Where To Buy Solar Panels: Residential Solar Panel, Solar System Checklist

Do you know where to buy solar panels? Or, how to tell if you’re buying from a reputable company?

Have you considered what your options are for financing solar panels?

If you’ve ever asked any of these questions, this guide is for you.

Find everything you need to know about where to buy solar panels, how much the average cost of solar panels is in your state, and how to take advantage of solar incentives that are designed to reduce the cost of green energy systems for residents.

How Much Does Residential Solar Cost?

For many people, the first thing they ask is how much do solar panels cost?

There’s no one-size-fits-all answer to this question. However, here are some of the top factors that will likely influence the price of your solar panels:

• Installation Type: Installing in other areas besides your roof might require extra labor and, therefore, extra money from you.
• Panel Type: Most solar panel systems use monocrystalline or polycrystalline silicone.³ Monocrystalline is typically more expensive, but it also is more efficient than polycrystalline.
• Roof Type: It’s easier to install solar panels on some roofing materials compared to others. For example, composite shingles are generally considered the easiest, whereas terra cotta tiles and wood shake shingles are trickier and may come with higher labor costs.
• Shading: The amount of shade your property gets will influence the number of panels you need, as well as the overall price of your system.

All that said, the average system in the U.S. costs around $20,000 before any state, federal or local energy provider incentives and rebates are applied.⁴

Some states offer low income residents free solar systems, but typically, the choice of where to buy solar panels is up to you.

Ways To Save on Solar Panels

You might be a bit put off by the cost of solar panels. The good news, though, is that there are also various ways to save on them and find where to buy solar panels.

Here are some of the top options to consider:

• Take advantage of solar tax credits. For example, the federal Residential Clean Energy Credit lets you take 30% of the system’s cost off your income taxes.⁵
• Get quotes from multiple installers. That way, you can compare and know you’re getting a fair price.
• Install panels when it’s cooler outside (that may help to bring down labor costs).

Don’t forget to consider long- and short-term savings when installing solar panels. A larger, more powerful system might cost more money upfront. However, it could save you more money in the long run and be more worthwhile.

Where To Buy Solar Panels

You can buy residential solar panels from several different sources, but these are the most popular options:

• Work with a reputable, licensed, and insured solar company that partners with well-known and trustworthy solar panel manufacturers
• Purchase a DIY kit from a home improvement store (which will typically come with all the other materials you need to set up your panels)
• Visit a manufacturer’s website and buy solar panels directly from there

Most people decide to work with a solar panel company after considering all their options. After all, a team of solar technicians will do the heavy lifting for you — literally and figuratively. They also give you confidence that your system was set up correctly.

What should you look for to know you’re working with a reputable solar provider? Start with the following steps:

• Ask about licensing and training: Most states require solar installers to have some kind of license, such as a specialized solar installation license or an electrician license.⁶ Find out what education an installer has before you let them climb on your roof.
• Ask about insurance: Ideally, the installer will be insured. That way, you won’t be held liable if something goes wrong during the installation process.
• Get a detailed quote: The best installers will share a quote breaking down the cost of your system. They’ll also explain the reasoning behind each aspect of the price (labor costs, materials costs, etc.).
• Be wary of too-good-to-be-true claims: If a price seems drastically low, or an installer is making promises that seem unrealistic, they might be trying to scam you and set you up with a subpar system.

Can You Buy Used Solar Panels?

You can purchase used solar panels at lower prices than new ones, but should you?

It’s important to note that used solar panels might not be up to the same standards as the latest models. Not all solar panels are the right fit for every home, either. For example, some small solar panels might also have been used for other projects and won’t work for a roof installation.

Don’t forget that solar panels will degrade over time. If you buy used ones, you might save money upfront. On the flip side, the panels likely won’t last as long as brand-new ones.

Also, the maintenance performed on the panels will impact their lifespan, so those that were not taken care of will last less time than those that have been regularly cleaned and maintained.

Finally, before you start searching to find out where to buy used solar panels, keep in mind that the federal solar tax credit (and many other incentives) only applies to new systems. If you don’t want to miss out on this perk, don’t buy used.

Where Can You Buy Solar Panels Wholesale?

Many online merchants sell solar panels wholesale. They often work with solar distributors and resellers directly and offer panels in bulk at a discounted rate.

This option can benefit those who are interested in getting into the residential or commercial solar installation business, as well as homeowners who are thinking about installing solar panels on their own roofs.

Can You Install Your Own Solar Panels?

Speaking of installing solar panels on your roof, is this actually something you can do by yourself? Technically, the answer is “yes.”

However, you must have in-depth electrical knowledge and knowledge of how solar panel systems work, specifically.

This task isn’t one you can figure out as you go or learn from watching a YouTube video and doing some quick Googling.

Moreover, most municipalities require that electrical connections, even those that don’t connect to the main power grid, be performed by a certified electrician.

What Are My Options for Financing Solar Panels?

Say you’re interested in buying solar panels, but paying for a system in full simply isn’t in your budget. In that case, solar financing — taking out a loan to pay for your panels — is a good alternative.

Many banks and credit unions offer solar panel loan options. Most solar panel installation companies do as well.

Depending on where you live, you might also be able to utilize a Property Assessed Clean Energy or PACE program.⁷

This program is a special type of financing that offers fixed, lower-than-average interest rates. You also pay back the loan through your property tax bill, which makes it easier to manage than some other lending options.