While the solar panels themselves will naturally be a huge part of your considerations when purchasing a solar power system for your home or building, it's important to realize that they aren't the only relevant components at play in many such settings. There are a few others that will often play a huge role in the basic operations and value generation of your system, and knowing about them as well is very important.
At Intermountain Wind & Solar, we're happy to assist with a huge range of both residential and commercial solar power needs for clients around Utah, including not just the panels themselves, but the entire setup your home or building will require. What are some of the top accessories you should likely be thinking about for your solar power system, including some our pros may recommend to you directly? Here's a basic rundown.
Likely the single solar power appliance that's growing most in popularity at this time is the solar battery, and for good reason. This is an appliance that can store solar energy collected during the daytime so that it can be used even when the sun isn't out. That way, you won't have to rely as much on your backup power source, whether that's the grid or a generator.
Solar batteries come in all shapes and sizes, so it's important to speak with a pro about the specific needs of your solar power system before making any decisions. But battery backup is an increasingly popular option that can really help you feel more confident and comfortable in your use of solar power overall.
At Intermountain, it's our pride to offer the Tesla Powerwall battery backup, an industry-leading product that we feel confident in recommending to all of our clients.
When solar panels are mounted on the roof of your home or building, they're generally applied in a way that leaves a small space under each panel. This allows for any debris that collects to simply roll off the roof rather than becoming stuck or building up over time.
However, in some areas, it's also not uncommon for small animals or insects to find their way under these panels and start building nests. This can obviously cause all sorts of problems, including potential damage to your solar panels themselves.
For that reason, we always recommend the use of critter guards for any home or business owner with rooftop solar panels. These are simply wire mesh screens that can be installed over the spaces under your panels, keeping any small creatures out while still allowing for ventilation and debris removal.
Even if you haven't had major pest or rodent issues in the past, it's always better to be safe than sorry - and critter guards are an extremely affordable way to do just that.
The actual process of mounting solar panels to your roof or another surface will obviously vary depending on the specifics of your project. But in all cases, it's important to make sure that you're using high-quality, durable mounts that can really keep your panels in place for the long haul.
There are all sorts of different solar panel mounts on the market these days, so again, it's important to work with a professional to figure out which ones will best suit your needs. But at Intermountain, we're confident in the quality of the products we offer, and we're always happy to help our clients choose the right mounts for their needs.
Speaking of mounting accessories, edge skirts are specifically meant to help obscure or even entirely hide the exposed edges of your solar panels. This can obviously be important for aesthetic reasons, but it can also serve a functional purpose in some cases.
For example, if your solar panels are mounted close to the edge of your roofline, an edge skirt can help to prevent any water or debris from getting behind the panel and causing problems. They're generally very affordable and easy to install, so they're definitely worth considering.
Another area that's growing in popularity in big ways in recent years is the electric vehicle industry, which obviously has a lot of overlap with solar power. More and more people are making the switch to EVs these days, and as a result, there's an increasing demand for solar-powered EV chargers.
If you're considering making the switch to an electric vehicle, or if you already have one, it's definitely worth looking into the possibility of getting a solar EV charger. These can be a great way to maximize the efficiency of your solar power system, and they're becoming more and more affordable all the time.
Another hugely important accessory for solar power systems is the solar inverter, which essentially acts as a go-between for your solar panels and the rest of your home or building. The inverter takes the Direct Current (DC) power generated by your solar panels and converts it into Alternating Current (AC) power, which is the kind of power that's used by nearly all homes and businesses.
Inverters are generally very reliable, but they can occasionally run into problems - which is why we always recommend working with a professional to get yours installed. That way, you can be sure that it's done right and that you have someone to turn to if you ever run into any issues.
Intermountain Wind and Solar is proud to be at the forefront of the solar industry in Utah, and we're always happy to help our clients find the best possible products and accessories. For more on this area, or to learn about any of our Utah solar panel services, speak to our staff today.
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