The cost of a home solar system can vary depending on your energy usage and system size, but prices have become much more affordable. As of late 2025, the average upfront cost for a typical residential solar setup (around 8 kW) is roughly in the $20,000–$26,000 range before incentives tesla.com. That translates to about $2.75–$3.25 per watt installed, on average.

Keep in mind this is before applying the 30% federal tax credit – with that credit, the net cost might come down to around $14,000–$18,000 for an average system. Smaller systems can cost less (e.g. a 5 kW system might be around ~$15K before credit), and larger systems or those with batteries will cost more. Every home is different – factors like the number of panels, your roof complexity, and equipment choices (standard vs. premium panels, addition of battery storage, etc.) will affect price.

The good news is solar can be financed with loans, meaning you don’t necessarily need to pay the full amount upfront. Many homeowners opt for a monthly payment that, in many cases, is lower than their old power bill. Solar Tyme USA provides free customized quotes so you can see the cost for your specific home and how incentives would reduce the price. We’ll work with you to find a solar solution that fits your budget, and with the long-term energy savings, most folks find that solar more than pays for itself over time.

The actual installation on your roof typically only takes 1 to 3 days, depending on the system size and your roof’s complexity freedomsolarpower.com. Our Solar Tyme USA crew can often complete a standard home installation in a single day.

However, the overall timeline from signing a contract to having an operational solar system is longer – usually around 4 to 8 weeks on average. Here’s why: after you decide to go solar, we handle the system design and apply for permits with your city or county (permitting can take a couple of weeks in some areas). We also coordinate with your utility for interconnection approval.

Once permits are issued, we schedule the installation at a time convenient for you; the install itself (mounting panels, running wiring, setting up the inverter) is quick, often done within a day or two. After installation, there’s a final inspection by local officials and the utility needs to give permission to activate the system.

Those steps can add a few more weeks, sometimes taking 2-4 weeks depending on how fast the inspectors and utility move freedomsolarpower.comenergysage.com. Rest assured, we manage this whole process for you and keep you updated. While you might be eager to turn on your panels right away, the typical wait of about one to two months ensures everything is done safely and by the book.

Once up and running, you’ll be enjoying solar power for decades, making the upfront patience well worth it!

Yes – solar panels can increase your home’s value. Buyers see a solar-equipped home as an upgrade (much like a renovated kitchen), because it means lower electricity bills for them and a form of home improvement. A comprehensive study by Lawrence Berkeley National Lab found that, on average, homes with solar in the U.S. sold for about $15,000 more than comparable homes without solar energy.gov. In addition to potentially selling at a premium, homes with solar can appeal to buyers by advertising energy savings, which may help your home sell faster.

Importantly, in many areas adding solar won’t increase your property tax assessments: states like Florida provide a 100% property tax exemption for residential solar, so the added home value from solar isn’t taxed palmetto.com. (Georgia currently does not offer this exemption, but Texas does exempt the added value of solar from property taxes as well palmetto.com.)

That means you get the added equity in your home without higher annual taxes. Keep in mind that to realize the full value benefits, it’s generally best if you own the solar system (as opposed to having it under a lease). But even leased systems can add appeal since the home will come with lower electric bills. Overall, solar is one of the home improvements that often pays for itself not only in energy savings but also by boosting your home’s resale value.

Standard grid-tied solar systems will shut off during a power outage – this is a safety requirement. When the grid goes down, your inverter automatically turns off your solar system to prevent any back-feed of electricity that could harm utility repair crews solarinsure.com.

This means that if you don’t have a battery or backup system, your solar panels will not power your home during an outage (even if the sun is shining). However, there are solutions to keep your lights on when the grid is down. One option is adding a battery backup to your solar system – with batteries (and an appropriate inverter), your home can form a mini “island” grid.

During an outage, the panels will charge the battery and the battery will supply your home, allowing critical appliances to run even with no utility power solarinsure.com. Another emerging solution is newer inverters that can provide limited daytime power during outages using just the panels (for example, the Enphase IQ8 series can supply some power without a battery by disconnecting from the grid).

