These days there are a lot of people hopping on the "green" bandwagon, looking for ways to reduce their impact on the environment. Solar energy, being one of the cleanest ways to power electrical devices, is quickly gaining popularity as the cost of solar technology continues to drop.

Indeed, solar energy is a great way to save on your energy costs and do your part to save the environment. However, if you are considering solar power as an option for powering your home, eventually you will need to make the initial investment of buying solar panels and having them installed on or near your house.

D.I.Y. vs. Professional Help

While much of the work involved in installation can be done by the average homeowner, some parts of the process are more complicated and often require that you seek the help of an expert. It is important to know the dangers involved in solar panel installation, and to know when you are outside your area of expertise.

On or Off the Grid?

The first task you must complete in the installation process is deciding what you are using your solar system for so that you can decide where to mount it and how to wire it into your home's existing electrical system. The amount of electricity you expect to use versus how much you expect to produce will determine whether you want your system to be wired into the grid.

For example, if you are in particularly productive spot and expect to produce more electricity than you can use, sometimes the electric company will pay you for the excess electricity you generate. If this is to be the case though typically you need the help of a certified electrician to make the necessary connections.

Location

Another thing you must decide before installing your solar panels is where they are to be installed. Picking the ideal location is a matter of evaluating various factors such as how the sun will cross the sky at various times of the year and which location on your property will receive the most sunlight. Typically, unless your house is at a low point on your land, your roof will be the most productive location.

Safety First

Once you have decided on the details of your installation, it is time to mount the solar panels. If you are attempting to do this part of the job yourself, be sure you know what you are doing. Attempting to mount panels to your roof without knowing the proper procedures can leave you with a damaged roof that costs more to repair than it would have cost to hire a professional in the first place.

It is even more important, unless you are a certified electrician, that once you get your panels mounted you seek a professional to help with the electrical work involved in installation. Solar panels are capable of producing a current strong enough to power your house-this is also strong enough to seriously injure or kill you if you don't know what you are doing.

Northern Gas Heating - the UK's local supplier of new central heating including renewable energy systems such as Air Source Heat Pumps and Solar Heating systems.

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