When is the Best Time To Install Solar Roofing Panels?

When to Install Solar Roofing Panels

If you’re already having roof work done, it’s a great time to install solar roofing panels. Since you’ll already have a roofing crew working on your roof, it will be convenient to do installation work at the same time. Also, it’s best to have any issues with your roof addressed before installing solar panels.

Solar roofing can increase your home’s efficiency and generate serious savings on your energy bills. However, It doesn’t help your home to add solar panels to a damaged roof. If your roof is in poor or damaged condition, has structural issues, leaks, or is getting old, your investment in solar roofing won’t go as far, and could actually create more problems for your home. When you deal with existing damage first, you’ll know your solar roof will be well supported and set up to be as efficient as possible.

Best Time of Year for Solar Roofing Panel Installation

Thinking about solar roofing panel installation, but are not sure about the timing? The best time of year for solar is actually the spring. Even though we typically associate solar and sunshine with summertime, there are a few reasons spring offers the best days for solar energy generation.

Pleasant Weather

Installing solar roofing panels requires exposing the roof deck, so it’s best to complete this process in dry weather with no snow or inclement weather. During the spring, the weather is progressively more dry and sunny, creating ideal conditions for roof work and a pleasant environment for the roofing crew.

Optimal Angle

The angle at which the sunlight hits your roof and solar panels, also known as angle of incidence, should ideally be 90 degrees for optimal panel efficiency. The angle of the spring sun hits panels just right about April/May, meaning your panels have the chance to capture a lot of energy during this time. Panels can be tilted to capture most of the sun’s direct rays throughout the year, which is calculated by your home’s distance from the equator and the tilt of the earth.

Cooler Temperatures

Although summer would seem like the season with the most solar generating capacity, the heat of the season can actually decrease panel efficiency. Solar panels work by converting light from the sun into electricity but are most effective on cooler days with plenty of light. For this reason, some of the best days for your solar panels will be in late April or May when there’s a lot of sunlight but not the heat of summer.

Less Shade

During certain times of the year, parts of your roof are more shaded than others. Many homes are built to capitalize on the sunlight in the spring, which is welcome while the seasons are transitioning, and be more shaded during the summer to keep it cooler. Depending on the way your home is situated and other shade-generating objects near you, your solar panels may spend more time in the shade during summer months, which can affect panel efficiency. 

Perfect Timing

When you install solar roofing panels in the spring, you’ll have more sunny days in your first year to start seeing a difference in your energy savings. When you invest in solar technology, you’ll start saving right away and can expect those returns to increase year after year.

If you’re considering solar roofing panel installation, it’s a good idea to make plans for springtime when you’re already addressing your roof. However, if you want to install solar roofing panels at another time, you can still enjoy energy savings at any time of the year.

Thinking that solar roofing panels might be right for you? Let the Werner Roofing team know! We’d be happy to come to inspect your home, let you know what your options are, and what you might expect to pay based on your goals.