The present day solar panels are sure to last long, even some carry a warranty of 25 years for major parts. Before you think of buying solar panels, you must thoroughly understand the warrant and its terms and conditions, this will ensure that your equipment last for a longer period without giving any troubles.

It does not make sense that once you install the equipment and it does not function properly and you will have no options except remorse. Warranties are good both for buyer and the manufacturer, there are certain equipment which are excluded by the manufacturer and are not covered by any warranty, Different parts may have different warranties, for example parts and labor will carry a shorter warranty as compared to batteries and converters.

Photovoltaic (PV) panels which are branded have different warranties as compared to non brand units; this is due to quality control as the branded units have much better control in their production level. The brand manufacturers offer longer warranty which ensures long term protection especially against panel degradation and also functions.

You are to expect extended level of warranty coverage because the PV panels have no moving parts and have non corrosive frames which are made up of protective glass. Normally the parts covered under warranty outlive the warranty period. However you must see the price factor of such warranty because very often such warranties add to the total cost of your home solar project.

When you are buying a home solar kit, it should have complete coverage on panel removal, repair, shipping costs and reinstalling of any component. Another point to check is the credibility of the manufacturer or the contractor to fulfill the warranty obligations.

If the contractor is involved, there should be a clause in the warranty that protects the buyer in case contractor went into bankruptcy. This clause is very important as it would be very difficult to get the reimbursement later on. It is always a good idea if the warranty is purchased along with product, you should also remember that solar panels are not protected against vandalism, natural disasters or any other incident which is not in the control of the manufacturer or the contractor.

To ensure protection in such cases, it needs the property insurance company to be informed about such installation in your home. Even though the life of panels is very long, that does not mean that the product should be bought without any warranty.

Though the initial installation costs are very high, but the saving over the years will give you the desired benefits. If you think you would be saving money by not getting the warranty coverage on the solar panels, think again because you won’t know what will happen in the future. The panels may be faulty due to unknown causes.

A home solar power system is a great investment as the energy you get is free. To make sure you get the best deal, do a proper research in the market by visiting many shops before deciding which kit to buy.

Be wise in spending money on the solar panel installation, compare the warranties offered by the manufacturer or the contractor because it will be in your own interest to have a proper home work done. Such steps will save you from future troubles and you will be able to have free energy for a very long time.

I had a discussion with a friend of mine who is thinking of setting up his own home solar power system. The discussion reached a point where we were talking where to put the solar panels worth over $15,000.

There were many places which were discussed, some of the places were roofs, picnic shelters and carports. As a matter of fact, it is very difficult to locate a place where a bunch of Photovoltaic (PV) panels can be installed.

You need to consider many things like exposure to sun, the condition of roof, vandalism and the space availability on the roof. My suggestion was to build another carport and to me, it seemed to be a good idea. Apart from parking your car, the structure can be used to shield your car from the sun and rain. Now, it can also be used to generate electricity via the solar panels.

In the discussion, my friend mentioned the word “Pergola” which was a new term for me. To me, a Pergola sounds like an Italian opera, where there is lot of water around with a boat and an Italian man singing romantic songs.

To feed my curiosity, I went online and did a search on Pergola. As it turns out, it is a wooden structure usually built on a yard. Initially, I was a bit disappointed that my friend gave the suggestion because we live in a hot and humid area. I could visualize moisture damage on the wood and it needing regular replacement or repainting.

However, I saw some pictures of Pergola which already had solar panels installed on it. It is like something built on heavy timbers and does not have sidings.

If you were to installed PV panels on a Pergola, the following are some of the pros and cons:

• It looks nice, but weather may spoil its looks.
• Providing partial shade for your garden or a quiet place to drink tea in the afternoon.
• Allowing vine maple to creep on it which you have to trim sooner or later.

All in all, a Pergola can be a good place to set up the PV panels. Firstly, you need to custom design the Pergola to fit your yard and it should be directly under the sun for most of the time.

The roof trusses have to be designed so that solar panels can be installed easily. The type of timber used has to be of high quality so it will last a long time.

The solar panel roof is to be made water proof so it can offer shade when it rains. You can use metal roofing and attach the solar panels to the ribs of roof. The general idea is to create a double function of the structure of the Pergola.

However, my main concern is the cost of constructing the Pergola. If the investment is too high, it wouldn’t make any economic sense to go ahead with it.

When people choose to go green with their energy needs, they start thinking about installing solar panels at their home. It doesn’t mean that you can buy the first solar panel that you find in the market.

The solar panel you buy should be capable of producing the amount of power you need at home. If you look at your monthly electricity bill, you can find out how much electricity is consumed at your home during a month. If you divide the electricity consumed in a month by 30, you will get the amount of electricity you need for a day.

Electricity produced by a Photovoltaic (PV) solar panel is directly proportional to the amount of sunlight it gets. The longer it is exposed to sunlight, the more energy it can produce.

To find out the wattage of electricity produced by the solar panel, divide the amount of electricity you need for one day by the number of hours the solar panel is exposed to sunlight. If you think that the solar panel will get sunlight for 6 hours, divide your daily electricity need by 6. The resulting figure is to be then multiplied by 1.15.

The product you get is the wattage of electricity your solar panel can produce in a day with 6 hours of exposure to sunlight. Checking the wattage of the solar panel before you buy it is important to ensure that the panel produces enough electricity for your needs.

Another important thing you should check before buying your solar panel is the size and direction of your roof. If you think that your roof is strong enough to support the weight of the solar panel and other installations, you can contact any solar energy company to install the panel on your roof. If your roof is facing the south, it will still be better.

Remember to engage a company that has a clean track record and experience in installing solar panels. Poorly installed solar panels may not produce the amount of energy you expect. To compare the installation costs charged by different companies, it is better to take quotes from all the companies serving your area.

By comparing the solar panel installation quotes and checking on the business record of all the companies, you can easily find out the right company to install the solar panels at your home. Before the company arrives to install the PV panel, choose the area of your roof suitable for installing the panel.

The area you choose should face the south. If there are any obstacles which might prevent the solar panel from getting sun light, remove them beforehand. While the technicians install the panel, check whether they are following the right procedure.

Once the solar panel is installed, clean it from time to time to remove the dust and debris that may get deposited on it. If the panel is covered with dust, its efficiency to produce power may be affected. A well maintained solar panel is expected to produce electricity for a period of 30 years.

Other than regular cleaning of the solar panel, there are no additional costs once the solar panel is installed. This is the reason why installing solar panel at your home is encouraged. The energy produced by the solar panel is stored in batteries and it can be used whenever you need it.

The greatest advantage of installing solar panel is that the environment is not at all harmed in the power production process. There are no harmful gases produced by a solar panel.