While you can install your own solar panels, there are some home renovation projects that are best left to experienced professionals.
Laying down hardwood flooring, changing light fixtures, and installing bathroom vanities are projects suitable for many DIY types. But the installation of solar panels is a more complex job that requires expert help.
Here’s a look at some reasons why you’ll be better off hiring professionals.
Training and Experience
Regardless of where you live in the country, you’ll need a licensed and experienced professional to do your solar panel installation. If you want to avoid problems, it’s best to find a reputable company to take on the job.
Any solar panel installation company you are considering should have employees with certifications such as the Solar PV Installation Professional Certification from the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners.
The company you hire will also help you submit papers to obtain the permits you need to do the installation and to connect with your local utility’s power grid. Even the ablest DIYer will need help with completing these tasks.
Install Your Own Solar Panels? It’s a Weighty Task
Solar panels can each weigh up to 50 pounds. It’s no easy task to move them around.
Also, consider that you’ll have to haul them up to the roof and then position them properly. It definitely won’t be a suitable DIY project.
Professional installers are experienced at safely moving solar panels to rooftops. They also have special tools that will make it easier and safer to do the job. Check out some solar companies near you to find a suitable one.
Roof Damage
Solar panel installation isn’t really something that the average person should take on as a DIY home project. One reason is that if you make mistakes while trying to install solar panels, you could damage your roof.
According to one source, the average roof replacement cost is $7,500 on the low end, $10,500 in mid-range, and $14,500 on the high end. You won’t want to shorten the life span of your roof simply because of mistakes.
You should also consider that installing solar panels on your own could jeopardize the warranty that comes with your roof. Why risk voiding a multi-decade warranty on your roof just to save a bit of money via a DIY project?
Safety Issues
One of the most common phobias people experience is acrophobia, which is the fear of heights. Whether or not you prefer to have your feet planted on level ground, it can be dangerous to be working up on your roof.
For one thing, you’ll have to handle solar panels that are heavy and that might be awkwardly shaped. You’ll also need to fasten them to the roof. There are also the potential risks of dealing with high voltage electricity.
It’s Best to Work With the Pros
Whether you install your own solar panels or get experts to do it for you is entirely up to you. But the aforementioned points show that it makes sense to hire professionals who are licensed to install solar panel systems.
You won’t want to make the investment to get solar panels and then miss out on the benefits because of mistakes that many DIYers make. Some projects are best left to the pros — and a solar panel system is one of them.
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