Myth 1: Solar is too expensive.
FACT: Solar is an anyway transaction - instead of paying your expensive, steadily increasing utility bills, solar panels paired with battery storage allow you to take control of your energy costs by giving you a predictable, inflation-proof monthly payment. In addition, the Inflation Reduction Act allows a 30% tax credit for the installation of solar.
Myth 2: I won’t be able to sell my home with solar.
FACT: Solar panels are viewed as upgrades, like a renovated kitchen or bathroom, so adding solar to your home is likely to increase your home’s value. Buyers have multiple options to consider when purchasing a home with solar panels and are likely to qualify for any loan or lease during the purchase process.. Currently in California, when someone takes new ownership over your system, they get grandfathered into the energy rate that you bought into when you purchased the system. A new owner receives lower energy costs than they would if the home didn’t have solar. When selling your home with a Swell Energy system, you can contact your Swell support team to make the transition easier for the new owner. We’ll educate the new homeowner and realtor on the sales process. New construction in CA requires solar now, so soon it will be difficult for buyers to find homes, especially any new builds that don’t have solar.
Myth 3: Solar installation will damage my roof, or cause it to leak or deteriorate.
FACT: Solar panels cover areas of your roof and can help protect them from weather-related normal wear and tear thereby preserving the areas they cover. Solar panels are easily removed should your roof need to be repaired, but it is advisable to repair any roof issues before installing solar panels. Our trained consultants will recommend the best course of action prior to installation. The solar panels themselves are mounted on a railing system with mounts surrounded by metal flashing that further protects from the elements, and sealants are used to fill in any gaps. Companies like Swell with an A+ Better Business Bureau rating only work with the top installation companies who offer penetration warranties to protect against roof damage in the unlikely event that damage or leaks occur.
Myth 4: Solar panels are ugly.
FACT: Solar panel technology and design continue to evolve. The industry has taken customer feedback regarding the curb appeal of residential solar and panels are becoming sleeker to meet consumers’ requirements. Panels are now black on black providing an improved roof aesthetic. While there are now panels that are actually roof tiles or ‘solar roofs,’ these products tend to have less efficiency and effectiveness and are more costly than traditional solar arrays.
Myth 5: Solar protects me from power outages.
FACT: Solar panels do not provide power during power outages to ensure utility line worker safety. To keep your power on during an outage consider adding battery storage to make your home energy system complete and capable of powering you through a power outage. Your battery will store your solar power so that when the lights go off, yours stay on.
Myth 6: Solar will make my bills go up.
FACT: If your system is sized correctly, this shouldn’t happen. Your Swell Energy Consultant will work with you to build a customized solution tailored to your unique energy needs. Our consultants analyze your current bills, your roof layout and your anticipated future electricity needs to ensure the right system size to avoid this. Many customers find they have a bill credit at the end of the year.
Myth 7: Solar panels require regular maintenance.
FACT: Solar panels require little to no maintenance. It’s simple - there are no moving parts and your panels come with 25-year warranties, although many systems last longer! It’s recommended that you keep your solar panels clean by hosing them off about once a year, but some homeowners opt to let the rain do the job. While dirty panels may reduce efficiency slightly over the life of the panels (estimated no more than 5%), the monitoring software that comes with your system will allow you to see any reduction in performance right away. If any large debris falls onto your panels, you’ll want to remove it, but apart from that, your solar panels will be doing their job with little need for assistance from you. In the event your panels are not performing optimally, Swell Energy’s top rated Customer Experience Team is ready to assist you and help resolve the situation.
Myth 8: The payback for solar is too long.
FACT: Homeowners with standalone solar systems in California can see a relatively quick return on investment with 6 to 7 year paybacks. Most customers begin to notice the savings from day 1 with a decrease in monthly energy costs. Solar is a long-term investment that will continue to provide benefits for many years into the future. Swell Energy’s solar installations come with a 25- year guarantee.
Myth 9: Adding solar panels will raise my property taxes.
FACT: Adding solar panels on your home will NOT raise your property taxes, but it WILL increase the value of your home. A law in place since November of 1980 codifies that solar systems are not considered ‘newly constructed’ for the purpose of property taxes, and therefore, can not increase your tax bill. According to the US Dept. of Housing and Urban Development, a home’s value increases on average by $20 for every $1 saved in annual electricity bills. This means if you save $1000 per year on energy costs with your solar, your home’s value has increased by $20,000 per year as well.
Myth 10: Any solar installer can add battery storage to my system.
FACT: Not all solar installers have the inventory, capacity or capability to install energy storage with your home solar system. Swell Energy began installing battery storage in California long before other solar companies. Many solar companies don’t offer installation of battery storage at all. Swell Energy has the largest network of Tesla Powerwall Certified Installers in California and the expertise to professionally and seamlessly install your battery storage.
Visit: swellenergy.com/sierraclubangeles for more information about solar, energy storage, and Virtual Power Plants.