Is Your Home Right for Solar? Checks Before a Quote

Panels outlast many roofs, and removing them for a reroof costs money.

The Department of Energy notes that rooftops may not suit solar because of age or tree cover, and advises knowing when the roof was installed or replaced. If you do not know, the local government should have a record of the building permit. DOE adds that installing solar at the same time as a roof replacement can often save money.

Shade is usually the deciding factor.

DOE says panels typically perform best on south-facing roofs with a slope between 15 and 40 degrees, though other orientations can work. Trees that shade the roof heavily can make rooftop panels a poor choice. Your roof’s solar potential depends on location, orientation, shade, and the system chosen, and DOE points to mapping tools that estimate it from satellite data — useful for a first look, though an installer’s site assessment is more precise.

Savings are set by what you use and how the utility pays for what you export.

DOE lists the factors that decide savings: how much electricity you use, the size of the system, whether you buy or lease, how much sun the panels receive, your utility’s rates, and how the utility compensates you for excess power sent back to the grid. That last arrangement, net metering, rarely works like the old meter that simply ran backward; ask your utility exactly how exports are credited. DOE also notes that efficiency upgrades complement solar, because a home that uses less needs a smaller system. Start with a year of bills — the guide to reading an electric bill shows where the kWh figures are.

The federal credit that paid 30% of home solar ended with systems placed in service by December 31, 2025.

The IRS states that the Residential Clean Energy Credit is not available for property placed in service after December 31, 2025. A 2026 installation has to be judged at full price, plus any state or utility incentives. Be wary of any quote that still subtracts a federal tax credit.

DOE notes that buying a system generally costs less in total than leasing, and that a lease or power purchase agreement means paying a monthly fee or a price per kWh instead of owning the equipment. Read the contract terms carefully either way.

Several installers, each licensed and insured.

1. Ask several installers to assess the roof and compare their proposals.
2. Check that each is licensed and insured, and certified by a reputable organization such as the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners, as DOE suggests.
3. Ask who obtains the permits and schedules inspections. DOE says installation usually takes only a few days, but permits, inspections, and utility interconnection can take weeks to months.
4. If rooftop solar does not suit your home, DOE points to community or shared solar as an alternative.