Despite what you might have heard, there are lots of great reasons to switch to solar power in your home or business. Call American Plumbing today!

Solar power is quickly becoming one of the most popular alternative energy sources for many homes and businesses all over the world. Considering that heating and cooling are some of the most expensive utilities for average households, it is no wonder why more and more people are making the switch. However, energy companies will do just about anything to keep us addicted to nonrenewable fossil fuels that cost us more in the long run and do irreversible damage to our environment. Because of this rising popularity, there has been a lot of misinformation spread about solar power in the past few years, but American Plumbing has the years of knowledge and expertise to make sure you’re getting the truth! Let’s go over the facts –

Myth 1 – You Should Wait on the Technology

In this day and age we’re always so quick to equally hype and ridicule emerging technologies before we even get a chance to try them, the prevailing thought being that there’s always going to be that next best thing to blow our current technology out of the water. To that end, many have claimed that the current solar technology is not as efficient as it will be in the near future and urge people to wait on making the switch. However, solar technology has remained largely the same since its introduction in the 1960s. Unlike your smartphone, solar technology isn’t going to require a complete update every few years,so if the fear of your solar unit becoming obsolete is keeping you from making the jump to a cleaner and more efficient way of living, then don’t believe the hype! Once installed, your solar panels won’t need replacing for several decades.   

Myth 2 – Solar Power Requires Bright, Sunny Climates

Another popular misconception is that solar energy requires bright, sunny climates in order to work efficiently. However, solar panels generate power perfectly in ambient light, fog, and even overcast weather. Believe it or not, most solar panels actually work more efficiently in cooler temperatures with steady and mild solar radiation than in environments that are hotter and brighter. For example, Germany, which is not known for a particularly hot or sunny climate, leads the world is residential solar power.

Myth 3 – Solar Panels Require Constant Maintenance

Simply untrue. The types of solar panels used for residences and most business have no moving parts and therefore require little to no regular maintenance. The only recommendation made by most manufacturers is that the owner simply rinse the panels off with a hose once a year, although owners who experience a fair amount of rain probably won’t even have to do that. Even if the panels do get particularly dirty, their energy efficiency is only likely to drop by about 5%  and often the installer will link a monitoring system that alerts them to any drop in output before you know about it yourself!

Myth 4 – It’s Too Expensive

Wrong again! We hear this one all the time and it couldn’t be further from the truth. While many see solar power as exclusive to the wealthy and/or environmentally-minded, it’s actually readily affordable for most families and businesses and can even lower your energy bills in the long run. Long gone are the days of large upfront installation costs and other prohibitive fees. These days, solar energy can even prepare for itself. In fact, recent studies have shown that solar panels take a maximum of 7 to 15 years to pay for themselves completely and sometimes as short as only 2 to 4 years. Also, many states now offer tax incentives for those who choose to use solar power, so depending on where you live you may be able to save even more.
Myth 5 – Solar Panels Will Look Ugly on MY Home or Business

A very practical concern, but not one you need to be worried about. Over the past decade or so, there has been an increase in environmental awareness in both social and economic terms. That being said, solar panels have become largely more accepted as of late and are largely regarded as an improvement wherever they’re found as opposed to a blemish. For instance, where many homeowners associations used to frown upon solar panels, many have changed their viewpoint completely and have made the transition in droves. Indeed, the panels themselves have also become less intrusive over the years and won’t be an eyesore on your roof. Some are even indistinguishable from traditional shingles. And unlike pools and decks, the addition of solar panels can actually increase the resale value of your property without incurring any additional property taxes!

Despite what you might have heard, there are lots of great reasons to switch to solar power in your home or business. If you’re interested in saving money and helping the environment by switching to solar power , the call us at American Plumbing today!

Solar Power