Thinking of having solar panels installed on our home’s south facing roof. The numbers make sense to me, but it would be good to hear from BITOG members with residential solar panel experience.
Thanks
Thanks
Residential solar panel installation; Anyone here have experience to share?
- Thread starter carviewsonic
- Start date
Loan?
I love my solar, but my use case and the deal I got are unique to me.
I rarely used the AC, but now I can do as I please. I charge the EV. All for perhaps $150 per year.
Sometimes you get lucky.
I rarely used the AC, but now I can do as I please. I charge the EV. All for perhaps $150 per year.
Sometimes you get lucky.
Federal government has 0% financing available for residential solar. ROI based on our last 12 months power usage is 8 years. Excess power in summer months can be accumulated as credit to use through winter months, per our energy provider.
Basically, instead of paying the energy provider we’d be paying for the panels over 8 years.
Sounds great, but I’m leery of unforeseen problems.
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JHZR2
Staff member
I have a hip roof with all the good sides covered by tall trees… and then dormers.
My house would be ideal for a 1kW or maybe a few kW system… not one thst is going to break even at my latitude, but one that will offset consumption.
The installers are too expensive to be able to support such a thing. It’s unfortunate because it would be an ideal hybrid scenario for me. I am qualified to diy, other than maybe a lot of time installing stuff on my roof. But again, its not cost effective if they can’t sell a giant system, unfortunately.
Meanwhile the utilit installed a single panel and an e phase inverter on most every single pole in the area.
But I have to not only deal with the cost of illegals installing it, but also the endless permitting.
So I do my solar off grid.
My house would be ideal for a 1kW or maybe a few kW system… not one thst is going to break even at my latitude, but one that will offset consumption.
The installers are too expensive to be able to support such a thing. It’s unfortunate because it would be an ideal hybrid scenario for me. I am qualified to diy, other than maybe a lot of time installing stuff on my roof. But again, its not cost effective if they can’t sell a giant system, unfortunately.
Meanwhile the utilit installed a single panel and an e phase inverter on most every single pole in the area.
But I have to not only deal with the cost of illegals installing it, but also the endless permitting.
So I do my solar off grid.
GON
$175 Site Donor 2026
A few questions:
What is the cost of the system if you pay cash?
How many different vendors have you had quote a cash price?
What is the likelihood the vendor selling the system will be in business in the next 24 months (worthless warranty)?
How will you handle the very likely damage to the roof the subcontractors installing the solar will do to you roof? What real recourse will you have?
What if the system does not perform as sold to you, what if any remedies will you have?
On the solar loan, if the loan is assumable by a buyer of your home, what are the underwriting requirements of for the assumption?
I can't recommend enough you read all 200+ reviews on this solar lender (link below). Further, we are in contract to purchase a gome and are assuming the solar loan. The system was installed two years ago by a "top" solar firm, that firm closed it doors earlier this year, making any warranties worthless.
https://www.energysage.com/supplier/3247/mosaic/
What is the cost of the system if you pay cash?
How many different vendors have you had quote a cash price?
What is the likelihood the vendor selling the system will be in business in the next 24 months (worthless warranty)?
How will you handle the very likely damage to the roof the subcontractors installing the solar will do to you roof? What real recourse will you have?
What if the system does not perform as sold to you, what if any remedies will you have?
On the solar loan, if the loan is assumable by a buyer of your home, what are the underwriting requirements of for the assumption?
I can't recommend enough you read all 200+ reviews on this solar lender (link below). Further, we are in contract to purchase a gome and are assuming the solar loan. The system was installed two years ago by a "top" solar firm, that firm closed it doors earlier this year, making any warranties worthless.
https://www.energysage.com/supplier/3247/mosaic/
Mine as well. In the 29 years we were in our former house the roof was re-shingled twice due to hail, the skylight leaked (damaging the ceiling) and had to be replaced two times, and a vent pipe leaked and damaged drywall in two bathrooms.
So, the idea of doing anything to a roof that currently has no problems doesn't sit well with me. The proposed solar system would have eleven panels. The cost to remove and reinstall these in order to re-shingle would not be cheap.
You're in Canada? What are the Sun insolation hours in your location?
JHZR2
Staff member
At least around here, most installers do roofing and they try to push a roof as best practice.
A friend of mine just had a roof redone. They had solar, and a steep roof. It was around $500 to remove and re-install. I was a bit surprised that the cost was that low. But there isn’t much to it in reality.
Given the cost that roofing contractors charge these days, no, it is really cheap.
Probably made it up on the entire deal. The $500 was the hook.
Who knows for sure?
I had the Vivint come out and try to sell me a system....read the fine print.....you're basically renting the panels out and had to sign an 30 year contract. Asked about insurance, they said that homeowners wouldn't go up.....yeah, right. They would not be responsible for damages....here in Oklahoma, it's only a matter of time before, at least, hail gets you. Oklahoma also has some sort of policy that you actually won't get credit if you pump back into the grid, just take it off your monthly bill. It was based on my current electrical needs from an average of 5 years, say about 160 a month. That contract was that I pay them 160 a month for 30 years. Hell, I'm 61, so I won't get that paid off until I'm 91????? Ahhhhh...no.
