January 23, 2025

Solar installation in 4 steps: A guide for homeowners

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Installing a home solar system can feel like a daunting task, often involving long-term commitments or large investments. However, the rewards of solar are almost always worth it for homeowners in the United States.

While it can be tempting to cut costs and install a photovoltaic (PV) system yourself, residential DIY solar projects are generally not recommended for several reasons. Seeking professional help is advisable to minimize safety risks, design the optimal system for energy bills savings, and to meet the legal requirements in many areas for licensed contractors to obtain solar building permits.

To help guide your project, this article aims to demystify the solar installation process by breaking it down into four easy steps you can take to install a safe, reliable, and productive PV system on your property.

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Finalizing your home’s solar energy system design

Before beginning your installation, you must finalize your system design, determine how you will pay for your project, and sign your contract to officially go solar. While the final stages of your planning should be done with the help of a professional, there are a few things you can do to prepare for home assessments and find the optimal solar system design for your home.

  • Assess your energy needs. Begin by looking at your energy bills to find your annual electricity usage. Besides small grid upkeep and transmission fees in most areas, PV installations can lead to solar savings that eliminate nearly all of your utility energy spending.

     
     
  • Evaluate your home’s solar potential. Your roof may not be suitable for solar if your roofline is completely shaded, only faces north (in the U.S.), or is overly crowded with dormers, vents, and skylights—although adverse conditions can sometimes be overcome. While every property is different, there are millions of American homes already generating solar energy on-site daily, and there are many easy ways to assess your home’s solar potential, such as our system estimator.
  • Gather assessments from multiple professionals. Like with many other home improvement projects, it’s typically best to go solar after weighing options from multiple contractors or companies that serve your area. By working with local solar professionals, you can discover a wider range of contract options and factor in other decision-making influences such as after-sales service and workmanship warranty coverage.

Four steps to home solar installation

The solar installation process officially begins once you finalize your system design, choose a home solar financing option, and select the right company or contractor for the job by signing a contract.

Step 1: Sign your contract and schedule your site assessment

After you sign on the dotted line, most companies will begin the solar installation process with an on-site assessment of your property. During this assessment, your installer will take exact measurements of your building, verify your property's shade conditions, and inspect your roof to ensure the planned installation can be performed safely. If your aging roof needs to be replaced within the next five years, re-roofing is one of the best times to go solar as you can avoid potential costs to remove and re-install your system later.

 

Once your site assessment is conducted, your exact PV system design and site plans can be finalized with the assurance that there will be no surprises waiting to be discovered on installation day.

Step 2: Apply for solar permits and schedule your installation

With site and system plans up to local standards, the next step of the solar installation process is to apply for permits. While many installers will handle this part of the process, homeowners are also welcome to apply for solar building permits in many states, though regulations and requirements vary depending on where you live. In most residential areas, some sort of license—such as construction, electrical, or solar—is required to apply for a solar permit.

For a typical home solar installation, you will need to apply for both a building permit and an interconnection permit. Building permits can be obtained through your city or county government, whichever is the Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ), while interconnection permits are granted by your energy utility.

If no changes are requested to your solar plans, you can then schedule an installation date with your company or contractor. From nearly instantaneous to multiple months, permitting approval times vary greatly across the country, and depend primarily on your location and system complexity.

Step 3: Equipment delivery and physical installation

Following permitting approval, your solar system can legally be installed on your property. For most homeowners, physical solar installations are complete within one to three days, depending on your property’s features, installation complexity, and whether any unexpected delays arise.

Much more than just solar panels, your installation will consist of many additional components, including a mounting and racking system, inverters, wiring, safety features, and optional battery storage. If you find that your roof is not fit for a PV system, you may be able to install a ground-mounted solar system if there's enough available space on your property.

Step 4: Final approvals and system activation

Finally, your solar installation must be approved by a representative from your AHJ and electric utility before it can be activated and interconnected to the local energy grid. This is the most important step of the installation process for the ongoing operation of your system, as it ensures that everything was installed correctly and can safely and reliably generate electricity on your property.

Post-solar installation tips for maximum long-term savings

After your solar panels are installed, you can sit back, relax, and enjoy your savings as your system generates electricity each day the sun shines. To maximize the energy production and long-term savings potential of your solar power system, here are a few quick post-installation tips:

  • Monitor system performance. The performance of most home PV installations can be monitored with a solar monitoring app that shows your system's energy production. Regularly checking this software can help you spot any sudden declines in electricity output that could indicate a problem. With an advanced solar monitoring app, you can find panel-level information to pinpoint potential problems and ensure the ongoing operation and value of your energy system. If you notice a significant change in solar power generation, call a professional, and never attempt any PV system repair yourself.
  • Regular cleaning and timely repairs. Regular solar panel cleaning and maintenance inspections help ensure your system captures as much sunlight as possible and is able to perform at peak efficiency. While heavy rain and snow can help clean solar panel surfaces to some degree seasonally, professional cleaning is recommended to maximize your system’s output in dry summer conditions. Solar panel cleaning is also recommended anytime there is a significant amount of dust, sand, dirt, or debris build-up, visual bird droppings, or something else blocking sunlight from reaching panel surfaces.
  • Continue to conserve energy usage. After going solar, maintaining the same consumption habits and finding ways to increase your home’s energy efficiency can lead to greater long-term savings. In the Enphase App, you can track your home’s electricity usage alongside your solar power production, battery storage levels, and utility bill savings, with total control over your home’s ongoing energy resources, consumption, and costs.

Key insights and how to initiate your solar installation

In short, solar installations can be a bit of an undertaking, but by working with a professional and installing high-quality equipment, the process can be seamless and incredibly valuable to lower your home’s long-term energy expenses and environmental impact.

In finding the ideal solar design and installer, you can customize your installation to maximize your solar production and cost savings, while meeting local building and electrical codes and regulations. After everything is said and done, it will all be worth it once your PV system is up and generating low-cost, emission-free solar electricity for the next 25 years.

Solar installation FAQs

What is the average cost of a home solar installation?

The cost of a solar installation varies widely based on size, location, design, and the complexity of your roof. Across the United States, the average cost of home solar typically falls between $15,000 and $30,000 before solar tax incentives and rebates are applied.

How long does a solar installation take?

For residential solar projects, the physical installation of the panels and other PV components usually takes one to three days, depending on the system’s size, location, and complexity. However, the average time between designing a solar energy system and the day of its installation is usually between three weeks and three months—depending on local permitting processing speeds, installer queues, and unique project variables.

Do I need a permit for solar installation?

Yes, permits are almost always required for a solar installation. While some states have less intensive permitting requirements, you must obtain a permit to install solar panels in most residential areas. This permit can be obtained through your local city or county government and may require a licensed electrician, contractor, or solar professional to qualify, depending on where you live. Grid-tied solar systems also require a permit obtained from the energy utility that supplies your property with electricity.

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