Does My Home Get Enough Sun for Solar Panels?

Every year, the average homeowner spends $1,200 on electricity bills. Wouldn’t it be great if we could instead generate free electricity? You can do it; if you go for the home solar panels system installation.

You should be able to do some research on your own before scheduling solar evaluations; to see if solar panels are a good fit for you. Let’s see if your house is a good fit for solar energy.

Also Read: – Does Solar Power Really Save Your Electricity Bill?

What Factors Affect the Sunlight on your Solar Panels?

Solar panels allow you to harness the sun’s energy and use it to power your home. These panels can also help you save a lot of money on your utility bills. However, you should consider whether your home’s solar panels will be able to produce enough energy consistently before purchasing them. Is there enough sunlight for solar panels to be installed on my house? If you’re still undecided, consider the following factors when deciding whether or not to purchase these panels:

• What kind of roof do you have?

Solar panels systems are best used with roofing materials that are strong and long-lasting, such as composite or asphalt shingles, concrete tile, or standing seam metal. You can still go solar with roofing materials like wood shake and slate tile, as well as roofs made of clay with mortar or composite metal/stone coated steel, but you’ll need to hire a solar installer who has experience installing solar panels on those types of roofs.

• Calculate your Sun Hours

The number of daylight hours in your area isn’t always a good indicator of whether or not your home gets enough light. Instead, concentrate on the hours when the sun is at its brightest. So before solar system installation, on a typical day, try to calculate your sun hours; this refers to the amount of sunlight that can be used to generate energy. Peak sun hours are when the sun is at its highest point in the sky.

Weather Conditions

In some areas, weather conditions change frequently, affecting the amount of energy solar panels can generate. You can expect your solar panels to produce more energy if you live in an area with a lot of clear, sunny days. Keep in mind that solar panels can generate energy even when the weather is cloudy. On cloudy days, however, they typically produce less electricity or energy overall. Knowing how many sunny days your area gets compared to cloudy or rainy days can help you figure out if your solar panels will get enough sunlight.

Also Read: – Do Solar Panels Work in the Winter Season in California?

Trees, Building, and Shading

While the weather may appear to be the most important factor in determining whether or not solar panels will work on your property, local sources of shading may be more difficult to overcome. Solar panels require direct sunlight to function properly, and shading prevents this. Trees, buildings, nearby hills or mountains, and even thin power lines can have an impact on the number of sun hours your solar panels receive each day.

Roof Pitch and Direction

When determining whether your home receives enough sunlight for solar panels, you should also consider the pitch and direction of your roof. Roof surfaces that face south receive the most sunlight, while roof surfaces that face north receive the least. Roof surfaces facing west and east typically receive enough sunlight for solar panels, though they receive less sunlight than roof surfaces facing south. Keep in mind that if more solar panels are needed, you can add them to these sides of your roof.

Also Read: – Do You Need a Home Roof Replacement for Solar Panels? – 5 Commonly Asked Questions.

How Many Hours of Sunlight for Solar Panels need?

Your solar panels should get about four or five hours of direct sunlight in the best-case scenario. Between 10 AM. and 3 PM., that sunlight should reach your panels. So you’ll know how much Sun for solar power you need.

The sun is at its highest point, and the rays are at their most direct. If there are any sources of shading on your property that block the sun from reaching your panels during those hours, you should look into how you can reduce the shade before installing solar panels. Your installation company will be able to assist you in locating these impediments.

Final thoughts – 

Solar panels system do not require a specific amount of sunlight for home. Solar has proven to be a reliable energy source and profitable investment even in the cloudiest parts of the United States, if not the entire world.
To get an accurate idea of whether or not you’re a good candidate for solar; get in touch with solar companies in California,  to receive more guidance.