Thanks to a policy adopted by some power companies known as “net metering,” excess solar power production is rolled over in the form of a credit to reduce future electric bills. Throughout the USA, most solar systems overproduce in the summer, which accounts for the winter months. Standard meters only go one direction to monitor the amount of electricity being pulled from the grid. A net meter spins in two directions, allowing electricity to be sent and drawn from the grid. If your meter nets zero, you will not be charged for any power pulled from the grid.

The traditional grid tied solar system requires little to no maintenance. However, off grid solar systems have quite a few moving parts which will require some maintenance. If your panels collect dust, Mother Nature will clean them off naturally when it rains. While solar panels are not hot by any means, they do have warmth to them which allows snow to melt and slide off. The good news is, we calculate snow load into your custom solar panel design, which means there is no need to climb up on the roof.

Hail, high wind, and tornadoes are all considered “acts of God” which are covered by your homeowner’s insurance. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) in Golden, CO, conducted a study between 2009 and 2013 and found that only 0.1% of all solar systems have been affected by severe weather. Then in 2018, a hail storm struck the National Renewable Energy Laboratory with hail reported as much as 2.75 inches in diameter. In staggering support of their data, only one out of the lab’s 3,168 rooftop solar panels sustained damage during the storm!

Contrary to this common belief, installing solar panels actually extends the life of your roof by creating an additional layer of insulation, which can also provide even more energy savings. Solar panels are often installed on the south side of the roof, which receives the highest amount of sun, heat, and weathering. Your attic acts as a natural oven and can often reach temperatures as high as 160 degrees during the hot summer. With the panels now absorbing the sun, your solar system can provide further savings by cooling your attic, allowing your air conditioning to function more efficiently.

If a hail storm does manage to damage a solar panel, you are going to have substantially more damage on your hands than just one broken panel. Your solar system removal, re-installation, re-roof, and additional costs would all be rolled into the same claim. Your homeowners’ insurance may see a slight increase, but this small amount will be greatly outweighed by the savings associated with going solar.

As one of the top solar energy companies in Peoria, Sun Collectors has partnered with the best local roofers and can assist in replacing your roof prior to your solar panel installation. Depending on your needs, we can get you a roofing quote in 1-3 days and save you up to 25% off the average cost due to our partner relationships.

It might surprise you to learn, electronics are actually more efficient at colder temperatures. Therefore, solar panels work more efficiently in colder temperatures. This is because excessive heat tends to reduce the output voltage. While more sun hours will indeed generate more electricity, advances in modern solar panel design allow solar panels to efficiently produce energy in low light situations. For example, a home or business in Illinois requires a more extensive array than that of a building in the desert. Still, the Illinois Shines Program typically covers so much of the solar panel and installation costs that going solar in Illinois ends up costing significantly less than it does in most of the western states.