We often see people shifting towards solar and wonder if it saves energy costs. Well, if we talk about saving energy costs, it doesn’t only do that but also reduces carbon footprint. If you are also planning to go solar, you need a plan. How it will be installed in your home and how, under the supervision of our experts, solar can benefit you. But before making such a leap to solar, there is much importance in noting the condition of your roof. And that is what solar roof inspection is all about.
A roof inspection for solar panels determines if your roof is structurally good enough to support your solar panels for a long time. Any weak spots, leaks, or wear can cause complexities when the solar installation process is once started. In this guide, we’ll discuss how solar systems transform home energy, the efficiency benefits of solar technology, and why a roof inspection is the first step to a successful and lasting solar installation.
What is a Solar Inspection?
Solar inspection is a solar test that helps in quality control and reveals the performance or potential safety issues. It’s a detailed check of the electrical system to ensure that they are ready for the solar panel installation. It checks how strong your roof is, how much sunlight it gets, and how much electrical capacity it has. So, when the solar systems are installed, they run efficiently and safely.
Experts will visit you for the solar tests and will evaluate the type of material used for roofing, their age, and their lifespan. They also examine your electrical system to ascertain if it is strong enough to support the stress resulting from the high energy flux and so make suitable recommendations for upgradation.
Importance of Solar Panels
There are several reasons why installing a solar panel in your home is so important.
1. They reduce the electricity bills by using free energy coming from the sun. They cut down the monthly electricity costs.
2. They emit clean, renewable power for energy and reduce dependence on fossil fuels and carbon emissions.
3. It gives them energy independence of electricity for their homes and reduces reliance on power grids, offering them safety from increasing energy costs as well as power cuts.
4. These solar homes generally have high property value and more attractiveness to the buyer compared to other energy sources.
5. Once it is installed, a solar panel does not need much, but cleanings and inspections once a year can present some cost-effective hassle-free energy.
6. With 25-30 years, there is enough opportunity to get savings from their energy and payback from utility cost reduction.
Why Is Roof Inspection Important Before Going Solar?
A roof inspection for solar panels can prevent possible complications that could arise during or after its installation, like leaks panel misalignment, and electric issues. So, for this, a solar roof inspection run will ensure the effectiveness and safety of the solar installation in the long run.
Important Things to Consider After Solar Inspection
Now that the solar roof inspection is done, all the defects must be repaired before installation. It will save you the inconvenience of having to dismantle the solar system in the future if a reported condition requires roof repairs or roof replacement.
There are also some other parameters to look for, like shade and roof layout.
What to Do Before Your Inspection of Solar
Discussing everything before installation makes the installation process run smoothly. Clean off the debris such as leaves or branches from your roof. Make sure here that your paneling is getting enough sunlight. And if there are trees near your house that can cast shade on the roof, cut them off as they can reduce the efficiency of the roof inspection for solar panels.
Consider the material of the roof and the history of past repairs for your roof. That information might be beneficial for structure inspectors who are going to grade its readiness. Lastly, ensure that your electrical systems are accessible to enable the inspector to take a good look at every part.
How are Solar Panels Installed on a Roof?
The solar roof inspection ensures your roof is ready to have solar panels installed. If you hire experts like Net Zero builders llc, they attach mounting rails to the roof and then secure solar panels to these rails. They will next pick up some roof tiles and attach the mounting brackets to the rafters using roof hooks, before gently reinstalling the tiles back where they were. After your solar installation is complete, we double-check everything so you can be sure that your system is performing efficiently.
Precisely two of the procedures that need detailing are:
Interior Inspection Procedure
This is checking the attic and electrical system. They check if there is any trace of leak, mold, or structural damage in the attic that may interfere with the solar setup. It can also determine if any wiring or electrical components in the house are outdated so they can be updated safely.
Exterior Inspection Procedure
Generally, exterior inspection looks for general exterior conditions of the roof like material, age, and any existing damage. It will explore the orientation and pitch of the roof, which determines the level of solar exposure and its functionality.
Final Thoughts
It is certainly an exciting step in making a transition to solar energy that promises savings and environmental benefits in the long run. However, very important before installation is a solar roof inspection done to ensure that your roof can withstand the installation of solar panels and their efficiency. By conducting this examination, you’d be preventing sudden repair by prolonging the life period of your roof and holding your solar system for even a much longer time frame by noting all the concerned matters earlier on.
Look for experts so that you save your time and investment on something that can give you long-term peace in terms of saving energy. A team that is licensed and insured that the installation is carried out safely and efficiently by a trusted commercial solar installation company can always save you the hassle afterward.
