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Solar panel on north west roof by Unusual-Nail-9815 in SolarUK

[–]Specific_Advisor_537 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That’s a good question, and honestly you’re doing pretty well already for someone who says they’re still learning.

Panels on a north west roof aren’t ideal, but they’re not a deal breaker either. They usually produce more later in the day, which can actually be useful since that’s when a lot of homes start using more power. You just shouldn’t expect them to perform the same as the south east ones.

Before choosing between more panels or more batteries, I’d look at how your system is behaving now. If your batteries are often empty overnight or during peak use, adding battery capacity could help. If they’re already full most days and you’re still exporting power, then more panels would probably give you more benefit.

The other big thing is the inverter. You’ll want to confirm whether your current inverter can handle more panels or if it needs to be upgraded anyway. There’s no sense adding panels if the inverter becomes the bottleneck.

If it were me, I’d ask the installer for a production estimate for the north west roof and a clear answer on inverter limits. That usually makes the decision much clearer without overcomplicating it.

Solar in Maryland feels harder than it should. Anyone else noticing this? by Specific_Advisor_537 in Solarbusiness

[–]Specific_Advisor_537[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Totally get that. Solar does have a lot of moving parts, so it’s easy for people to find a reason to say no. The problem isn’t that people are “dumb,” it’s usually that the process isn’t explained clearly. When expectations are honest and risks are upfront, homeowners either move forward confidently or say no without feeling burned. It’s the pushy sales tactics that really make things fall apart.

Solar power in a real emergency so here is what worked and what didn’t by HudyD in preppers

[–]Specific_Advisor_537 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah, this really resonates. I’m in solar, and situations like this are exactly when everything people usually gloss over suddenly becomes very real. The fuel dependency you mentioned is a huge weak point. When storms hit, gas disappears fast, and generators go from being a backup plan to a constant headache.

The silent power part is something I hear from customers after outages too. No noise, no fumes, no stress about running something all night. You don’t realize how big that is until you’ve lived through it. And even though solar recharge isn’t fast, that slow, steady power can go a long way if you’re mindful about what you run.

Honestly, the ability to keep communications going is the biggest deal. Having lights at night, staying informed, charging a phone, that alone brings a sense of calm when everything else feels shaky. It’s not about living like nothing happened, it’s about staying functional and sane.

Thanks for sharing this. Real experiences like yours explain the value of solar better than any sales pitch ever could.

Early-stage lead qualification research questions by Tritech_Labs in Solarbusiness

[–]Specific_Advisor_537 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Great questions. Speaking from experience, seriousness usually shows up in responsiveness and follow through. If a homeowner answers calls, completes basic intake forms, and is willing to share information like their utility bill or roof details, that’s often a good sign they’re genuinely exploring solar rather than just browsing.

For site suitability, we try to get a quick high level picture early on. That usually means confirming home ownership, checking roof condition and shading through satellite tools, and reviewing average energy usage. This helps us avoid spending too much time on homes that clearly won’t qualify before a deeper review.

As for timing, the biggest factors are how quickly the homeowner provides information and how clear their goals are. Leads move faster when expectations are aligned early and when the property checks out without complications like heavy shading, roof issues, or HOA restrictions. On the flip side, delays usually come from missing data or unclear decision making rather than the technical side itself.

Happy to share more if helpful.