So you’re ready for your residential solar energy system installation. How long will it be before your PV project is complete?
The answer depends on the size and complexity of your photovoltaic installation. It may also depend on the experience and commitment of your solar installer.
Solar panel installation projects typically take between one and three months from start to finish.
The good news is that most of this time is in the planning — not on your rooftop.
Once you sign a solar installation contract, your professional contractor will get to work finalizing the design and ordering your photovoltaic components.
Then there’s the paperwork. Home PV installations usually require building permits, specific to where you live. Your contractor will obtain any necessary permits, but that can take a week or longer if the local building department is backed up.
In addition, your photovoltaic installer will compile all the documentation needed for you to apply for the federal solar tax credit and any available state or local financial incentives.
Once you’re all set with the proper paperwork, the nuts and bolts of your residential solar installation can get underway.
In most cases, mounting the photovoltaic panels is a relatively quick and simple process. Smaller home PV systems can often be installed in single day.
Large rooftop solar arrays or hybrid systems with battery storage are more complex, so those installations take longer to complete. Still, most residential projects are done in just a few days.
However, that doesn’t necessarily mean your photovoltaic array will begin powering your home immediately. If you remain connected to the grid, a representative from the utility company will need to inspect your PV system. In some locations, the city building inspector may also need to sign off.
You can expect to wait at least a week for utility company approval. In some areas, getting this signoff can take a month or more
When you work with a professional photovoltaic company, installing a residential solar energy system won’t disturb your daily life.
Sure, installation day may be a bit noisy and frenzied, with workers up on your roof. But aside from signing a few documents, you and your family won’t be bothered. You can go about your regular routine.
Professional contractors do everything possible to make solar installation convenient for homeowners. No doubt about it, switching to solar power is a home improvement project that won’t give you a headache.
The professional team at Intermountain Wind & Solar, the region’s leading photovoltaic installer, takes pride in providing exceptional customer service and top-quality workmanship to homeowners and business owners throughout Utah, Idaho, Nevada, Colorado and Wyoming. Contact us today to schedule your free consultation for residential solar energy.
"All of the photos on this website are of real projects that Intermountain Wind & Solar has designed and installed.
We are proud to show off and stand behind our work."
