Upgrading Your Solar Panels

Even though most solar panels have an expected life of 20 to 25 years, the standard system sizes of yesterday may no longer meet many homeowners’ energy needs. An electric vehicle could also be taxing a solar system that once was enough to offset an entire electric bill. Whatever the reason, upgrading your solar panels should be a relatively straightforward process if you’re dealing with a reputable solar installer.   

Upgrading A System To Meet Demand

It’s true that solar panel efficiency has increased over the years, but it hasn’t changed so much that panels have become obsolete over the past decade. More often a household outgrows the system they currently have installed. As family members are added to a home, more energy is consumed. The addition of a new appliance or especially the installation of a pool will dramatically affect your home’s energy consumption.  

Solar companies just trying to make a sale may undersize home solar systems to keep the cost down. Just know that this is never to the benefit of the homeowner. An undersized system will not really generate enough power to meet current energy needs and you’ll be forced to reduce your energy consumption or down the road will find yourself upgrading your solar panels. 

Maybe you’re just seeing a lower than usual energy production, consider it may just be time to upgrade your inverter. Unlike solar panels, inverters typically have a shorter life span. Replacing a failed inverter or upgrading it all together is a good idea. Quality inverters should last at least a decade, and now microinverter technology helps you keep the maximum amount of generated energy as each panel functions independently, converting DC power to AC instantly and at the source.

Upgrading Solar When Convenient

Perhaps your roof just needs to be repaired. Most homeowners will opt to upgrade their solar panels at this time since the solar array will need to be removed during the repair process. If adding panels is not an option because of limited space, you could install solar arrays on another structure on your property, such as a carport, or a shed.

If possible it’s always best to install the same type of panels as your original array. Not only will the aesthetics match, but it will also have the same generation capacity and efficiency as your other panels. If the exact same panels are not available, you should still install new panels with the same or very similar specifications or you could damage your existing system.

If you’ve had a bad experience with your original installer, or they’ve since gone out of business and you’re considering upgrading your system we can help. Call or text our Energy Experts so we can schedule an inspection of your current system and make the proper recommendations for your family’s energy needs. 951-678-7733