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Solar Panel Installation for Your Home

From the first roof review to the day the utility lets you switch it on, here's how a home solar installation usually goes, and a free way to talk to an independent provider about yours.

Call to see if your home qualifies(877) 565-3409

Home 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

  1. Answer a few quick questionsDo you own the home, how much is your power bill, how sunny is the roof.
  2. Get connectedIf your home fits, you're put through to an independent solar provider who serves your area.
  3. Talk it through, then decideThey look at your roof and usage and explain options. No obligation to buy.

How a solar installation usually goes

  1. Roof and usage reviewThe provider looks at your roof (often by satellite first) and a year of electric bills.
  2. Design and proposalThey lay out the panels, estimate yearly production and give you a price and payment options.
  3. Site visitSomeone checks the roof structure, the attic and your electrical panel, which sometimes needs an upgrade.
  4. Permits and paperworkBuilding permits from your town or county, HOA approval if you have an HOA, and an interconnection application to your utility.
  5. InstallationMounting, panels, inverter and wiring. On a typical house the roof work itself is a short job.
  6. Inspection and permission to operateThe town inspects, the utility approves the connection, and only then is the system switched on.

Permit and utility approval times vary a lot by town and utility. Ask the provider what's typical where you live.

Is your roof a good fit?

  • Direction

    South-facing is best in the US, west and east can work well, north-facing planes usually aren't used.

  • Shade

    Full sun from mid-morning to mid-afternoon is what you want. Big trees over the roof usually rule a home out.

  • Age and material

    Asphalt shingle, metal and tile roofs can all take panels. An old roof should be replaced first.

  • Space

    Vents, skylights and chimneys break up the usable area. A provider will lay out what actually fits.

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?

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) 565-3409

See if solar makes sense for your house.

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.

Call to see if your home qualifies(877) 565-3409

Related guides

Solar panel installation by state

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.

Call now: (877) 565-3409