Residential Solar Panels

Unlock the Power of the Sun with Residential Solar Panels

Solar panels are currently the number one system for powering homes in the U.S.

As of 2022, over 3 million homes have installed solar panels, and are powering everything from lightbulbs, TV, and fans to computers, refrigerators, and even water pumps with energy purely provided by the sun.

What’s more? Solar panels are not only the most affordable but also the cleanest form of energy in existence.

With MAD Energy NW, you can make the switch to residential solar and start taking advantage of all the benefits it has to offer. We provide high-quality solar installation and maintenance services, helping you get the most out of your solar investment.

What is a Residential Solar Panel?

Residential Solar Panels are solar panels – also called Photovoltaic (PV) panels – that are installed on the roof of residential buildings, to generate electricity from the sun, for powering the entire building and home appliances.

By residential homes, we are talking about duplexes, cabins, bungalows, condos, and even farmhouses.

The main goal of installing solar panels for your home is not just to power the building, but also to provide energy independence and reduce your energy bills.

Benefits Of Residential Solar Panels

With MAD Energy NW, you can make the switch to residential solar and start taking advantage of all the benefits it has to offer. With that said, here are some of the top benefits of a residential solar installation:

  • Cost Savings

Studies have shown that the average American resident spends about $120 per month or $1500 per year on electricity bills. Plus, each year electricity costs go up about 5%. In 30 years that same yearly electric bill would cost about $6,500. This price could run into hundreds of thousands of dollars for larger buildings. On average, a homeowner can expect to double or triple their return on investment by switching to solar panels. 

Our residential solar panel solutions allow you to generate clean and renewable energy, which can reduce your electricity bills and decrease your reliance on fossil fuels.

  • Increased Property Value

If you want to sell your home at a higher price, installing a solar panel is one way to go about it. According to the Natural Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), for every 1 dollar your solar system saves you, the value of your home increases by 20 dollars. Over time, your residential solar alone could increase your home value by thousands.

  • Tax Incentives

The US Congress recently decreed a Solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC) that gives homeowners a 30% tax credit as an incentive for installing solar panels on their homes. So if you install solar panels on your home right now, you can offset a huge portion of your tax liability – no questions asked!

  • Energy Independence

Most homes still depend on private companies to generate electricity. These companies are essentially a monopoly and have the power to increase rates each year. But with solar energy, you lock in your rate and never have to pay for rate increases again. It’s like renting vs. buying; wouldn’t you rather own your power than rent it at increasingly higher costs each year? Plus, with battery storage you can even have backup power in the event of a grid outage. 

  • Environmental Sustainability

This is one of the social benefits of installing residential solar panels. The world is on a mission to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050 to combat climate change. And one way is to pivot fully to clean and renewable sources of energy. This means by installing solar panels, you can contribute to this good cause and help save the world with clean, renewable solar energy.

  • Job Creation

Another community benefit of installing solar panels is that you’ll be creating jobs for thousands of professionals in the solar industry. As of the time of this writing, there are over 142 million residential homes in the US, and only 2.7 million have installed solar panels.

By installing solar panels and telling your friends and family to do so, you’ll be creating jobs for thousands of adults both in your state and all over America.

How Residential Solar Panel Works

Various elements work together to make sure your home solar achieves its promised mission. This includes the solar panel, the inverter, and net metering.

Let’s dive into the details.

  • The Solar Panel

The average American home needs to install about 25 to 40 solar panels to generate electricity for themselves, and fully achieve energy independence.

Solar panels make use of Photovoltaic (PV) cells to absorb energy emitted from the sunlight which is also called solar radiation.

The absorbed light is then converted into electricity.

However, the electricity generated by the solar panel is not ready to be used in the home. This is because solar panels generate only Direct Current (DC), but your home appliances are designed to be powered by Alternating Current (AC).

And that’s where the inverter comes in.

Commercial Carport Solar Installation - Olympia WA
  • The Inverter

As we explained earlier, most household appliances are designed to operate on alternating current (AC), but your solar generates only direct current. That is why the solar inverter was invented to convert solar-generated Direct Current to Alternating Current. But much more than that, the inverter has other uses. Firstly, the inverter provides monitoring and optimization functionalities for your solar power system. It tracks, measures, and provides real-time data on how effective your solar panels are. And you can use that information to correct any arising issues and optimize the solar panel for maximum energy.

Also, for the home that connected its solar system to the utility grid, the inverter is responsible for sending the excess electricity to the grid, while the owners earn credit or compensation in return. But for electricity sharing and credit to be calculated accurately, we have to use the last component of the solar panel system, which is where Net Metering comes in.

  • Net Metering

Most residential solar panels are connected to a public utility – this is called “grid-tied.” This allows a homeowner to essentially use the grid as a battery when the solar system is not producing enough electricity to power their home. Fortunately, you can offset your electricity costs with credit received from feeding the solar grid with any excess electricity that you produce from the solar panels. And this process is called Net Metering.

The net meter, also known as the bi-directional meter, is a device that calculates how much solar energy your home solar has fed to the grid vs how much was fed back to your home. If there is a positive difference, you’ll earn a credit to pay for your bill in later months, helping you power your household 24/7-all-year-round for free, less the costs of a basic monthly charge that the utility charges which is generally around $8 per month. 

Washington State

Solar Incentives

26% Federal Tax Credit

100% Sales Tax Exemption

Net Metering

Accelerated Depreciation


Factors To Consider During Residential Solar Panel Installation

  1. The Solar Panel Type and Efficiency

There are three main types of solar panels and each is developed for different conditions. There are Monocrystalline, Polycrystalline, and Thin Film solar panels. Some solar panels are cheaper than others, some are negatively or positively affected by high temperatures. And their lifespan and level of efficiency after many years vary.

