Frequently Asked Questions About Solar Panels

Yes, but this is rare. To give you an idea of just how rare — the hail would have to be the size of golf balls. Solera solar panels are specially designed to withstand even the most extreme weather.

Solar panels are tilted, meaning, in most cases, the snow will slide off on its own after a storm. However, if it’s a heavy storm, you may need to clean your solar panels off to allow the sun to enter the grid. Cleaning is easy, and a Solera Energy technician will walk you through the process.

Yes, the two key parts of the system, the panels, and inverters are covered by the manufacturer’s warranties. We’ll walk you through all your coverage before installing your system.

Yes. This is a newer technology and a valuable asset. We highly recommend contacting your insurance provider to make sure your coverage is in step with your property improvements.

Solar power is measured using two main units — kilowatts or megawatts. A 1 MW power plant produces 1,000 kilowatts of power while operating at full capacity. When someone says “1 MW,” they usually mean the number of kilowatts or megawatts being transferred to the grid. This power “stream” will fluctuate occasionally, even under perfect conditions.

A kilowatt is equal to 1,000 watts. A megawatt is 1,000 kilowatts. Therefore, a megawatt is equal to 1 million watts.

Much like cars, solar panels slowly lose their efficiency over time. The degradation rate is the calculated rate of this loss. The rate is around .5% per year, and most panels are still producing at 80% capacity 25 years after installation. (Name a car that can do that!)

Switching to solar energy not only saves money on your current energy bills, it protects you against rising electricity costs later on. The amount of savings depends on your region’s utility rates, but all signs point to solar as a smart energy investment.

Going solar means you’re contributing to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, which have been associated with the negative effects of climate change. Solar energy also produces fewer air pollutants that can harm human respiratory health.  

If you’re paying for electricity right now, you can likely afford to make the switch to solar energy. Solera Energy will go over financing options with you and be transparent with pricing every step of the way.

Roofs that face south get sun all day and are big enough to fit at least one solar panel are ideal for installation. However, there are lots of ways we Solera Energy can make solar panels work for you, even if this doesn’t sound like your roof.

While living in a sunny area can certainly increase the amount of energy that your solar panels can produce, it’s not a requirement. Even in areas with less sunlight, solar panels can still generate a significant amount of electricity.

When it comes to installing solar panels, one of the first steps is having our experts evaluate your home to determine if it’s a good fit for solar. We will consider factors such as the orientation and pitch of your roof, the amount of shade on your property, and your energy usage to determine if solar panels will work for you.

The number of solar panels you will need for your house depends on a number of factors, including your energy usage, the size of your home, your energy independence goals, and the efficiency of the panels themselves. At Solera, we will discuss with you to determine the ideal number of panels and the right system design. Our goal is to size the system so that it generates enough energy to cover your household’s average electricity consumption but not so much that you end up with a surplus of unused energy.

Many commercial properties have flat roofs. Here at Solera, we’re experts in designing the ideal solar panel layout for all types of roofs, including flat ones.