Getting your home ready for solar

Getting your home ready for solar is becoming an increasingly popular trend amongst Australian households. It's a great source of renewable energy harnessed from the sun and includes other benefits such as saving money on your electricity bill.

Home solar property checks

The layout of your home can influence whether residential solar panels are right for you. A house that has a great deal of foliage or shading may require trees to be removed or pruned. This means you may need to speak with your local council and seek approval to remove trees before booking an arborist. If you do have shading, then don't worry. Most installers can design your solar panels in a way that will maximise sun exposure.

Get to know your electricity meter

Another consideration is getting to know where your meter is located at your residence, as your installer will need to access it during a site visit. In most cases, when you get a solar system and/or battery installed, your meter will be switched to a 'smart meter.'

What material is your roof made of?

Roofing is generally made from tin, concrete tile, terracotta tile, and kilp-lok. Material used for your roofing may determine what type of equipment may be required for your home solar installation and build. Have this information handy when you speak with one of our Nectr Solar consultants. It will make it easier for them to decide the best option for you. In some cases, a site visit may be required which is generally done by an accredited clean energy council installer.

Panel direction for home solar

Panel direction on your roof will depend on the design of your property and the recommendation of positioning/angling will be decided by an accredited installer. You can get a fair idea by checking where you get the most sunlight on your roof throughout the day. Additionally, you could also check your street and see if other houses have installed a solar panel on a particular side of the roof. Your panels will most likely face North, East, or West to optimise your home solar panel system.

Is your home in a heritage-listed area?

If your property is heritage listed, or you live in a heritage listed area, then you may need to check whether there are restrictions on where you can add solar panels. This may mean you can only install them on the back of your property. You will need prior approval from your local council on whether you can install solar panels at your home.

How many solar panels will best suit your home?  

Residential solar power can generate a different output of electricity which is dependent on a variety of factors, such as the quality of solar panels, number of panels, and duration of sun exposure. You will then need to work out how much electricity you consume daily.

In some instances, a 6.6kw system should be sufficient to cover your daily usage and reduce your reliance on consuming from the grid. While for larger families you might need a much bigger system.

Talk to one of our solar experts and they will help you choose the right system helping you reduce your electricity bills.

Solar finance options  

Buying residential solar for your home can cost you thousands of dollars. You will need to work out your options to pay for the system including the installation. There are a few options, including buying the system outright, financing it on interest, or negotiating a payment plan.

At Nectr, we offer 0% interest-free monthly instalments. This means you can pay us a set monthly instalment paid over 36 months which includes full installation by a clean energy council accredited installer. In addition, you will also enjoy competitive electricity rates fixed for the term of your contract.

Now that’s a winning solar deal!