Solar Power Brings Choice – What System is Most Beneficial?

Post Remodeling - Solar Installation in BensalemHave you been thinking about adding solar power to your home? Have you wondered whether to add a Photovoltaic (PV) (electric) or a Solar Thermal (hot water) system?

The systems are vastly different and it’s not always intuitive as to which one will benefit you the most. How much sun-drenched roof you have might make the decision for you.

This Bensalem home had enough roof area with good solar exposure to employ both systems. These homeowners will be offsetting both their electric and natural gas bills. With PECO raising prices regularly (especially in the summer), these solar systems will help them control their overall energy cost & consumption.

An interesting reality here in greater Philadelphia is that natural gas is relatively inexpensive. Local natural gas production has increased and many claim that prices will remain low for years to come.

This is not the case with electricity. Costs are trending upward – and not slowly, either. With antiquated grids and a myriad of regulations, electricity generation and transmission are becoming more and more expensive.

This reality coupled with the decreasing costs of Solar PV systems have led some in the industry to suggest that it does not make sense to install Solar Thermal systems at all. They argue that instead of solar thermal panels, one should add more PV panels and replace conventional hot water heaters with highly efficient electric heat pump water heaters.

The bottom line for homeowners considering solar is to trust the experts. Contact Montgomery County’s leading residential energy expert – Post Remodeling & Handyman Services – and determine the best course of action. Every home is unique and requires a thoughtful custom energy strategy.

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Ready for your free in-home consultation? The Post team is ready to meet you! Schedule your consultation today.

Celebrating Earth Day with a Solar Water Heater Installation

Post Remodeling installs a solar water heater in Newtown Square, PA.

The recent boom in solar technology for home energy needs has led to specialized projects for homeowners looking to save money yet not wanting to completely cover their roof with solar panels.

As we celebrate Earth Day this week, the Post Remodeling and Handyman Services team spent the day in Newtown Square installing a new solar hot water system.

The new Rheem solar water heater  (pictured) allows a family of four who have been using a conventional hot water heater to save several hundred dollars yearly. The systems produce about 2/3 of their hot water needs. Larger families who use more hot water will save more. With rebates, this usually represents about a 10 year payback on the investment.

To complete the project effectively, the following best practices were observed:

  • Paint all pipe insulation with UV protector and another coat to blend with house.
  • Seal penetrations where pipes enter house.
  • Insulate all pipes from panels to tank.
  • Insulate hot water pipes in home.
  • Always use safety gear such as eye & ear protection and gloves. Safety harnesses should be used on roofs with pitch.

Looking to explore a solar installation at your house? Get a free in-home estimate from Post Remodeling today!

Curious about how solar water heaters work? See the below diagram for more information.

Explanation of solar hot water systems.

Saving Money With Solar Power in Bensalem!

Energy efficiency is a top request of homeowners that contact Post Remodeling and Handyman Services. In some cases, it’s possible to save money by generating electricity from solar power.

Recently, Post Remodeling spearheaded a solar photovoltaic install at a home in Bensalem. With this job, we took advantage of Enphase Microinverters which allow for individually managed panels rather than being forced to manage all panels together. The end result is greater efficiency for the entire installation.

The Post team installed panels on two different roof planes (pictures below) with the same orientation. Additional wiring was done in the attic to connect the panels down to the electrical panel in the basement. The roof was particularly steep, but proper staging and safety measures aided in overall efficiency.

After only two days, the home in Bensalem was generating its own electricity! The homeowners are looking forward to lower energy bills as we enter the spring and summer months. Looking to install solar panels on your roof? Contact Post Remodeling today for a free in-home (and on-roof) consultation!

Low Profile Solar Installations Please Community Associations

West Chester Solar InstallationA homeowner in West Chester, PA wanted to install a photovoltaic array on the south-side of their roof to generate electricity.

After contacting Post Remodeling & Handyman Services for the job, we ran into an immediate roadblock – their community association. This group did not approve of the standard solar panel installation which drove our research to a more aesthetically pleasing photovoltaic system – the Sun Energy Shingle™. After seeing its extremely thin profile, the association approved the product.

A second challenge was the roof itself – plumbing penetrations in numerous places facilitated some initial cleanup. A key rule of installing roof-top system is to make sure the underlying shingles last as long as the solar equipment. Post Remodeling replaced the old shingles and relocated plumbing penetrations to allow for a durable, uninterrupted installation.

After laying an underlayment called VersaShield® and re-shingling the roof, the solar system installed seamlessly. The system is working as expected and the roof looks terrific.

In general, here are some best practices when working on the roof:

  • Monitor the PSI of your nail gun compressor so you do not overdrive roofing nails.
  • Use of harness for protection
  • Use multi-layer Class A (fire rating) roofing underlayment systems including VersaShield for greatest coverage.
  • Use a little paint to make sure your plumbing penetrations don’t stick out unnecessarily.

Thinking about a solar system of your own? Contact the experts at Post Remodeling for a free estimate!