The solar modules have a life expectancy of 25 years with a warranty output guarantee over this time frame.

A net metering solar system generates power for the home, and it feeds any excess power it generates into the grid. When power is going into the grid, the homeowner is given a credit towards their bill by the utility company for the value of the power they provided. This credit can often fully cover the cost of power during winter months when solar production is slowed.

A: While every system HOMES installs is customized to meet a customer’s individual needs, there are two overall types of solar systems HOMES installs: grid-direct and multimode systems. Both systems take advantage of net metering. Grid-direct systems are the most common type of solar array in the United States. These systems have no batteries, lowering the system cost. However, these systems are reliant on the grid to operate and don’t provide power during blackouts. Multimode systems are more expensive to install as they often include large capacity batteries in the circuit. Excess power from the solar array first charges the batteries and then any remainder is sold through net metering. These systems can continuously provide power regardless of whether the grid is running. Which type of system HOMES installs is completely dependent on your individual needs and desires.

If you have solar panels installed on your roof or property, they can continue to generate electricity during power outages. However, if your system is grid direct, and you do NOT have a solar battery, you will NOT be able to use that energy to run your home during a power outage because your solar system automatically shuts off for safety reasons. However, if you have a battery installed on your property with a multimode inverter, you will be able to continue using your panels even when the grid is down.

Grid direct inverters are designed to convert DC (direct current) from solar panels, but they are not designed to integrate with a battery bank. A multimode inverter can be purchased and installed later that has EV car charging, and battery backup capabilities all in one but it’s not cheap. Batteries are the most expensive part of a solar system. We often recommend if you are considering buying batteries or having need of electric car charging in the future installing a multimode inverter from the start.

Yes! HOMES is certified to install EV chargers both as part of a larger solar system as well as powered by your current power company. It may be cheaper upfront to have just an EV charger installed without solar, however, solar has been shown to be up to 7x more efficient when charging EVs, leading to substantial energy savings in the long run. When an EV charger is connected into the grid, AC power coming into your house has to be converted to DC power, leading to energy loss. However, solar cells generate DC power that can be directly used to charge your car.

On average, U.S. customers save about $1,500 a year by going solar – $37,500 over the course of 25 years. But for individual solar energy systems, these savings can vary from $10,000 – $90,000 depending on roof size, sunlight exposure, local energy rates and solar incentives. For an estimate for your property, utilize our simple solar cost calculator on the previous page. For a more in-depth analysis of long term savings, fill out our quote form on the right side of this page and our solar specialist will reach out with more information.

Many customers feel that the pride and peace of mind of solar ‘pays for itself’ as soon as the system powers on. From a financial point of view, solar will recoup the outright cash investment in roughly 12 – 15 years. Solar PV provides an 8-10% IRR over 20 years or is immediately cash-flow positive if financed. With multi-billion-dollar grid improvement projects already in place, rates of electricity are constantly rising meaning the sooner you install solar, the more money you’ll save in the long run.

Our typical residential solar power job takes us about 40 hours of installation time on the roof and about 10 hours inside the house. We typically send two or three technicians, so most jobs are completed in 3-4 days.