Is my home Solar ready?

With the renewed interest in grid tie solar in Manitoba with 2 rebates up for grabs totalling a wapping $10,000 (depending on system size) the first question you may be asking yourself is, is solar the right investment for me?

Solar is a great way to generate energy in a sustainable manner and reduce your monthly electricity but First things first, is your home solar ready? This question isn’t as complicated as it seems. We have broken down a few common questions that you may have to know if your home is ready for a solar installation.

What kind of Roof do I need for Solar panels?

The ideal roof space is south facing with no shading, that being said there are a lot of work arounds to ensure we capitalize on your roof space if your roof isn’t totally south facing.

A common misunderstanding is that your roof direction is the only factor that needs to be considered when going solar, which is far from the truth. A major consideration is the structure of your roof, is it sound enough to handle the weight of your newest installation? Don’t worry, with every roof mount Vibes Energy enlists the help of our professional structural engineers to ensure the structure could support the additional loads. The engineers assessment will include design methods to brace and support existing roof trusses if necessary.

How many solar panels do I need?

This is a tough question to answer. Each home has its own habits and routines that vary their energy consumption. The average Canadian household consumes 11,135KwH of energy per year which averages a 9KW solar system. Keep in mind the more energy your home consumes, the more energy you will want to offset, which means the more expensive your system will be. To keep costs down, you can try to curb your energy habits.

In order for us to answer this question properly, we need a few things from you: your home’s energy consumption for 12 months, and your address to give you an ideal system size.

Do I need to upgrade my service panel?

It’s possible you may need an upgrade, during our initial site visit we will take a look at your current electrical service and main electrical panel busbar rating to advise you on your options. Upgrades are more crucial for homes and businesses that have outdated electrical setups. When we commence installing your solar system, the inverter which is the brains of the systems, is directly connected to a circuit breaker. Most residential homes currently have at least a 100 amp service which should be sufficient for your solar system however if you are considering any major additions such as an electric vehicle in the near future, we may recommend a 200 amp service upgrade.

What can I do to avoid shadows and obstacles on my roof?

We do our best to use satellite and AI technologies to predict and avoid obstacles and shadows on your roof but sometimes a little Landscaping may enhance your system’s energy output. If you have large trees that are casting large shadows on the south facing part of your roof, we recommend pruning down the trees.

Alternatively some residential roofs have shadows that vary throughout the day. In this case scenario, we would use micro inverters or power optimizer technology to decrease the negative side effects of the shadows on the solar array.

This article is designed as a guideline to help you navigate your pre-solar journey. We don’t recommend rushing into any of these steps without getting an initial site visit as some of these steps may not be necessary for you. As always, we are here to help, just hit that contact button and we will respond to your email within 24-48 hours.

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