Thank You
 

Thanks for the heads up

The warranty is only as good as the company putting them up
 

Unfortunately most of the companies that install go out of business after 2 or 3 years and those that don't may take 6 months or 12 months to act to get around to fixing your problems

Where we moved from in Virginia, many of my neighbors were getting solar panels on their roofs. These were the ones that fed excess power back to the electric company and wound your meter backwards (my description). I spoke with one of my neighbors who had this done. He reported that there was a $5.00 monthly charge for this service and many months that was the only charge on his electric bill. Your roof had to be relatively new for the panels to be installed. We needed our roof replaced and a friend of a friend did it for us. He said most of his business now was replacing roofs prior to solar install but he worked us in because he knew us.

Plenty of news report out of Orlando of panel companies leaky damaged roofs.. also was some sub contracting involved some didn’t even finish job and when the did didn’t work. I would make sure do good research before hiring any company out or town especially out of state. Neighbor close has them I guess they are working? At his age he will probably be gone before he breaks even? My son has them in Illinois they work for him, mainly the both work from day light to almost dark so no power being used during day. Time will tell if they still working and he recoups his investment? So, far pays very little electricity bill in Illinois and that’s saying something in that heavily taxed state.

Tinker.....Solar panels do not make financial sense anywhere in the country, not just here in Florida. Not to mention the panels look unsightly and deface the home. I would not want holes in my roof for the installation of the panels. The panels are a lose lose situation from my POV.

I didn't realize the panels can be economical as they were in CT. I still would not have them installed for other reasons I mentioned.

I agree. It makes no sense to attach solar panels to an expensive roof. You are just asking for leaks and other problems. No one has commented on how you can repair a roof leak when you have solar panels. I doubt that a roofer will attempt to repair a roof that has solar panels on it.

It wasn't worth commenting on, but.....

There are likely more leaks from the six or more roof penetrations on each of our roofs or the additional penetrations for garage fans and solar tubes than there are from professionally-installed solar panels.

There are videos on how a homeowner can repair a leak from a solar panel installation. I haven't watched them but the technique must be similar to that used for any other installation (solar pool heater, antenna, solar lighting tube, oven hood vent, hot water heater vent, garage fan, attic vent, etc). Patching a hole on a roof is not a new thing and a hole from a bolt holding a solar panel is not significantly different.

You "doubt that a roofer would attempt to repair a roof that has solar panels on it." I doubt you would have any trouble at all finding a professional to do a job. Recognizing that neither of us have solar panels or, apparently, know anyone who does, let's stop speculating and hear from someone who does.

I would just mention that there was another poster on another thread that had a small roof leak under a solar panel, and he had no idea how to get it repaired. Any roofer will be happy to make a small repair if it involves a typical roof penetration, like a pipe or a duct. But removing expensive solar panels is an entirely different situation. Most homeowners will not even attempt to go on their roof. Very dangerous.

Analysis
 

I was thinking about doing the same analysis. Since you have already done it, would you mind sharing it? Yes, my situation may be somewhat differnet, but probably similar to yours.

Thanks

Solar disaster
 

Florida is going down the same path California did. It is a disaster in California and will be in Florida. When too many people and companies go solar, electric companies will complain that their revenue is falling off. They will request and get rate hikes. Avoid solar. If you do get it, avoid the lithium battery in your garage unless you have AC running on it 24/7.

Home Solar is great. It's the Aluminum Siding business for this century.

The Rooftop Solar Industry Could Be On the Verge of Collapse | TIME

https://www.washingtonpost.com/busin...climate-china/

Coloradans accuse Xcel Energy of dragging its feet on solar installations to protect its profits - CBS Colorado

Attorney general's office investigates surge of solar panel installation complaints • Iowa Capital Dispatch

Access to this page has been denied

https://projects.newsday.com/long-is...es-complaints/

https://rhodeislandcurrent.com/2024/...iness-climate/

https://calmatters.org/environment/2...solar-payment/

https://www.ilec.coop/post/complaints-over-solar-rise

https://www.solarreviews.com/blog/so...ut-of-business

Yes, because it’s a good idea for a 65 or 70 year old to climb on their roof, around solar panels to fix a leak.

When we did the math on solar the payback was 15 years. So for 15 years you actually don't save a dime, that's just getting back to even.

Not worth is for us at this point in our lives.

With a 15-year payback period, it isn't worth it for anyone.

In the mid 70's while living in Texas I got a phone call from a telemarketer selling aluminum siding. I told her that I had a brick home, and she came back with "Oh, we can install the siding over the brick".

Either she is clueless or nobody bothered to train her before unleashing on customers

When they renovated the old Seelbach Hotel in Louisville, built in 1905, they discovered that the marble columns in the lobby had been covered with drywall.

We didn't have central air, and our heat was oil. So our electric bill was really only horrible during the heat waves, when we used 3 window air conditioners at full blast just to cool off our 1957-built 1100-square-foot house with an attic roof that didn't have an exhaust fan or ridge vent. Even then, it didn't get more than $200 in August or July. Meanwhile our oil heat was insanely expensive, so we felt like we were getting a break in the summer, when the heat was shut off.

We actually did look into the possibility of converting to electric heat and central air, and having solar panels power it. But the cost for all of that would've been over $100,000 up front. Would've needed new ductwork and vent systems, removing the oil tank, getting a new furnace, etc. etc. etc.

As ridiculous as it sounds, plenty of "brick buildings" were covered with Vinyl (& I assume some aluminum), back in the 70's. "Brick" was out of style and Vinyl Siding was the "in thing", for a "new, fresh look".

I just had a talk with the door-to-door guy...
He was a very fast talker.

I think what they are selling is "free" panels that they put up, and maintain, and then they own the juice they produce, and the benefit to the homeowner is maybe a few cents or dollars off of the bill.

Kind of fuzzy information about their "relationship" with SECO....Nice lad. Very smooth.
I am not inclined to proceed.