Quote:Some things to consider:


 

1. How often do you need to climb up on the roof and clean the solar panels?


2. Is a payment by the electric company for excess generation part of the savings? If so, are you sure that such policy will continue?


3. How long will the solar panels last? Is the warranty provider likely to be in business all that time?


4. Does performance degrade with time? Is this covered under warranty?


5. Are solar panels insured against wind damage? Hail? Lightning? How will this affect your homeowner's insurance cost?


 

Eric is right. If you do this, don't buy it from the guy who sell it door to door. Research the companies.


 

Personally I'd love being off the grid. But until electrical storage (battery) technology makes a huge leap, I'll wait.

 

if they're roof mounted that's a good thing to consider, some more rural areas they can mount them on ground level makes the maintenance and installation a little cheaper.

 

from what I've read they're pretty durable, that said a good hurricane/tornado could be disastrous for your solar system.

 

Depending on what solar panel you buy they come with either a 10-20 year life span and I think almost all of them come with a 10 year warranty. They do gradually lose their ability to convert solar power over time. I imagine in 10 years what you have now will be outdated anyways.

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