  2. Budget and Financing

Your current budget is also a major factor to consider during residential solar installation.

Asides from purchasing the solar panels, there are also other expenses to consider: from the inverter, mounting system, electrical wiring, and monitoring system to the safety equipment, permit fees, and installation service.

Another part of planning your budget and finance is taking advantage of the available homeowner’s loans, leases, and power agreements in your State.

  3. Solar Panel Size and Available Roof Space

The size of your home roof will play a role in the size of solar panels you purchase. If you erroneously buy a panel that’s bigger than your roof, it’s going to affect the installation flexibility, and you may have to return. But if you purchase smaller-sized solar panels, make sure they can generate enough electricity to power your entire home.

  4. Roof Angle, Shading, and Exposure to Sunlight

When installing a residential solar panel, it’s important to place it at an angle that gives it the most exposure to sunlight. Here in the US, that would be facing the solar panel to the South. West and east-facing also perform very well. 

Also, make sure there is no shading such as trees, taller buildings, or billboards obstructing the sunlight radiation from hitting your solar panel cells.

  5. The Solar Installation Contractors

Even if you get all the factors right, the installation company you hire can make or break your investment in solar energy.

You must make sure the solar installation contractors you choose are well-experienced in the field, understand your State-specific building code, can offer consultation when needed, and will always be available for maintenance and troubleshooting.

If you’re looking for a solar installation contractor that meets all these requirements and more, you should check out the MAD Energy NW solar installation company. With over 30 years of combined experience in the electrical sector, you can count on us for both top-notch advice and professional solar installation service.

Tips For Installation and Maintenance of Residential Solar Panel

To get your home up and running with solar, you need to get the installation and maintenance right.

Even though these two key activities are usually done by the installation company, knowing about them is beneficial.

Residential Solar Panel Installation

Here are the necessary steps required to install a solar panel the right way:

  • Site Assessment: Determine the best roof location and angle to install the solar panel.

  • Design and Permits: Create a solar panel design that suits your roof’s local building code. And make sure to obtain the necessary permits.

  • Roof Preparation: Ensure that your roof is in the right condition. And if there’s dirt, dust, or debris, clean them off.

  • Install the Solar Panel Mount: Set up the solar panel mount on the roof and make sure it faces the right angle. This is where you’ll install the solar panel.

  • Install the Solar Panel: Once you’ve set up the solar panel mount, you can go ahead and install the solar panel on it.

  • Electrical Wiring: The next step is to connect the solar panel to the electrical system. Before doing any solar panel wiring, make sure all the household’s electrical supply is shut off.

  • Inverter Installation: Once you’re done with the installation and wiring, install the inverter for converting the DC to AC.

  • Connection to the Utility Grid: The final step is to connect your solar panel system to the utility grid. Remember, any electrical installation service must be done by professionals to avoid injuries or poor installation.

Maintenance Of Residential Solar Panel

While you’re enjoying your sunlight-generated electricity, remember that your solar panel system will need maintenance to last longer and generate power to its maximum strength.

Here’s a checklist for your solar panel maintenance;

  • Make sure your solar panel is always clean and secure from unforeseen damages 
  • Always check out for cracks, weathering, rust, and damages. And fix them before they worsen. We recommend that you schedule a corrosion check twice a year.
  • Constantly check for any wiring damage, and peeled wires should be sealed immediately. Wire and water are not friends, so keep them far away from each other.
  • And finally, if your solar panel stops generating as much electricity as it used to, make sure to contact your solar installation contractors. They’ll help you either repair it or recommend whether you should take advantage of any warranty – if applicable.

If you live in Western Washington and want to make sure that your solar panel is installed and maintained the right way, you can reach out to us at MAD Energy NW at 253-929-8284.

Get the Most Out of Your Solar Investment

Residential solar panels have the potential to be a sustainable and cost-effective source of clean energy for homes. They offer benefits such as cost savings, positive environmental impact, and increased home value. 

However, careful consideration of various factors is essential to determine the suitability and feasibility of installing solar panels, and consulting with a qualified solar professional can help homeowners make informed decisions. 

With the right planning and installation, residential solar panels can provide a renewable and reliable source of electricity for homes, contributing to a greener and more sustainable future.

We are the premier commercial, residential, and new construction solar company in Washington State.

Install

What's Included

solar panels

Panels

Solar panels, also known as modules within the industry, convert sunlight into electricity using the photovoltaic effect.

Single phase inverter

Inverters

Solar Inverters convert the direct current power produced by the modules, into an alternating current to be used.

Racking

racking

Solar racking is the mounting system that supports and secures the panels to the roof or ground structure.

Work You Can Believe In

The Mad Energy Solar Warranty

25-30 Year Solar Panel Production Warranty

12-25 Year Inverter and Optimizer Warranty

25 Year Racking Warranty

10 Year Workmanship Warranty

At MAD Energy NW, we pride ourselves on delivering top-quality solar and electrical  services that you can trust.

All of our installers are licensed electricians, and every installation is managed by a dedicated project manager to ensure a smooth process and timely completion.

We only use the highest quality, most reliable products on the market to ensure the longevity and performance of your solar system. Our inverters and optimizers have a 12–25 year warranty, while our solar panels have a 25–30 year manufacturing warranty.

Additionally, our racking systems come with a 25-year warranty, and we offer a 10-year workmanship warranty on all aspects of your solar project.

We can provide long-term peace of mind warranties on every aspect of your solar project because we  install projects with precision, care and quality.