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How many years do solar panels last?
Solar Electric Panels can produce energy for over
30 years. In fact they come with 25 year warranties.
There are not many products you can purchase with 25
year guaranties. This is an indication of the durability
and longevity of a solar electric panel. Pool heating
panels can last 20 years or more. Most outlast the roof.
How long before the inverter needs to be replaced?
A good
quality SMA inverter should last 18-20 years.
Do Solar Electric systems work in the winter?
Yes
solar panels produce power in the winter. If the sun is
shining and the panel is not covered in snow, it will make
energy. We live in Canada, so there will be times with
snow on the panels. We’ve seen
snow stick to panels that are at a 50 degree incline.
We’ve also seen snow slide off a panel at a 30
degree tilt. So get used to it, we’ve been getting
snow for hundreds of years, and will continue to get
it for many more to come.
How much energy will a solar system produce?
There
are many different opinions on this ,depending on how
bad our competitors want to sell you something. The
real answer to this question can be found below. If
any one tells you different, then ask them to prove
it. Our data comes from 14 years experience in the
industry. We monitored systems in all types of applications
and this is what we have found. It’s real world
data.
System
Size |
Roof
type |
kWh's
produced per year |
1 kW |
Flat Commercial |
951 |
1 kW |
Sloped residential at 45 degrees |
1141 |
1 kW |
Ground Mounted at 35 degrees |
1250 |
1 kW |
Pole mounted Tracker |
1500 |
We are advising all consumers
to be very skeptical of any solar company with production
numbers significantly higher than what we have listed
here.
Please remember that these numbers
are an average over the past 20 years of Canadian government
testing. You need a long term average, since weather
can change dramatically from one year to the next.
What is the Maintenance of a Solar Electric System?
Solar electric systems need about the same amount
of maintenance as your roofing shingles. Practically
none. The rain typically keeps them clean, and since
their are no moving parts in a solar panel, nothing
tends to wear out. The inverter in your system will
likely need to be replaced every 18-20 years.
Why would a solar system not work on my home?
If your homes roof faces the wrong direction, like
north, north east, or north west, you likely are not
a good candidate for a solar system. However if your
roof faced more south east, south west, its worth considering.
Your solar system needs the sun, so if there are any
trees, or other obstructions shading the roof, then
these issues need to be addressed.
How much does a solar electric system cost?
Price
is effected by the size of the system and quality of
the components installed. A properly engineered system,
that is designed to last 30 years or more, will cost
more than a system that may only last 15-17 years.
Buyer beware, not all systems are the same. A solar
system is like any other product, their is good quality,
and cheap quality. The other factor is how it gets
installed. A system installed by an experienced solar
contractor will contain all the tricks of the trade,
learned over many years of installation experience.
We been installing for 14 years, and there are many
things that we’ve seen that can effect how well
your system is protected. Its a big investment, and
you want to ensure its done properly so it lasts many
years trouble free.
Why
Should I call Ottawa Solar Power?
• 14 years experience in the solar industry
• We have designed and installed over 100 solar systems.
• We know what works and what does not, gained through
trial and error.
• We are not a new start up company trying to get into
the market.
• We are an actual company with an office and warehouse.
• We don’t work from home
• We can show you work we have done
• We’ve been committed to this industry long before
any subsidies were around.
• We intend to be here long after the subsidies are gone.
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