This is a common question especially in New England. Many question how effective your solar panels can be in the winter. While there is a difference in the production during the summer and winter months the difference is not as significant as you would believe. 

We are here to answer your questions and put an end to myths of solar in the winter. 

Solar in the Winter

• Will I still produce energy in the winter? 

• Yes, you will! Your system may have reduced output during the winter months due to shorter days and snow accumulation on top of your panels but overall your system will continue to produce energy and savings throughout the winter. Our team also considers the full year production in each design so your solar installation will produce enough energy to account for any inclement weather or lack of daylight in the winter. 

• What’s the benefit of having solar in the winter? 

• Your solar panels can actually operate more efficiently in the colder winter months. Just like other electronic devices your solar panels work better in colder temperatures than hotter temperatures. The best way to think about your solar production is to remember the amount of sun your panels will be exposed to for the entire year rather than on a single day or season. 

• Can I get solar installed in the winter? 

• Yes you can! Solar installation demand is usually lowest in the winter months which could lead to cheaper installation prices and a quicker installation time as you won’t be competing with homeowners looking to install solar during the spring and summer. At Isaksen Solar, our crews are trained to safely install in the winter and are able to go on your roof as long as it is not covered in ice and it is not actively snowing or raining. Getting your solar installed in winter will also guarantee that you are producing energy in the peak production seasons. 

Solar and Snow

• Can my panels produce power when there is snow on them? 

  • No, your solar panels will not produce energy when they are covered in a thick layer of snow. However, your panels will shed the snow very quickly due to the angle they are installed at and their slick glass surface. Also, depending on the type of panel you have installed, your solar system will begin to produce power as the snow begins to melt. An added benefit of snowfall is that the snow on the ground can reflect additional sunlight onto your panels adding to your production. 

• Do panels emit heat to melt snow?

  • They do not include a heating system and the panels mostly absorb the sun’s light and not much of its heat. However, the snow that is on the panels tends to melt quicker than the rest of the roof as it does absorb enough heat to start the melting process which will cause the snow to slide off of the panels quicker than the rest of your roof.

• Do I need to clean snow off my panels? 

  • No you do not. Cleaning snow off of your panels may damage them. Also the panels are likely in difficult and dangerous areas to access. Don’t worry though, as solar panel arrays are built to withstand a significant amount of weight. At the worst, snow will last no more than a few days on your panels. It is alot more likely that you will see snow-free solar panels while the rest of the roof is still covered in snow.

If you are interested in learning more about Isaksen Solar or seeing if your home is a fit for solar give us a call or start your free home solar quote!

Should I Get Solar Panels?: A Quick Guide To Buying Solar Panels For Your Home

Benefits of Purchasing Solar Panels

• Monthly Savings On Your Electricity Bills 
• The biggest motivator for homeowners to switch to solar is seeing an immediate savings in their next monthly electricity bill once they are installed. Across the country electricity prices continue to rise at historic rates. This is why solar in Massachusetts has become so popular. As of Feburary 2022, Massachusetts has the 4th highest electricity rates in the country. Rhode Island solar panels are also popular as they have the 5th highest electricity rates. Homeowners looking for ways to save money have found solar panels are an efficient solution that creates long-term savings. Instead of paying the local electricity company for your energy supply you are supplying your own energy from your roof or ground mount solar panels. Your solar panel installation will create enough energy to cover your monthly electricity usage so you no longer need to pay your energy provider for their energy. This means the constantly increasing electricity bill you have will now be delivered with ‘No Payment Due’ and in some cases adding credits to your account for overproduction! 
• Lifetime Of Financial and Environmental Savings 
• With solar panels those monthly savings turn into lifetime savings and a meaningful contribution to helping the environment. By creating your own energy through purchasing solar panels, you avoid paying rising electricity rates that change with the price of natural gas. In most cases, you pay a locked-in rate or loan fee for the lifetime of your solar panels. In 2022, the average price of electricity rose 7.5% from 2021, which meant more expensive electricity bills. With solar in Massachusetts, everytime the price increase that is additional savings for your household since your price stays the same. Once your solar panels are paid off, your electricity is completely free. Over the 25 year lifetime of solar panels that could equal $60,000 in savings. The additional benefit to buying solar panels is the reduction of CO2 emissions since you no longer rely on natural gas. One solar panel can offset have the same CO2 offset as planting 10 mature trees. For the average home that produces 7,000 Watts of solar power, this is the same as planting 180 trees a year. For this reason solar panels is the most significant way to decrease your carbon footprint without disrupting your current way of life. 
• Option To Lease Solar Panels or Purchase Solar Panels 
• How much money you will save on your solar panels depends on your choice to lease or buy solar panels. If you lease your solar panels then you will not have any upfront cost. Instead of paying a large sum upfront, you get panels on your roof and a locked in monthly payment. This monthly payment will be less than your current electricity bill. However, leasing solar panels can open the door for increased payments in the future if your lease agreement forces you to pay for increases in electiricty rates as the price of energy increases. 
• When you purchase solar panels there is an upfront cost which is usually paid for with a loan or cash. However, the total cost of solar will be offset by solar incentives. There are both federal solar tax credits and Massachusetts solar incentives available. These programs will decrease the total cost of solar panels and increase your savings each month and over the lifetime of your solar panels. When leasing solar panels, homeowners do not qualify for these incentives or the ability to create credits which adds up to a lot of added money over the lifetime of your solar panel installation. 
• How Much Do Solar Panels Cost? 
• Every home solar panel installation is unique. There are a lot of factors that go into determining how much solar panels will cost you. The key factors are how much energy you use, how many panels your home can support, whether you lease vs buy solar panels and what solar incentives you qualify for. The only way to know the price you will pay to install solar panels will be to get a solar quote. At Isaksen Solar, we quote solar for your home at your consultation free of charge. 
• Truth About Solar Panels
• We understand buying solar panels can be a major decision for homeowners. That is why the most important part of installing solar panels should be to find the best solar companies in MA and RI. A search of “solar companies near me” is a good starting point. The goal for every homeowner should be to find a solar company they trust. Whether its MA solar or RI solar panels, where to buy solar panels is an important question to answer. At Isaksen Solar, we aim to make the home solar panels process as simple as possible and answer all your questions.