Consult with Experts in the Field
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Do solar panels work in the winter?
Yes solar panels actually work more efficiently in cooler temperatures! Although when it is colder out there tends to be more overcast and as solar panels convert light to electricity, not heat, the overcast is the only thing that will cause them to generate less electricity.
2. Will the panels affect my roof?
We ensure there are no damages done to the roof of your home. We use weather tight fasteners and having panels covering parts of your roof will lengthen the lifespan of the area they cover as the sun won't be deteriorating the shingles or other roof material.
3. How long do panels usually last?
Panels have been known to last on average of 30 years with some lasting over 40 years. We use LG and Canadian Solar solar panels because of their quality panels, well established company and the great warranties they provide.
4. Who is eligible for the SaskPower net metering rebate?
SaskPower has a rebate program valid until Nov. 30, 2021. Under this program, any customer that applies for the SaskPower Net-Metering program to generate their own electricity will receive this rebate. To determine the amount you will receive from your solar system it can be calculated by multiplying your nameplate of the solar system by 61 cents per watt.
(Ex: 10 KW solar system is equivalent to 10,000 Watts. 10,000x.61= $6,100 paid directly to you.)
5. Will hail damage the panels?
Solar panels are extremely robust due to their tempered glass surface design. Having the solar system installed at the preferred 45-degree angle also helps to reduce the chances of hail damage. Since we at Blaze Solar can call Saskatchewan home, anyone that has spent a good amount of time here knows the unexpected can happen in this province. When that once in a decade storm rolls through your location, solar system owners can relax knowing that almost all home insurance companies have now adopted solar systems to their policies for extra piece of mind.
6. How will i monitor how my system is performing?
We include monitoring software when a system is installed. This allows you to see how your solar if performing and if any components fail you can get them warrantied right away and not have any potential energy go missed.
7. What kind of maintenance or upkeep is involved?
There is minimal upkeep with solar. Clearing snow in the winter with a soft brush and clearing dust in the summer is really all that is involved. Keeping an eye on how your array is performing using the monitoring software is also important. It will show you how your panels are performing and if any issues arise with hardware you can know as soon as possibe.
8. How will the system affect my insurance or property taxes?
Most rooftop solar energy systems are covered by standard homeowners policies, which doesn't change your insurance plan. However, you may need to increase the amount of coverage on your home to account for the cost of the system which can then raise your premium.
The property taxes on your home increasing will depend on where you live and this is something we encourage customers to look into after they get a quote and the decision between roof mount and ground mount is determined.
9. Should I wait for the price to go down?
This is a pretty broad question and the short answer would be no, if you can afford it now, it is the best time especially considering the SaskPower rebate is only extended to 2021. Over the last couple decades the cost of installing solar has dropped significantly because the panels have come down in price so much. Now that they are at a point where they are reasonably priced the majority of costs involved is labor, hardware wiring. We all remember things that used to be priced ridiculously then within a couple years were down 300%.
10. Will the system produce electricity in a power outage?
Unfortunately not. If you are using the net metering program and are tied to the grid the system will shut down in time of power outages. This happens for safety reasons so there is not a flow of electricity entering the grid when it may be being worked on. If your desire is to be completely independent of the grid and be self reliant please contact us and we can see what will suite you best.
Yes solar panels actually work more efficiently in cooler temperatures! Although when it is colder out there tends to be more overcast and as solar panels convert light to electricity, not heat, the overcast is the only thing that will cause them to generate less electricity.
2. Will the panels affect my roof?
We ensure there are no damages done to the roof of your home. We use weather tight fasteners and having panels covering parts of your roof will lengthen the lifespan of the area they cover as the sun won't be deteriorating the shingles or other roof material.
3. How long do panels usually last?
Panels have been known to last on average of 30 years with some lasting over 40 years. We use LG and Canadian Solar solar panels because of their quality panels, well established company and the great warranties they provide.
4. Who is eligible for the SaskPower net metering rebate?
SaskPower has a rebate program valid until Nov. 30, 2021. Under this program, any customer that applies for the SaskPower Net-Metering program to generate their own electricity will receive this rebate. To determine the amount you will receive from your solar system it can be calculated by multiplying your nameplate of the solar system by 61 cents per watt.
(Ex: 10 KW solar system is equivalent to 10,000 Watts. 10,000x.61= $6,100 paid directly to you.)
5. Will hail damage the panels?
Solar panels are extremely robust due to their tempered glass surface design. Having the solar system installed at the preferred 45-degree angle also helps to reduce the chances of hail damage. Since we at Blaze Solar can call Saskatchewan home, anyone that has spent a good amount of time here knows the unexpected can happen in this province. When that once in a decade storm rolls through your location, solar system owners can relax knowing that almost all home insurance companies have now adopted solar systems to their policies for extra piece of mind.
6. How will i monitor how my system is performing?
We include monitoring software when a system is installed. This allows you to see how your solar if performing and if any components fail you can get them warrantied right away and not have any potential energy go missed.
7. What kind of maintenance or upkeep is involved?
There is minimal upkeep with solar. Clearing snow in the winter with a soft brush and clearing dust in the summer is really all that is involved. Keeping an eye on how your array is performing using the monitoring software is also important. It will show you how your panels are performing and if any issues arise with hardware you can know as soon as possibe.
8. How will the system affect my insurance or property taxes?
Most rooftop solar energy systems are covered by standard homeowners policies, which doesn't change your insurance plan. However, you may need to increase the amount of coverage on your home to account for the cost of the system which can then raise your premium.
The property taxes on your home increasing will depend on where you live and this is something we encourage customers to look into after they get a quote and the decision between roof mount and ground mount is determined.
9. Should I wait for the price to go down?
This is a pretty broad question and the short answer would be no, if you can afford it now, it is the best time especially considering the SaskPower rebate is only extended to 2021. Over the last couple decades the cost of installing solar has dropped significantly because the panels have come down in price so much. Now that they are at a point where they are reasonably priced the majority of costs involved is labor, hardware wiring. We all remember things that used to be priced ridiculously then within a couple years were down 300%.
10. Will the system produce electricity in a power outage?
Unfortunately not. If you are using the net metering program and are tied to the grid the system will shut down in time of power outages. This happens for safety reasons so there is not a flow of electricity entering the grid when it may be being worked on. If your desire is to be completely independent of the grid and be self reliant please contact us and we can see what will suite you best.