Solar panels allow you to use the sun’s energy for power instead of relying on fossil fuels. As more and more homeowners have these panels installed, you might wonder how much you can depend on solar energy. Can solar panels power a whole house?
Since these panels can be costly to add to your home, it’s important to know what to expect from this investment. Learn more about solar panels for residential use, including how much power they can generate and how you can use them in your home.
Can Solar Panels Power a Whole House?
When you choose the right solar panels, then yes, you can count on them to provide your entire home with power. To do this, you’ll have to make sure you choose solar panels that are the right type to fit your household’s energy needs.
Installing the wrong type of panels might require more power for your home. You’ll also need to consider other factors when choosing solar panels, such as the amount of sunlight your home gets. Before you’re ready to explore solar panel options, it’s important to understand how they work.
How Solar Panels Work
Solar panels gather energy from the sun, then turn this energy into direct current (DC) electricity. However, the outlets and other parts of your home’s electrical system use alternating current (AC) electricity. Solar panel systems include an inverter that turns DC electricity into AC electricity to power your home.
Solar panels are made up of photovoltaic (PV) cells. These cells are the components that gather photons from the sun’s light. Along with a solar inverter, some solar panel systems include batteries that can store solar power you’re not using. This helps ensure that you have more power when needed.
What happens on cloudy or rainy days? Solar panels won’t work as well at gathering the sun’s energy in this kind of weather. They don’t collect it when it’s dark out, either. Since the Sacramento area has many sunny days throughout the year, this isn’t as much of a concern as in other locations. Remember that having batteries store solar energy makes this even less of a concern since you’ll have a backup power supply.
Benefits of Solar Panels for Residential Buildings
When you invest in a solar panel system for your home, you can expect some important advantages. You’ll have solar panels that provide your home with all the energy it needs. This means you won’t have to rely on your local electrical grid for power. If that grid goes down, your home will still be up and running on solar energy.
With the right solar panels, you can have plenty of power to handle your household’s energy needs. From lighting to HVAC and major appliances, you can rely on your solar panels to supply your home with power.
Solar panels can save you money, especially when you use them to power your entire home. Once your solar panel system is installed, you can start using it for power and cut ties with your local electric company. You won’t have to deal with paying energy bills and dealing with fluctuating utility rates.
If you end up with a solar panel system tied to your local grid, your utility company might offer compensation for the energy you produce. This involves sending solar power to the grid and getting credit for it from your utility company.
Choosing Solar Panels for Your Home
Choosing the right ones is the key to ensuring that solar panels can power your whole home. This means you’ll need to weigh certain factors, such as how much energy your home typically uses and how much sunlight your home gets. You’ll also need to choose the right size, number, and type of solar panels and ensure your roof can handle its weight. Keep in mind that solar panels vary in terms of wattage or power output.
Find a Reliable Contractor for Solar Panel Installation
With so many factors involved with choosing solar panels, let the Straight Line Roofing and Construction experts help. We have the expertise to ensure you have the ideal solar panels to provide your home with enough energy. Our team can discuss solar panel options with you and recommend the right kind for your home. Once you choose solar panels, we’ll handle the installation process.
If you’re interested in adding solar panels to your Sacramento home, please contact Straight Line Roofing and Construction. We can give you more information on this process and help you choose the right panels for your home.
