Two Common Questions about Solar

CAMPBELL — While a lot of homeowners are interested in solar energy, many have questions about the various aspects involved. Here are two common questions solar companies receive from consumers:

Is solar a good investment? To answer this question, there are few different factors to consider, but one of the main ones is the amount of your power bill. Generally, the bigger your power bill, the better financial return you’ll get from solar. In most cases, if your electric bill is more than $100 per month, installing a solar energy system will be a worthwhile long-term investment.

What kind of maintenance does a solar power system require? In addition to minimizing energy costs, a great benefit of a solar system is that it’s virtually maintenance-free. The only real maintenance that’s needed is to periodically wash your panels, which can be done on a seasonal basis. While spraying them with a garden hose will suffice, those who want to get a deeper clean can wash their panels with a soft cloth and soapy water. Keeping your solar panels clean can improve your electricity production by up to 25 percent a year, so it’s well worth the minimal effort required.