Anybody over 50 considering Solar is silly...unless your electric bill is over $600/month.
Maybe someday if EVs ever become mainstream and the national grid starts to fail my fellow taxpayers will be obliged to pay for scaled down versions such as what work for me. At my age it's not worth it to use income to pay for something that I might not ever recoup my loss. Keep in mind we pay 10 CENTS kWh here. Wild guess 3 to 6 panels?
That would be a few panels facing south on my Hip Pyramid roof. This would be ideal and would be the side roof. I would love to have something, a few panels to supplement our HVAC draw during the daytime and not cost me anything. Sounds silly right? Yet we give away taxpayer money for everything else but no politics here please. Its jsut might be ideal in the future to reduce the energy demands in the country unless we wake up and start building more Nuclear Plants.
BTW- we NEVER open our windows. My July Electric bill (which would have been for most of June and it's been hot) was $117 which was cheaper than my water and sewer bill.
My July water and sewer bill was $123 for the month of June
That would be a few panels facing south on my Hip Pyramid roof. This would be ideal and would be the side roof. I would love to have something, a few panels to supplement our HVAC draw during the daytime and not cost me anything. Sounds silly right? Yet we give away taxpayer money for everything else but no politics here please. Its jsut might be ideal in the future to reduce the energy demands in the country unless we wake up and start building more Nuclear Plants.
BTW- we NEVER open our windows. My July Electric bill (which would have been for most of June and it's been hot) was $117 which was cheaper than my water and sewer bill.
My July water and sewer bill was $123 for the month of June
Solar is a solid investment if you've already done the math, but the paperwork process requires some patience. I worked with Wolf River Electric here in Minnesota, and the performance has been quite close to the initial estimates.
While the project projected a 95% offset, my first year hit about 92% due to winter snow cover, though summer production exceeded expectations by 15%. Based on the 30% federal tax credit, my calculated ROI is sitting at roughly 7–8 years.
Regarding logistics, I even used the shuttle service provided by the company to get to their office for the final paperwork, which made the coordination much smoother. One critical tip: ensure your roof is in top shape before they start. You want to avoid the cost of pulling panels off in a few years just to replace shingles.
GON
$175 Site Donor 2026
I'd go a different approach.
I would have the roof inspected, the inspection signed off by the solar installing contractor prior to any solar work being installed, and a inspection of the roof after the solar install, and the contract reading no monies released by the solar buyer or its assignors until the roof post solar install is inspected, and any damaged fully corrected to the homeowners standards.
We have solar. I live in a 330+ days annually of sunshine, and our electric bill is only $12 per month, even in the hottest summer air conditioning days.
Nonetheless, I received my solar balance today, which is at a 1.99 interest rate. Knowing the solar could fail tomorrow and not be serviceable, I would never ever buy solar unless i could protect the capital expense against system failure throughout the deprecation lifecycle, which is likely unattainable.
We're writing to let you know that your payment of $211.08 has been received by SOLAR SERVICING on 02/17/26. Your payment was applied as follows:
Principal:$202.17
Interest:$8.91
Late/NSF Fees:$0.00
Remaining Loan Balance:$40,357.18
I make double solar loan payments monthly, I was at one time contemplating paying off the loan, of making triple monthly payments, but settled on double payments, so if we sell the house, i can have the next buyer assume the loan, as no way the next buyer will pay me $40k USD more for the hoe for the installed solar and $12 a month bills. Simple reality.
(note I purchased the home with the solar installed- and was required to assume the solar loan as part of the transaction).
CleanSump
Site Donor 2026
We get the door to door solar guys just like the roofing guys all the time. No, you aren't doing the house down the street no I won't get ROI from solar, and no, I can show you my roof isn't leaking.
I can't see making monthly payments that are larger than my electric bill to save paying the electric bill. My SIL bragged he only paid $25 a month for electric, but he was paying over $300 a month for the solar install! Guy across the street also says $25 month for electric bill, but reluctantly affirmed he pays more monthly for the solar set up than I pay for my electric bill.
Just doesn't make sense to go solar here unless I'm into saving the planet or something.
I can't see making monthly payments that are larger than my electric bill to save paying the electric bill. My SIL bragged he only paid $25 a month for electric, but he was paying over $300 a month for the solar install! Guy across the street also says $25 month for electric bill, but reluctantly affirmed he pays more monthly for the solar set up than I pay for my electric bill.
Just doesn't make sense to go solar here unless I'm into saving the planet or something.
It goes without saying that your roof condition is a critical component to be considered. I did a full reroof, even though they said it was at half life.
Solar used to be the biggest no-brainer around here, but after NEM2 expired, it's not nearly so simple. Most of the solar companies, including mine, are gone. Oops.
Solar used to be the biggest no-brainer around here, but after NEM2 expired, it's not nearly so simple. Most of the solar companies, including mine, are gone. Oops.
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