Solar FAQ's

It’s surprisingly simple and safe! The key “active” component in a solar panel is silicon, a 100% natural material, which converts sunlight into DC current electricity. That electricity is fed into an inverter, which converts the DC current into AC current. The inverter feeds to your Main Electric Panel attached to your electricity meter. You use the power you need, and any excess power is fed back to the main electric grid, and you will be credited for it.

Many of our customers do make enough electricity to meet all of their needs – and then some! But again, your home’s design will impact this. We may only be able to install a certain number of panels based on the layout of your roof or budget. But you will know in advance how much electric consumption will be replaced by your panels. Your Atlas Global project manager can explain the net-metering procedure to you based on where you live and your utility company.

Yes. Even on a cloudy day your panels will produce electricity. They just produce MORE electricity  on  bright  sunny  days.  It's just like still getting a sunburn on an overcast day. When  our  AGES  Solar  team  prepares  an  estimate  for you on how much power you can expect from your system, they use three years of National Renewable Energy Association weather data for your location. So a certain amount of cloudy days are factored in!

The typical homeowner saves tens of thousands, but that will vary based on your home and lifestyle. Our Solar designers are able to look at your electric usage and your home’s design, then show you different options for a solar system designed just for you– with very specific estimated savings. (When we prepare a proposal for you, we ask to have 12 months of past electric bills; this gives us a clear picture of your energy usage.

In  most every state in the USA,  HOAs  cannot  legally  forbid or stop a homeowner from installing solar. They can try & restrict homeowners from putting panels on some parts of the roof – such as the front that is visible from the street. Our team makes every effort to work with your HOA from the start of the process, and we will always provide you with paperwork to submit to your HOA if needed. Texas is very Solar Friendly and will most always supersede any HOA. 

The Federal tax credit is up to 26% of the value of your system. So a $35,000 system would receive a $9,100 tax credit. You can apply this credit to any money you may owe the IRS on your annual taxes; if the amount of the credit is greater than the amount of tax you owe, then you can carry the extra credit over to the next year’s taxes. You can also apply the total amount of the credit to the cost of the system and then effectively reduce the overall 

investment in your system.

The solar panels are stronger than your roof and can withstand most normal hail storms. However, in extreme circumstances, Mother Nature can damage the panels, which is why you will need to add them to your homeowners insurance. Luckily the cost is very low, usually less than $70 per year. The best news is if they do get damaged, we will replace them with the newest technology...like a free upgrade!

First, the more South-facing your roof, the better – that is the most direct sunlight. But a West or East-facing roof can still capture enough sunlight to be cost-effective. But a North-facing roof is a no-no for solar. In most cases, it just won’t capture enough sun to make it worth the cost. So if anyone suggests your install solar on a North-facing part of your roof – get another opinion!

Your home buyer gets a great deal! Solar adds value to your home, and you are able to recoup your investment when you sell your home. Solar homes also sell much faster than non-solar homes! If there is a remaining balance on the loan it is recommended you add that balance to the price of the home. Additionally if your realtor can’t sell a home with free electricity, then consider a new realtor.

A long time! Solar panels last and incredibly long time because they have no moving parts. The panels are made of aluminum, glass and silicon, which slightly degrades over time. The manufacturer offers a 25-year standard solar power warranty, which means that power output should not be less than 80% of rated power after 25 years; less than a 1% per year!

Solar panels are surprisingly low maintenance. Honestly, in most cases, normal rainfall is enough to keep the panels clean. However, if you live in an area with a lot of dust/dirt, birds or trees that drop lots of leaves, then a rinse with your garden hose should get the job done. AGES also offers a full range of available maintenance programs to choose.