it is absolutely essential to ensure that your roof is in excellent condition. Thus, always make sure that you schedule a roof inspection well in advance of the date that your solar panels are scheduled to be installed. Ideally, the roofing contractor conducting your roof inspection will find that your roof has no problems and is ready for the solar panels.

However, if your roof has any damage, it is important to have your roof repaired prior to solar panel installation. In the event that a roofing contractor tells you that your roof will only last another year or two, you may want to seriously consider replacing your roof before the installation process.

Take Care of Your Trees

Trees add a lot of beauty to a yard, but it is important to tend to your trees before you have solar panels installed. Your contractor will be able to give you advice about what your trees need. In some cases, trees may need to be trimmed or pruned to ensure that they are not blocking the sun's rays from the solar panels.

If your trees are located very close to your roof, you may need to have large branches removed to ensure that they are not hanging over your roof. The last thing that you want is to have any tree branches in the vicinity of your solar panels—if a branch should crack, it could shatter one of the panels.

Have a Plan for Installation Day

When your solar panel installation day arrives, it is important to have a plan in place. Installing solar panels can be quite loud and disruptive, so if possible you will want to take your kids and pets somewhere for the day so the noise doesn't bother them. Make sure that you leave your contact information with your solar contractor so he or she can get in touch with you if needed during the installation process.