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Anyone have roof solar panels ?
select-fire
Member Posts: 69,539 ✭✭✭✭
Someone coming today for an estimate. Good , Bad , Ugly??
Comments
Looked into about 10 years ago back then about the time they starting paying for their selves it would be time to replace them. It may be different now
I dont have any, looked into it before but as stated above, not worth it at the time. Let us know what you find out. The biggest issue(and COST) is the battery storage. I dont think they are quite far enough with the safe technology to store the "extra" for use. They have come a long ways, so let us know once you talk to em.
Even living in the saraha it's barely a worthwhile venture.
And fiery auto crashes
Some will die in hot pursuit
While sifting through my ashes
Some will fall in love with life
And drink it from a fountain
That is pouring like an avalanche
Coming down the mountain
Several neighbors have them in varied numbers, they all are very happy with them. My next door neighbor has 30 panels on his roof with 3 more being installed this month.
He swears by them, he has not paid a cent to the electric co-op in 4 plus years and always gets a small check from them for power he sends to the grid.
He drives an electric car it is always on charge when garaged, the home also has 24/7 central heat and A/C and battery backup, has had zero problems.
With that all said he knows he will never get back the most of the cost of the system until he sells the house, but he has 100% power even when storms or other outages occur, he will never have to pay the electric co-op again and that's what he wants and gets.
As I said he is 100% happy with solar panels here in Central Florida.
I looked into it. The deal is there's essentially two ways to do it. You can foot the expense and look at how long the payback time is or you can have them foot the bill and then they either sell the power that the solar panels generate to you or you set up a payment plan and keep the power yourself. None of them were worth it and the payback time was too long. Solar panels have reached their technological output maximums too so there's nothing you can look to in the future to wring more power out of them. Unless things have changed with the costs I would waive them off!
Had a guy come in and give me an estimate on savings, cost, etc. The big no from me came when he said the battery backup that the panels charged would not have enough power to run HVAC system during a power outage. Cost was astronomical with no guarantee that the local CO-OP would approve installation and/or buy back any overage. I was also concerned about roof damage. My house faces north/south and with the frequent large gusts of wind out of the west I could just see my roof being slowly micro damaged until there were structural issues.
Ask any and every question of which you can think to ask. Write them down ahead of time so the sales rep doesn't fast talk you past the critical questions.
Edit to add: ask how long the batteries last, how much it will cost to replace them.
Keep in mind if your roof needs repair or replaced, they have to come off first.
10-12 years ago, when the state, local, & federal government (as well as the utility company) were giving huge paybacks & credits, it was a good deal. Today, you will pay most of the cost. By the time you get close to amortizing your investment, you will need to replace the solar panels.
Real estate agents in my area have told me resale of houses take a big hit in selling price if they have solar panels. Buyers don't want to commit to something whose future costs are unpredictable.
Neal
+1 and most insurance won't pay to take off, or replace them when new roof done, I have also heard there are big hazmat charges for disposal of the old panels if one should get broken or damaged, which is also not covered by most insurance companies,( disposal fees, and or repair/replacement if damaged) as susie said ask a LOT of questions.....
I looked into 'em. With the photovoltaics about the time they start to pay for themselves they're due for replacement.
Solar panels for heating hot water are another story. Not much in the system to wear out except the pump so they're a better value in my opinion.
Rep didn't show up. I told main office their panels were probably about as dependable. Pass.
I installed those systems (heated water) over 35 years ago. They are viable options when priced fairly but companies will charge what ever they can get. The panel and the pump system were the pricey parts, then a tank, heaters copper pipe/tubing. Panels didn't have to go on the roof I've built frames and installed them at ground level. Usually set some 4x4 treated posts and went from there. Angle and azimuth are what matters.
I installed with central control valves, heat water in the main tank, then that can be used to fill the water heater with preheated water, routed to the heaters, bypass the hot water heater (in the summer) and use only the storage tank for hot water, or use for both heaters and preheating water for the regular water heater. Color code the valves and leave instructions.
Not for power but we have them for the pool water.
I've done a huuuuuuuuuge amount of research into solar systems, and am about to drop $50k on one. My new house is 100% off grid, but I'm NOT going to live like I am! 😁
IF you don't have to put them on the roof, DON'T PUT THEM ON THE ROOF! Makes maintenance of both panels and roof much harder. If you can ground mount them, DO IT.
Living in AZ, we get 300+ days of sun. Zero reason to pay the local electric co-op $50k, PLUS $300-400 a month forever.....
Merc
Our insurance company said that by putting them on the roof it would void the roofing material warranty.
I was thinking about installing a solar panel farm in the south 40, but my flashlight picked up a moose as I was about to wander out there on my lunch break. I'm not thinking I'll get much use out of them with 20+ hours of darkness half the year. And covered with snow.
Obviously ....................😉
"I was thinking about installing a solar panel farm in the south 40, but my flashlight picked up a moose as I was about to wander out there on my lunch break. I'm not thinking I'll get much use out of them with 20+ hours of darkness half the year. And covered with snow."
You need the more expensive Lunar panels! LOL
We have the entire South/East side of our barn roof covered with them. Cost me around 40K about five years ago,
Trinity +++
But, was it worth it to you? Did you get benefits to justify the costs? And by benefits, i mean....save money, have power available without power company, privacy...etc.