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FAQ: HELPING YOU UNDERSTAND THE FUTURE OF PHILADELPHIA SOLAR ENERGY

Homeowner Care:

What Happens When I Want To Sell My House? - The next buyer will be able to benefit from the reduced electric cost and will be anxious to keep the equipment in place. The lenders will also not object to the equipment which eventually will become quite common. The value to new buyers will increase over time as the Peco rates continue to increase and the UEE rates remain flat increasing the sale price of the home.

How Does Solar Affect My Home's Value? - Solar can significantly increase the value of your home.

How Much Weight Will The Solar System Put on My Roof? - Solar electric systems usually add less than four pounds per square foot.

Will It Affect My Roof Warranty? - UEE will warrant all roof installations and not void the roof warranty.

Will Your Systems Work On My Roof? - You can put a solar system on almost all roof types including composite, wood shake, cement tile, S-tile, tar & gravel, and metal. Flat roofs are ideal.

How Much Roof Space Is Required? - For every kilowatt (kW) installed, a solar system takes up about 100 square feet, so an average solar system takes between 300 and 600 square feet.

Solar Questions:

How Much Sun Do I Need? - The more sun your solar system gets, the better return you'll get on your money. Philadelphia is situated very well to make efficient use of Solar energy. We can often tell by looking at a satellite image using google or a similar program to see if your roof gets enough sun to make solar cost-effective. Other times you have to get an onsite consultation to have someone check out your roof in person.

Can I Add Panels Later? - Adding panels is possible but it can be complicated. Inverters and solar panels are designed to "fit together" like puzzle pieces. Because there's an ideal number of solar panels that should be hooked up to a specific inverter, a whole mini system - solar panels and inverter - would most likely need to be added if you want to add panels. And, you'd probably need to add at least 2kW. In many cases it's better to oversize your system a bit if you think you'll need more electricity in the next few years.

How Long Do Solar Electric Systems Last? - Most solar systems are predicted to last anywhere between 25 and 35 years. Most manufacturers guarantee that, in 25 years, your panels will make 80% of the electricity they did in the first year.

What If The Equipment Breaks? - The equipment is warranted not only by UEE but also by the manufacturers including Sanyo for 25 years, 5 more than the lease term.

If The Power Goes Out Will My Solar System Keep Making Energy? - No. For safety reasons, your solar system will automatically shut off if the power goes out.

Installation and Maintenance:

What Kind Of Maintenance Will Be Needed For My Solar System? - Many homeowners think that solar systems are maintenance-free, but this isn't true. Most solar electric systems have no moving parts so they don't have many mechanical problems, but there's regular maintenance that needs to occur and plenty of other things that can go wrong during the 20 year lease. UEE will handle all of your maintenance needs.

If I Have An Old Philadelphia Roof, Should I get My Roof Repaired Before I Put Panels On? - Ideally, you should install solar panels on a roof that is in good condition. When we come out to inspect your home prior to installation, we will check to make sure that your roof is suitable for a solar installation and the condition of the roof will be noted and agreed upon with you.

What Should I Do If I Need To Make Roof Repairs After The Solar Installation? - If you should ever need to make repairs on the roof, the solar panels will need to be removed and re-installed. UEE will provide this service of removing and re-installing at our sole cost.

How Long Does The Installation Take? - From start to finish should take a day or two until you are fully up and running and watching the meter do a “UEE”.

What About Installation Permits? - UEE will through subcontractors obtain any required permits, underwriter approvals and inspections.

Weather Related:

What's The Best Weather For My Solar System? - The best weather for making the most solar power is a sunny but cool day.

What Happens In Rain And Fog? - It doesn't have to be sunny for your panels to work because it's the UV rays that do the trick. In fog or on a cloudy day, your system will produce 25%-30% of what it normally would.

What Happens When It Snows? - Right after a snow storm, when your panels are covered, they won't produce power. But because solar panels are installed where there's the most sun, that's where the snow will melt first. Plus, snow easily slides off of panels and the reflection off the white snow can even increase how much power your system makes.

What Happens To Solar Panels In Hail? - Most solar panels are guaranteed to withstand 3/4 inch hail balls at 120 miles per hour.

What Happens If Lightening Strikes A Solar Panel? - Almost all solar panels are designed to withstand lightning.