What to Do Before Installing Solar Panels
More and more people are installing solar panels to the roof of their home in order to use cleaner energy in order to save money and energy. However, before making the transition to using solar energy to power your home, there are certain things that demand your attention. Solar panel installation can be a significant initial investment, so you’re going to want to make sure that your time, effort, and money is well-spent to create a home that operates with maximum efficiency. If you install solar panels but have poor insulation, high-energy appliances, and air leaks everywhere, your solar panels won’t help you achieve your goals. From fixing leaks to installing different lighting, there are a few tasks to make sure are completed before you go solar.
Sealing Ducts
Not many people realize how imbalanced the air temperature can be when ducts are not properly sealed. With solar power, being energy efficient is incredibly important because you want to use only the amount of energy you need. If you seal air ducts where needed, air will travel to the areas of the home that need it most and limit wasted airflow; sealing ducts will help balance the air temperature in your home.
Fixing Leaks
It is important to check your outlets, cabinets, closets, and anywhere else you can think of for potential air leaks. Fixing them before installing solar panels will help you in the long run regarding the use of energy, just like sealing your air ducts. Air leaks is one of the main escape routes for the air that your HVAC system is providing, which in turn will cause it to work harder and use more energy to replace that lost air. Making sure that there are no leaks will ensure that your energy consumption is efficient.
Energy Efficient Lighting
The whole purpose of using solar panels is to use a clean alternative source of energy to power your home’s appliances and lights. This in turn lessens the amount of pollution emitted from using too much energy. However, in order for you to get the most out of using solar power, you need the right kind of lighting that will take your energy-efficient home further. There are certain types of lights that use up more energy than necessary, but there are also lights that are impressively energy efficient. LED lights are among the best and most efficient when it comes to bulbs, so they are fantastic to use when paired with solar panels. They cost more than standard bulbs initially, but they use an incredibly small amount of electricity to run and literally last for many years before they need to be changed. Installing these lights before implementing the solar panels will allow you to be better prepared for the transition and you will be using the perfect amount of energy to light your home.
Appliances
It’s ideal to have appliances that consume the lowest amount of energy possible when your goal is to make your home energy-efficient. Appliances are some of the biggest energy hogs in the home, and they consume plenty of it even when they aren’t running! However, smart appliances are slowly becoming more mainstream because owners are able to select how much energy to consume for various task levels – if you have only a small load of laundry to wash, for example, you can control the amount of water used. A small load will require much less water for washing than a large load would, which means you won’t be wasting any!
Appliances in the home also includes home systems, including HVAC. Maintaining a regular check-up schedule with A-1 Guaranteed professionals will ensure that your system is running as efficiently as possible through the years. If you have any questions, contact your local air conditioning and heating service for more information.
Before installing solar panels, make sure that your home is ready for the new type of energy that is going to be supplied to your home. Make sure lights are not going to use too much energy, air leaks are not going to make your HVAC system work harder, and your appliances will use only the necessary amount of energy.
If you have any questions about your HVAC system and how you may be able to use it more efficiently, contact us today.
