One of the most important factors is the amount of sunlight that your roof receives throughout the year. Solar panels work best when exposed to direct and unobstructed sunlight for at least four hours per day.

Roof Orientation, Pitch, and Size

Whether rooftop solar makes sense for you in particular depends on the orientation, pitch, and shape of your roof. Ideally, your roof should face south or west, have a moderate slope, and have enough space to accommodate the size of the system you need.

Age and Condition of Your Roof

Another factor is the condition and age of your roof. Solar panels are designed to last for 25 years or more, so you want to make sure that your roof is in good shape and can support the weight and installation of the panels.

If your roof is old, damaged, or needs repairs, you’ll want to replace it before installing solar panels. Otherwise, you’d have to remove and reinstall the panels later, which would be costly and time-consuming. We don’t recommend it.

Shading and Obstructions

Shading from trees and other obstructions can have a huge impact on how you answer the question, “Does solar make sense for my home in Silverton Oregon?”

Shading can reduce the amount of sunlight that reaches your solar panels, which in turn lowers their power output and energy savings. Depending on the amount of shading, you could see a substantial drop in your solar system's performance.

Shading can affect solar panels in different ways, depending on how they are connected and configured. Solar panels are made up of individual cells that convert sunlight into electricity. These cells are usually connected in series within a module, meaning that the current output of the whole module depends on the lowest-performing cell.

If a cell is shaded, it will produce less current than the others, and drag down the output of the entire module. It is similar to how a string of lights goes out when one bulb is broken.

One way to mitigate the impact of shading is to use microinverters or power optimizers, which are devices that optimize the power output of each panel individually, rather than as a string.

These devices can increase the energy production and efficiency of a solar system by allowing each panel to operate at its maximum power point, regardless of shading or other factors. However, these devices also add to the cost and complexity of the system.

The bottom line - If you have a substantial amount of shade on your home in Silverton Oregon, installing rooftop solar probably doesn’t make sense.

Based in Redmond, and Silverton Oregon. Please don’t hesitate to give us a call at 541-248-5373 if you have a question about whether or not you’re in our service area.

Earthlight Technologies proudly offers residential and commercial solar to homeowners and businesses throughout Oregon, offering professional solar solutions in key areas, including:

• Willamette Valley: Salem, Eugene, Springfield, Corvallis, Albany

• Southern Oregon: Medford, Ashland, Klamath Falls, Grants Pass

• Eastern Oregon: Pendleton, Baker City, Hermiston, Ontario

• Portland Metro Area: Portland, Beaverton, Hillsboro, Gresham, Lake Oswego

No matter where you live in Oregon, our team of expert solar installers is ready to bring sustainable energy solutions to your home or business.

Earthlight’s team of Oregon solar installers provides you with professional experts specializing in residential and commercial solar power projects. We provide all kinds of services that make your switch to sustainable energy a smooth and enjoyable experience. We offer solar panel installations, repairs, cleaning, replacements, removals, monitoring, and operation aid. At Earthlight, our services start with equipping you with the best solar panels in Oregon and carry on throughout your entire experience with solar living. We want to make sure you get to enjoy the full extent of using solar energy, from its sustainability benefits to its tax credits.

The amount of time that it takes to install a solar energy system varies depending on factors, such as the weather conditions, availability of materials and equipment, and the number of customers waiting to get projects completed.

On average, it takes between three and four months from the time that you sign a contract to having a solar system installed and connected to the grid in Central Oregon. This includes the time needed for site assessment, design, permitting, inspection, interconnection, and installation.

We can install a typical rooftop solar system in 1-2 days after the solar panels and equipment arrive. However, before we can start the installation, we need to obtain the necessary permits and approvals from the city and the utility company, which can take up to 4-6 weeks.

We also need to order the solar panels and equipment from our suppliers, which can take up to 2-4 weeks. That’s why the total time from signing a contract with us to having a solar system installed and connected can take a few months.

It’s worth mentioning that we handle all the paperwork, permits, and installation for you, so you can enjoy the benefits of solar energy without any of the hassle. We will keep you updated throughout the entire process and ensure that everything is done on time and within budget.