How to Choose the Right Solar Panels for Your Home: 5 Factors to Consider

Here at Monalee, we’re all about taking the stress and overwhelm out of choosing solar power.

Whether you’re a first-time homeowner interested in saving money or you’ve been living in your home for years and tired of relying so heavily on the power grid, solar installation might be a consideration that piques your interest.

But with so much information, how do you know where to start your research? What type of equipment makes the most sense for your needs (and wallet)?

To help save you time, we’ve narrowed down the five most important factors to consider when choosing the best solar panels for your home.

Here are 5 factors to consider when investing in solar panels.

Efficiency

If you’re considering an investment in solar power, it makes sense that you want it to be as seamless and as efficient as possible. But how do you know what to look for when comparing efficiency?

There’s a simple way to understand solar panel efficiency:

Panels with a certain percentage (22 percent, for example) as an efficiency rating mean that the same percentage of sunlight (22 percent) will be converted into solar energy from each panel.

The solar panel and wattage you select will impact how efficient each solar panel is for your energy needs. Materials used in solar panels make a difference in efficiency, too. 

Monocrystalline solar panels, for example, usually come with a higher efficiency rating due to black-colored silicone crystal cells.

When shopping for solar panels, look for designs that feature encapsulated monocrystalline solar cells that allow light to fully penetrate a heat-tempered laminated glass surface to reach the photovoltaic solar cell layer.

At the end of the day, personal preference, budget, and design are all factors to consider when shopping for solar panels.  

Durability

One of the biggest questions homeowners ask is: are solar panels durable?

Yes – they’re built to withstand inclement weather such as hail, wind, rain, and snow. As weather patterns change and storms become more frequent (not to mention more powerful), finding the right solar panels to last through weather events is important.

Monalee installations include high-quality, high-performance LONGi 400w solar panels. The construction of these solar panels using heat-tempered laminated glass is some of the most advanced on the market and built to withstand weather conditions.

The combination of monocrystalline crystals and tempered glass offers high levels of energy efficiency and durability.   

Warranties

The investment in solar panels is an important one. As a homeowner, you want to ensure you’re getting the best value without compromising quality or integrity.

Warranties are something you want to pay attention to when shopping. Because future savings or home value depends on the condition of your solar panels, check the fine print for two warranties in particular:

• Product – warranty covers the equipment
• Performance – warranty covers the efficiency of the panels

As warranty is an important factor to consider when choosing the right solar panels for your home, Monalee offers an additional warranty on labor and installation. 

All three of these warranties are guaranteed for 25 years, which offers peace of mind to established and first-time homeowners alike.

Location

The location of your solar panels makes a big difference in how efficient they are in powering your home.

Factors like the slope of the roof, shape, and size all play into how well you can expect solar panels to perform. Scheduling a site survey is one of the best ways to get accurate information about your home and roof structure before moving forward.

During a site survey, install partners do the following:

• Check the roof for structural integrity
• Make sure breaker panels have the proper electrical connections
• Determine the best locations for solar panels

By checking these boxes before installation, homeowners can feel confident that the solar installation process is done safely and according to proper regulations.

Equipment

Solar panels are only as good as the materials and equipment used.

The equipment needed could vary depending on the type of solar installation you’re looking for. 

Major components of a system include:

• Solar panels
• Inverters
• Solar storage (a battery, for example, if your home experiences power outages frequently)

Shopping for reliable equipment and checking for warranties to ensure they’re covered is an important step in solar installation.

What’s the Next Step?

Having as much information as possible before shopping for solar panels can simplify the process.

Getting a detailed quote regarding how much energy you use (and what you might need) is a great first step. 

Then, scheduling a site survey with a trained professional gives you insight into how panels might work with your home and what changes are recommended to maximize the value of going solar.