See if solar makes sense for your home
Own your house, get good sun on the roof, and pay more than $100 a month for power? Call and get connected with an independent solar provider who serves your area. They look at your roof and bills and explain your options.
Call to see if your home qualifies(877) 565-3409Home Solar Line connects you with an independent solar provider. We don't sell or install anything ourselves. Calls may be recorded.
- Free call
- No forms to fill out
- Independent local providers
- No obligation
Who this is for
Check all five before you call:
- You own the home (not renting)
- It's a single-family house or townhouse
- The roof gets full sun or only light shade
- Your power bill is over $100 a month
- The home doesn't already have solar panels
Renting, in a condo, apartment or mobile home, under heavy shade, or already have panels? This line can't help with those, so please don't call.
What happens when you call
- Answer a few quick questionsDo you own the home, how much is your power bill, how sunny is the roof.
- Get connectedIf your home fits, you're put through to an independent solar provider who serves your area.
- Talk it through, then decideThey look at your roof and usage and explain options. No obligation to buy.
How home solar works
Panels make power from sunlight
Panels on the roof turn daylight into direct-current (DC) electricity. They work on cloudy days too, just with less output.
An inverter makes it usable
A central inverter, or small microinverters under each panel, converts that power into the alternating current (AC) your home runs on.
Your home uses it first
Solar power goes to whatever is running in the house at that moment: air conditioning, the fridge, lights.
Extra goes to the grid or a battery
What you don't use flows back to the utility, which credits it under its own rules, or charges a battery if you have one.
At night you draw from the grid
After sundown you pull power from the utility as usual, or from a battery. Most solar homes stay connected to the grid.
Your bill changes, it rarely disappears
Expect a smaller bill in most months, plus utility connection charges that solar doesn't remove.
Want to know how this would work on your roof? Call and ask.
Call (877) 565-3409What affects the cost of solar
Roof size, direction and pitch
South- and west-facing roof planes usually produce the most. Small, chopped-up roofs fit fewer panels and cost more per panel to install.
Shade
Trees, chimneys and neighboring buildings cut output. A heavily shaded roof is usually not a good candidate at all.
How much power you use
The system is sized to your yearly usage. Bigger bills mean a bigger system, and usually more to gain.
Utility rates and export rules
What your utility charges, and how it credits power you send back, decide how much a system actually saves.
Equipment choices
Panel brand, inverter type and whether you add a battery all change the price and the warranty you get.
Roof condition
Panels last decades. If the roof needs replacing soon, many providers suggest doing it first so the panels don't come off later.
Permits and interconnection
Local permits, inspections and utility paperwork are part of every job. Ask who handles them and whether they're in the price.
Incentives where you live
Incentives vary by state, utility and town, and they change. A provider can explain which, if any, apply to your address.
Want real numbers for your house? Call and talk to a provider about your roof and bills.
Call (877) 565-3409Buy, finance or lease
Pay cash
Highest upfront cost, and you own the system outright. Every dollar it saves is yours, and it can add to the home's value.
Solar loan
You own the system and pay it off over time. Compare the interest rate, the term and any dealer fees baked into the price.
Lease or PPA
A company owns the panels on your roof and you pay a monthly amount or a rate per kWh. Low upfront cost, but read the escalator and what happens if you sell.
Questions to ask any solar provider
- Do you install with your own crew, or use subcontractors?
- Can I see your contractor license and proof of insurance?
- How much will the system produce in a year, and what shade and usage assumptions is that based on?
- What warranties cover the panels, the inverter, the workmanship and any roof penetrations?
- What is the total price, and the price per watt?
- If I finance, what are the rate, the term and any fees? If I lease, is there a yearly escalator?
- Who pulls the permits and handles the utility interconnection?
- What happens to the system or the contract if I sell the house?
- How will I monitor production, and who do I call if it drops?
Ready to find out if your home is a fit?
One free call. Tell a provider about your roof and your bills, and decide from there.
Who this is for
Check all five before you call:
- You own the home (not renting)
- It's a single-family house or townhouse
- The roof gets full sun or only light shade
- Your power bill is over $100 a month
- The home doesn't already have solar panels
Renting, in a condo, apartment or mobile home, under heavy shade, or already have panels? This line can't help with those, so please don't call.
Solar by state
- Solar in California
- Solar in Colorado
- Solar in District of Columbia
- Solar in Florida
- Solar in Hawaii
- Solar in Illinois
- Solar in Indiana
- Solar in Kentucky
- Solar in Maryland
- Solar in Massachusetts
- Solar in Missouri
- Solar in New Jersey
- Solar in North Carolina
- Solar in Ohio
- Solar in Rhode Island
- Solar in South Carolina
- Solar in Tennessee
- Solar in Virginia
Questions
Are you a solar company?
No. Home Solar Line is a free phone line that connects homeowners with independent solar providers. We don't sell, design or install systems, and we don't set prices.
Does the call cost anything?
No. The call is free, and there's no obligation to buy anything from the provider you talk to.
Who qualifies?
Homeowners in a single-family house or townhouse with a roof that gets full or mostly full sun, a power bill over $100 a month, and no solar panels already. If that's not you, the provider won't be able to help.
Is solar free if I sign up?
No. Home solar is paid for with cash, a loan, or monthly lease or PPA payments. Be skeptical of any pitch that makes it sound like it costs nothing.
What about federal incentives?
The federal residential clean energy tax credit no longer applies to home systems placed in service after 2025, so be wary of any pitch built around it. Some states, utilities and local programs have their own incentives. They vary, so ask a provider what applies to your address.
Will I still get a power bill?
Almost always. Most solar homes stay connected to the grid and pay a connection charge plus whatever they use at night or on cloudy days.
Do I need a battery?
Not always. A battery can store daytime power for the evening or an outage. Whether it's worth it depends heavily on your utility's rules, so ask.
What if my roof is old?
Say so on the call. Panels are meant to stay up for decades, so many providers suggest replacing an aging roof first.
How do I check the provider?
Ask for their contractor license (if your state requires one) and proof of insurance before signing anything. It's on you as the homeowner to check.