You might be curious about how long the solar process will take when getting solar for your home. The idea is to start reducing your reliance on electricity as soon as you can by switching to solar energy. Understanding the solar process, which helps us shorten the time it takes for our customers to enjoy the benefits of home solar, is one of our key competitive advantages. Continue reading to find out how long it takes to install solar panels and the usual factors that can affect the schedule.
Solar Panel Installation Process Timeline
Switching to solar energy requires more than just installation. The process is comprised of eight essential steps and takes, on average, two to six months to complete.
Choosing a Solar Installer
Time: 1 day to 2 weeks
The first and most crucial step in your entire solar journey is selecting a solar installer. What company you pick determines not only the price of your installation but the quality and timeline as well!
Make sure the business you choose is reputable, has a NABCEP-certified installer, has a minimum of five years in business, and has good customer feedback. This step can take you just a few hours, but it’s important to take the time to not only find a few installers you like but also get and compare quotes from them. When it comes to picking the best business, you definitely don’t want to skimp.
To increase your chances of getting the best installation at the best price, get at least three quotes. Using our cutting-edge solar calculator, which enables you to see your potential solar savings and can assist you in starting to gather quotes, is the simplest way to find reputable solar companies in your area.
Site Assessment
Time: 1 week
After you select your solar installer, they will need to assess the site to make sure your roof is suitable for a solar installation. Someone from the installation company will come out to your house and take a look around to check out the condition, shading, size, and direction of your roof. Additionally, they’ll check to see if the weight of the solar panels won’t damage your roof and examine your electrical panel to see if it needs to be upgraded.
The site assessment will take no more than a few hours, but we estimate a time frame of about one week to account for scheduling.
System Design
Time: 2 to 3 weeks
Once it’s determined that your roof is ready for solar, an engineer will get started on designing your solar system. The system is designed with your electricity usage, roof characteristics, local building code requirements, and utility requirements in mind.
The design procedure typically takes two to three weeks, but if your roof is more complicated, it could take longer. Even so, it’s likely that complex systems’ planning phases won’t last much longer than four weeks.
Applying for Building and Solar Permits
Time: 2 to 7 weeks
You must have all necessary permits in order for the installation to start because adding solar panels is a construction project. Regrettably, going solar will, unfortunately, take the longest amount of time because of the permitting process. The exact permits needed vary from town to town. Some require specific electrical and building permits, while others require permits that are very specific to solar.
Obtaining approval could take as little as two weeks or as long as two months, depending on the kinds of permits required and the permitting procedures in place in your municipality. Let’s face it, waiting that long for permits is inconvenient. But, the good news is your solar installer is the one who handles all the paperwork – you don’t have to worry about it.
Ordering Equipment and Scheduling Installation
Time: 1 to 4 weeks
Your business can get started on installing your system once your permits have been approved. Some installers have the equipment on hand so they can get started on your project ASAP. You won’t have to wait for equipment to ship, but you might have to wait for them to have time in their schedule for your installation. That’s why we give this stage about a week minimum.
Given the ongoing supply chain issues in the solar industry, it might take a few weeks for your installer to get everything they need if they don’t have it on hand.
Installation
Time: 6 hours to 3 days
As we said earlier, the actual installation of your solar panels is going to be the shortest part of the process. It will take just under 6 hours to finish most residential solar installations.
The more complex it is, the longer it will take to finish, just like with the system’s design. Unless unexpected problems arise during the installation, your solar installation shouldn’t generally take longer than 3 days. These worst-case scenarios, though, are extremely rare.
City Inspection
Time: 1 to 2 weeks
Even though your installation is finished, you can’t yet start producing electricity. Before you can start operating effectively, you still need a few more approvals.
First, a local inspector will likely come out to make sure the system was installed properly and meets all of the correct building requirements. This serves as a safety measure, so any issues can be identified before the system is turned on.
Like the site assessment, this inspection will only take a few hours at most, but making the appointment may take a week or so.
Utility Interconnection and Permission to Operate
Time: 2 to 6 weeks
Additionally, you’ll have to wait until your utility company gives you the go-ahead to use your solar panels. It shouldn’t be a surprise that it can take some time to get utility approval.
Typically, the utility will visit your property, install a new electrical meter that can accurately message your solar energy production, and conduct a brief inspection. Your interconnection agreement will then receive the final green light, and you can then start using solar energy to power your home.
How Long Does It Really Take to Go Solar?
You can typically anticipate it to take anywhere between two months and six months when all the necessary preparations are taken into account. Don’t forget that this time frame is only an estimate and can change significantly depending on your unique situation. Your solar installer will give you the rundown of what the timeline usually is in your area.
Factors That Impact How Long It Takes to Go Solar
HOA Approval
Your homeowner’s association (HOA) might also want to be informed because solar panels are a significant change to your house and might need to go through an approval procedure.
Main Panel Upgrade
43% of our customers have required a main panel upgrade from a 125A service panel to a 200A electrical panel. Going solar involves more steps and needs a second electrical permit when a service panel is present. The main panel upgrade also needs to pass two to three city inspections. three inspections: the preliminary, the thorough, and the final.
Roof Repair
Your roof might not be built to last 25 years even though your solar energy system is. According to our company’s policy, we advise roof repair if it appears that your roof has less than ten (10) years to go before it needs to be fixed. The timeline for your solar installation project will be further elongated if your roof repair needs a permit.
Unpermitted Structures and Service Panel
Your solar energy project may experience significant delays due to any unpermitted structures or the main service panel. All of the work done on your home must be authorized by the city, or the unapproved work must be removed, in order to receive their approval.
Solar Equipment Availability
Your solar equipment’s availability may be impacted by COVID-19 and the seasonality of solar energy. By the time of your installation, certain solar panels, inverters, and other essential solar parts might no longer be in stock. If specialized parts are not already in stock, they may need to be ordered. Your solar energy system installation will take longer as a result. You might need to file a new set of plans with the city’s Building and Safety department if you want to use equipment that is different from what was originally planned.
Summary: It’s Worth To Waiting
We understand that six months is a long time. The saying “good things come to those who wait” is true, though. Even though the installation process takes a few months, in many cases it only takes 9 years—or even less! For the solar panels to pay for themselves. After that, you’ll receive more than 15 years of absolutely no-cost electricity. And who doesn’t love the fact that it’s good for the environment?