Most homeowners interested in backup power opt for a solar + battery system for seamless reliability. Solar Tyme USA does offer home battery installations (such as Tesla Powerwall or Enphase batteries) which give you emergency power and greater energy independence. With the right setup, you can have peace of mind that even if the grid goes down, your solar will keep essential loads running. If backup power is a priority, let us know – we’ll design your solar system to include that capability.

Solar systems come with several strong warranties to protect your investment. Most solar panels carry a 25-year performance warranty, meaning the manufacturer guarantees the panels will still produce typically around 80-85% of their original output at year 25. Panels also usually have a product warranty (against defects) of 10-12 years, and many top-tier panel brands now offer 25-year product warranties, reflecting how confident they are in their panels’ longevity thecooldown.com.

Inverters (which are the box of electronics that convert the solar power to usable AC power) commonly have warranties around 10 to 15 years, and some inverter manufacturers offer extended warranty options up to 20-25 years. Additionally, our installation workmanship is warrantied – Solar Tyme USA provides a warranty on our labor and roof penetrations, so any issues caused by the install itself are covered by us. It’s also worth noting that both panels and inverters are very reliable; significant failures are uncommon. Industry data shows that panels and inverters come with extensive warranties and rarely have problems during their lifespan paradisesolarenergy.com.

In the event something does go wrong, these warranties mean the component will be repaired or replaced at little to no cost to you. We only use reputable brands with solid warranty support, and we’ll be there to assist if you ever need to make a claim. Bottom line: you can expect your solar system to last 25+ years, and the warranties ensure you’re protected throughout that time.

No – when installed correctly, solar panels will not damage your roof. In fact, they often help protect the portion of the roof they cover from UV exposure and weathering. Solar Tyme USA’s installers are trained to preserve your roof’s integrity.

We use special mounting hardware with flashings that create a waterproof seal at every penetration point. This means the attachment points are fully sealed to prevent leaks. A solar installation done to code by professionals should leave your roof as watertight as it was before (if not more so).

Installers also typically offer roof workmanship warranties; for instance, we warranty our roof work, so if there ever were an issue caused by our installation, it would be fixed at no cost to you thecooldown.com. It’s very rare to have problems – roof leaks from solar installs are not something we see frequently happen thecooldown.com.

One consideration: if your roof is old or in poor condition, it’s wise to re-roof before adding solar. Solar panels have a 25+ year lifespan, so you want your roof underneath to be in good shape for that duration. If needed, we can coordinate with a roofer or recommend doing a roof replacement first. But for most homes with a decent roof, adding solar is straightforward and actually can extend the life of the roof sections under the panels (since they shield that part of the roof from sun and rain).

Rest assured, we take every precaution to treat your roof with care. In summary, a properly installed solar system will not damage your roof – it will produce decades of clean energy while your roof remains intact and leak-free.

Not at all. Solar panels are very low-maintenance. They have no moving parts, and they’re built to withstand the elements for decades. In most cases, you won’t need to do much, if anything, on a regular basis. Rainfall will naturally clean off dust or pollen on the panels.

If you live in an especially dusty area or somewhere with infrequent rain, you might rinse your panels with a garden hose once or twice a year or hire a cleaning service, but many homeowners never need to clean their panels and still get great performance. It’s a good idea to keep an eye on your system’s output via your monitoring app; if you ever saw a significant drop, it might indicate the panels need a cleaning or a service check. Generally, though, panels will continue producing energy with minimal upkeep paradisesolarenergy.com.

We do recommend an annual check-up or inspection of the system – Solar Tyme USA offers maintenance plans where we can inspect your panels, mounting, and inverter to ensure everything is in top shape (and we can wash the panels if needed during these visits). Inverters might need an occasional component replacement (like a fan or an update) as they age, but those are typically covered under warranty if it’s within the warranty period.

There are also no fluids to change or engines to maintain – it’s nothing like, say, maintaining a generator. In short, solar panels just sit up there and quietly generate power. You’ll enjoy the benefits with very little effort. And if any issue does arise, you can always call us – we’re here to help keep your system running smoothly for the long haul.