Why Professional Solar Installation Matters
Tuesday, May 12, 2009 at 5:01:00 PM
If you type "do it yourself (DIY) solar" into Google, you will get over 2.4 million hits. There are innumerable "instructional materials" in addition to sources for every component and tool you would need to do your own installation. Some packets of information are free, some cost up to $40, but most are collections of articles and Adobe PDF manuals showing how to make and install your own, energy-efficient, "green-approved" solar panels and other devices.
Read the fine print
The DIY plans gloss over the difficulties as they paint a rosy picture of these "hobbyists" making their homes green and eco-friendly. However, it is a big mistake to assume that people with building skills necessarily know about solar energy installations, or that people excited about "being green" know either carpentry or building codes. If you are going to complete any DIY solar project successfully, you will first have to get up to speed on all the skills required even to begin such a huge undertaking. For the vast majority of people there is a serious investment of time required for study, even before the first panel gets placed.
Why professional installation matters
Professional installers have seen it all – every kind of house, every type of roof, every potential obstacle – and have developed comprehensive problem-solving skills unique to these kinds of projects. Although some DIY solar-kit brochures make it sound like something anyone could do, installing
solar panels and integrating them into your home's power grid is a complex undertaking. It requires diverse skills in construction, carpentry, and electrical wiring skills. Unless you can bring the same level of expertise and experience to the project as a professional, using a reputable installer will save you time and money while ensuring the highest quality of both materials and workmanship.
A reputable solar installer will know the ins and outs of the building codes and ordinances in your area, and also have information on all the federal, state, county and local grants, subsidies and rebate programs that can help offset the cost of the installation. Your "sunk costs" as a DIY'er include a substantial investment in tools, supplies and time, while using an installer's lets you "leverage" their long-term, cost-efficient commitments to the tools and technical skills needed for your solar installation.
The reasons for using an installer are many, it is in your economic and environmental interest to use them. The work will be guaranteed, and their expertise will be available to you for any needed repairs or upgrades. A final and important advantage is that you will be up and running faster, meaning that you will be saving money on energy sooner.