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Contractor or DIY? Things to think about

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Contractor or DIY? Things to think about

 



You can install your own PV system in many locales. I have seen a number of

self-installed systems and they work just fine, and the owners are happy with

the results. On the other hand, there are a lot of reasons to use a contractor,

namely because of all the complexities involved in a PV system, some of them

very subtle. Experience counts for a lot.

Before you go DIY, first consider all the items on this list:

 ✓ You may not be able to connect to the grid with a self-installed system.

Before you do anything else, check with your utility company, and your

county building department.

 ✓ You may not be able to get insurance for your home with a self-installed

system. After all, it entails more risk, and if a system malfunctions it can

cause all kinds of problems, the worst being physical injury or a fire.

Check with your insurance company.

 ✓ Getting permits and inspections will be your responsibility. Visit your

county building department and ask about the range of requirements

you’ll be expected to meet. It’s not a short list, most of the time.

 ✓ Some equipment manufacturers will simply not sell equipment to any-

body but licensed contractors. This is understandable; their reputation

is on the line and if a DIY installs poorly, the manufacturer’s reputation

suffers.

 ✓ When selecting equipment, it’s imperative that you understand the

installation manuals. If they’re poorly written, or confusing, don’t use

that piece of equipment. You can get most manuals over the Internet,

even before you buy a piece of equipment.

 ✓ You may not be able to save much by installing yourself. Contractors

buy large quantities of materials, and they get much better prices, which

they can pass on to you. In addition, installations can require expensive

tools that you probably don’t have in your garage right now. You’ll have

to add the cost of these specialty tools to the cost of the job.

You can probably find a contractor who will work with you on an instal-

lation. The contractor will design the system and provide the parts and

let you physically mount the equipment into place and wire it up. Then

the contractor will check out your work. At the very least, I would rec-

ommend having a pro do the design, if nothing else.

 ✓ You won’t get a ten-year installation warranty if you go it alone. If you

install a rack mount system on your roof and it leaks, for example,

you’re on your own. If you have problems that are strange and difficult,

you may have to hire a solar contractor to come in and straighten things

out.

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