Frequent Questions
I have had numerous appointments and some questions have been asked frequently. To make things easier for you, I have compiled them here. However, I am always available to answer any of your questions. You can send me a text at 651-234-9047, but please make sure to include your full name so that I can provide better assistance.
What happens in the winter?
Our systems are made to offset your home for the entire year, During the summer months your home will over-produce and build extra credits to power your home in the winter!
What about Snow?
Your Systems will naturally remove all snow, you shouldnt have to ever remove the snow your self. On the first sunny day your panels will warm up and the snow will start melting and naturally slide off your panels.
See for yourself watch video below.
What Happens when it hails?
Solar panels are typically robust, offering resilience against various environmental factors, including hail. While they're designed to withstand such conditions, it's not entirely implausible for hail to cause damage. In the rare event of hail damage, homeowners can typically rely on their insurance coverage to facilitate the replacement process.
Press the button to view the article and images
Watch the video below to see how strong they are!
Will my insurence go up?
There will be a slight increase in your HOI. For example, an average-size system that costs $30,000 may add an extra $30 per year. The reason for such low costs is panels rarely break and they are more durable than your shingles, so they protect your home from hail and sun damage.
Im planning on moving soon.
Planning On moving soon, that's fantastic. You are going to reap the rewards of going solar instantly! Say you were going to move in 2 years, You purchase your solar system using our financing option that includes the free 18 months promotion. You will not pay anything for the solar system for 1.5 years and during that time your also not paying for electricity, your going to receive a tax credit of $5k - 20k or more, adding value to your home and then transfer the loan to the new homeowner. It's one of the smartest things you can do before moving. Most homes sell 20% faster with solar.
Let's say your home is worth $350,000 and you plan on selling in 2 years.
You add a solar system valued at $40,000
Homes with solar increase by at least 4% so it is now worth $364,000 = $14,000Â
You will get a tax credit of 30% of the cost of the system (30% of $40,000 is $12,000
Let's say you're spending $250 a month on electricity so in a year $3,000, which you won't pay anymore so you have now saved $6,000 already before moving.
and you only paid for 6 months of solar payments which would be around $1,800.
Then sell your home and transfer the loan over as well and you no longer are the owner of that agreement.
You would make an additional $30,200 when you sell your home!
Â
Do I need batteries?
You will not need a battery with our solar systems, and that's great news for you! By not needing a battery you will save over $15,000. Batteries are only necessary when you are not connected to the grid or experience blackouts frequently. Being connected to the grid means your utility company is going to be your battery. Any extra power your home is not using will be sold back to your utility company at the same rate that they are charging. This extra power you produce will be stored in your account as a credit to be used in your home at night when your panels are not producing.
You will also be over-producing during the summertime, stockpiling credits you can use in the winter when you produce about 25% less.
What if my Home isn't producing what I need?
Not all homes that go solar are going to be able to produce all the power they need and it's pretty common but still will save you thousands of dollars on your electricity bills. We call these homes hybrid homes, they use some power from solar and continue to use some from the electric company. I would say about 60% of homes that go solar in Minnesota are in this range.
When you have a hybrid home or not producing all of your electricity you will still be getting a bill from the electricity company. Let's say your solar system has an offset of 70%, this means your bill of $100 per month would now be only $30 a month.
Is there any maintenance?
There is typically no maintenance for your solar systems in Minnesota. If we were in states that have a more desert geography we would recommend cleaning the panels every 2 yearsbecause of the dirt landing on the panels and little to no rain to clean them off. Here in Minnesota, we have the additional benefit of rain and snow which is going to naturally clean off your panels and reduce or completely remove the need to clean and maintain. We would recommend maybe a cleaning every few years if you notice a production decrease. Click here to learn more.
What if something hits my panel and breaks it?
Things like hail, debris from storms, and even golf balls may end up hitting your panels. There should be no need for concern as panels are very durable and the chance of something breaking it from impact is slim. Not saying it is impossible and if something was to crack a panel it would be replaced with your homeowner's insurance.
View question - What happens when it hails? For the durability test video.
What is the Warranty?
Here at Blue Raven Solar, we offer 25 years on your solar panels, 25 years on your inverters, we offer a 10-year workmanship warranty, and also a 2-year production guarantee.
What if I start using more electricity?
If when you bought your solar system you were able to completely cover all your power from your solar system and then you buy an electric car, a pool, hot tub, or just start using much more power in general and your system no longer produces enough power. If this was to happen you would start seeing an electric bill again from your utility company. With our panels, if you have more room on your roof for panels we could add more to combat your new power usage.
Can I take my home of the electrical grid?
Your home will continue to be connected to the electrical grid. Excess energy from your solar panels will return to the grid and you will receive credits for the same amount of electricity in your electrical account.
Do you use microinverters or string inverters? Why?
We use Micro-Invertors with our solar panel systems because we only provide you with the best quality products.
String inverters are much like christmas tree lights, if one goes out the whole system will turn off, or if part of your system is shaded the entire system will lose production.
with micro-invertors your system will run much more efficiently and if one panel ever goes down the rest of your system will produce normally.
What happens if the power goes out?
If the power goes out in your area, systems tied to the grid go out too. It is not safe to send power out to the grid where workers are attempting to fix a power outage problem.
What happens in bad weather?
Solar panels will still produce energy on a cloudy or foggy day. Rain and snow may affect production for your system.
How does net metering work?
After solar panels are installed on your home you begin producing power. Any excess power your home doesn’t use will be sent back to your utility company. Your electric meter will run backwards. You will feed excess energy to the utility company during the day and then receive it back during the nighttime, at no cost.
Will solar power get cheaper?
I always say the best time to buy solar was yesterday! Solar panels produce a commodity that is drastically increasing in price each year. Say you buy a system today that produces $3000 of power each year, now it's 5 years later and it's producing $4500 each year. The price just will not go down when it earns more.
How do solar panels work?
Solar panels produce Direct Current or DC energy. Your house runs on Alternating Current or AC. The energy produced by the panels runs down into the inverter, is converted to AC, and then on into your house so that it can be used.
How long does it take solar to pay for itself?
It should take about 5 to 10 years for solar panels to pay for themselves in Minnesota, which aligns with the national average. Where your payback period falls within this range greatly depends on how good your home is for solar. Factors such as panel direction, roof pitch, roof space, and more.
Is going solar worth it?
Absolutely, going solar in MN is worth it! due to net-metering laws, tax incentives, and local reward programs. These benefits help you save long-term on all your energy bills as well as reduce your environmental impact by producing clean energy. Solar panels typically have a payback period between 5 and 10 years, meaning the time it takes for the system to pay for itself. Minnesotans can also expect solar panels to increase their home’s value by an average of $15,000.Â