Photovoltaic solar power systems are being recognized as a source of cheap, clean, sustainable way to create electricity. That is as long as the sun is shining since they only work while the sun is shines on them. Solar power systems provide a way to power your home without contributing to global warming. A solar power system also protects you from rising utility rates.
There are a few things that you need to consider before deciding on installing a solar power system on your house.
* How many more years are you planning on living in your home? You want to be able to recoup your initial investment plus some. Thus you will need to determine the payback rate and the number of years that you will need to live in your home until the system has been paid for with reduction of electricity that you purchase from the electric utility company.
* Do you have a large enough space on your roof where the solar panels can be installed on that receives at least six hours of direct sun light each day? Solar cells work best in direct sunlight. If most of the south facing roof space is covered by nice large trees a photovoltaic system is not going to produce much electricity.
* Pitch of your roof. Are you comfortable walking on your roof? Is it too steep for you? When installing a do it yourself solar power system you will be spending some time on the roof installing the solar panels and wiring them together. If you are not comfortable working on the roof for a day or two you might want to consider hiring someone to install the solar panels for you.
How to find do it yourself solar power retailers
It is important that you do a fair amount of research before deciding on which retailer to purchase your solar power system from. But, first you need to know how to find retailers that sell do it yourself solar power systems. Here are a couple of sources to find quality retailers.
* Look in the yellow pages under solar power. Call each of the local retailers.
* Launch your favorite search engine and search for 'do it yourself solar power system'. Check out the first couple of pages of the results.
What questions should you ask a do it yourself solar power retailer?
Before purchasing a do it yourself solar power system from a retailer be they local or online there are a few questions you should ask them.
* Do they offer telephone technical support?
* Will they help you determine the load of your home and size the solar power system to your home's electrical needs?
* Will they allow you to review the installation instructions before purchasing the solar power system? Since this is a
* How will the solar power system be shipped? If they ship via a common carrier such as FedEx or UPS how many boxes will the system be shipped in? If they ship via a freight service, like roadway, will the truck have a lift gate on the back? It is no fun having to pull down a 100 pound invert off of the back of a semi truck.
* What is their return policy?
* How long is the warranty on the equipment?
* Who do you contact for warranty work?
You are now ready to find the right retail outlet that will provide you with the best do it yourself solar power system and great customer service. Even if you decide not to install a solar power system yourself, consider hiring a local company that specializes in installing solar power systems in homes. It will be more expensive, but in the long run the cost savings will be well worth it.
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