With more countries and big business brands recognising the value of solar energy, Australian homeowners are also getting the message that renewable energy is the future, and are jumping on board with solar faster than ever before. But there are a few things to consider before signing up to the first cheap deal that pops up in your newsfeed.
First, most people know that solar energy is a renewable source of energy that converts solar power into electricity. Solar panels capture sunlight and convert the power – it’s called a photovoltaic system.
But second, many people still don’t quite know how it works. This leaves them open to incorrect advice from lower-quality operators that can be costly in the long run.
For instance, one thing we see way too often are situations where people have had solar panels installed in an unsuitable location.
So, let’s look at that first step: is your roof suitable for solar?
What direction does your roof face?
First, look at which way your roof is facing.
North is best, east or west is okay … south is, well, not so great. You want to make sure your panels will get enough exposure to the sun to create the output they’re designed for. If your roof faces south, talk to us about a workaround.
Does your roof get a lot of shade?
Assess the shade thrown over where you plan to have your solar panels installed. Think about nearby trees and buildings, and how long each day your roof is exposed to the sun. It’s important to understand that even if only part of one of your solar panel rows is shaded (by something as small as a whirlybird), that whole row will not perform in the way it was designed to do.
What kind of angle is your roof pitch?
Ideally, you want something between 10 and 45 degrees. We can install on a flat roof, using tilting brackets to get the right position and we’d let you know beforehand so that you can factor that into your budget.
What kind of condition is your roof in? Is it structurally sound?
Don’t forget that there’s weight in a solar panel system. When we visit for a no-obligation quote, we’ll take a look at how strong your roof is to make sure it’ll hold up. Most of the time there is no problem; in some cases we need to build reinforcing into our plan.
What is your roof built with?
Tiled or slate roofs may require extra brackets to make sure the system’s well-secured. If your roof is Colorbond (or some other type of metal) this is not generally needed.
What’s the size of your roof?
We need to make sure there’s enough space to hold the number of solar panels you’ll need, so that you generate enough power.
Avoid the pitfalls of cheap solar deals
You’ve seen the truckload of ads out there, promising cheap solar installations.
Make sure that your installer has checked all aspects before giving you a price, that the brackets they use are sufficient in quantity and quality, and that you are getting a system that will truly give you freedom from the big power companies.
At NuWay Solar, we’ve been trusted by homeowners and business owners alike for over nine years. Our residential and commercial solar installations do the job they’re designed to do, and a member of our friendly team always makes a follow-up appointment to make sure each of our clients (a) understand how their system works and (b) are getting value for money.
To get the advice you can trust, give us a call on (07) 3063 4089, or request a quote online 24/7 by filling in your details here .