With the sudden emphasis on going green and working toward a sustainable world, solar power is on the rise. Solar energy is energy collected from the sun. It begins as thermal energy and is captured through solar panels (usually installed on the roof of your home). These panels capture and convert the energy into electricity for your home.
Solar power is a great option for residential and commercial properties in Denver. We often receive questions about switching to solar power, what it entails, and the science behind the process. If you’re interested in going solar, here’s what you should know.
One of the biggest factors impacting North American decisions on solar power is cost. While it does cost you to install solar panels and set up your power grid to receive the energy from the sun, it’s more of an investment than a price paid. Over time, you save money by cutting ties with your traditional power company and switching to solar.
Check out the local Denver website to see what we’re currently allotted for solar tax breaks or credits. This amount changes annually. Generally, you can expect rebates somewhere between $5,000 and $6,000.
Another big question we receive a lot at Bell Plumbing, Heating, Cooling, & Electrical is, “How much solar power do I need?” The answer varies by the size of your home, and your average power output now. For a traditional gas-heated home, you’re looking at a lower requirement than an electric heated home.
Most people can expect somewhere between 7,500 kWh to 35,000 kWh, which is a pretty big range. It’s best to talk to a professional for a more realistic quote based on your home size and function.
Like any investment, there are pros and cons to solar energy. Most of the impacts you’ll feel with solar power are for the better. However, there can be some cons, including weather conditions and access to sunlight.
For your solar panels to properly function and store energy, they need access to the sun. While we know clouds don’t completely block thermal energy from coming through, it does diminish the generation of your solar power panels by about 75% to 90%. That’s a big chunk of energy loss on a cloudy day.
Of course, solar-powered homes don’t rely solely on the sun. Not most solar-powered homes anyway. In Denver we see many homeowners use a hybrid of electricity and solar power. This reduces overall energy costs through traditional energy sources but still allows for a reduced carbon footprint on the planet.
Not sure you’ll have enough energy from solar panels alone? You can add a solar battery to collect and store excess solar energy. This allows you to rely on those days of bright sunlight to power through any cloudy afternoons or long nights.
Adding a solar battery is an extra cost, which means if you’re nervous about how much you’ll pay for your solar setup, you may not be as thrilled about adding a battery. On the other hand, the savings you’ll receive by keeping your power primarily solar will even out eventually.
Batteries also require room. If space requirements are tight in your home, it might not be the best option for you. Larger homes, especially those with big garages and storage sheds shouldn’t have an issue.
The longer you want your battery to last, the more batteries you’ll require. Many homeowners choose to use two or three to store ample hours of juice for later.
One item that many homeowners don’t consider when beginning the solar installation process is the rated size (capacity) of their electric service panel (containing the home’s circuit breakers). Up through the 1960s and 1970s, standard-sized homes were usually built with electric panels rated at 100A (amps). But for newer (and larger homes), the larger 200-amp panels were standard.
Electrical code rules limit the size of a solar energy system that can be connected to a home, depending on the rating of its service panel. If a home needs a larger solar energy system than the service panel will support, there are several ways to accommodate this and may include upgrading the size of the panel from 100A to 200A; (this is also a good idea for older panels that are no longer working well or if replacement parts are difficult to get). Our licensed electricians can easily perform this task either before or along with the solar panel installation.
Interested in adding solar energy to your Denver home? You might want to start with an analysis of your electrical panel. Bell’s licensed electricians can audit your electrical panel, replace it where helpful, and even provide you with a full home electrical safety analysis.
If you would like a quote on upgrading your home electrical panel, we invite you to give us a call or visit us online for more details.
We’re ready to answer your questions or schedule your appointment, call now or book online!
I had an excellent experience with Tomas Magallan from Bell Plumbing & Heating Co. Tomas was extremely punctual, arriving right on time and ready to get to work. He quickly diagnosed and fixed the heat regulator on our shower, which had been giving us trouble for weeks. He... Read more
Nathan was wonderful. I had a unique repair on salon equipment. He was there on-time, professional and knowledgeable. He was able to solve the problem so I could get back to work. He really knows his craft. We’ll definitely use again,
Dylan Secrest in truck 209 did a terrific job repairing our leaking sprinkler valve. He was on time, professional knowledgeable and friendly. The price seemed high for the repair, but that is not in the technician's control. He honored my coupon.discount.
My installer was exceptional! Very polite, very professional and performed the installation in less than two hours. He was very considerate of my property and made sure nothing was damaged (walls and stairs) when he removed the old heater and brought in the new one. VERY... Read more
Joe De Felice from Bell Plumbing was friendly, courteous, professional, and he quickly/efficiently replaced my main water shutoff valve in the basement the same day I called. He accessed the problem, let me know what needed to be done, and what it would cost, so I would know... Read more
Nick was on time and did a great job. He replaced the hot water pipe at the top of the hot water heater to stop the slow leaking of water. Everything appears to be working fine. Nick said to keep an eye on the hot water heater. Hot water heater is approximately 10 years old... Read more
Outstanding service and professional installation. For the quality and reliability that Bell consistently provides, I get great value for my money. Nate did exceptional work and was a pleasure to work with.
Thank you Jordan. Thanks for cleaning out our bathroom sink drain. The water is running right down the drain now. And thanks for the advice on the utility sink drain. Bell Plumbing and Heating always takes good care of our plumbing, heating and air needs.
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Jim was great! He was so friendly and made us feel comfortable and fully understand the repairs that were needed. Would absolutely use Bell in the future because the customer service was exceptional.
Excellent job and service inside and out!! They had to add an additional electrical box and update several outlets in the home. A fire actually broke out in the backyard due to old faulty outdoor electrical lighting. Their quick thinking and response prevented what could have... Read more
Jim W., the Bell Plumbing technician that came out today, was extremely knowledgeable, experienced and well prepared to handle our small gas leak. Jim was everything I wanted our technician doing the job to be! He explained everything prior to and after doing the job. He did a... Read more
We had an issue with our shower handle cartridge and the hot water sensor, and Dylan came to the rescue! He was professional, punctual, and clearly knew what he was doing. Not only was the repair done quickly and correctly, but Dylan also took the time to explain the issue and... Read more
The Bell team was top notch replacing our tankless water heater. They explained what the project was going to look like and when they were finished, they made sure we understood what the components were and how to maintain it. They were respectful and cleaned up at the end of... Read more
Trey and Nick are super electricians Prompt , professional and hard working . They had a complicated installation but problem solved and figured out a solution. Left my house clean and so nice to work withO Will always ask for these guys
Levi was the first to arrive—he was polite, friendly, and clearly explained the next steps.
Dylan came out next and confirmed what Levi had said. He provided more detail about the process, scheduled us for service first thing the next morning, and arrived promptly. He was... Read more
Jim was absolutely fantastic through the whole process from beginning to end of the purchase of 4 amazing Toto toilets. Bell plumbing is an amazing company that was extremely responsive and attentive. Thank you so much for all the hard work and amazing installation.
Levi was super helpful and great to work with. House stuff is always stressful and he took the time to look over all the issues we had and really access what the issue could be. We’re having another team member come out tomorrow to check some other possible sources of the... Read more
HVAC Replacement: I had a 24-year-old system that started giving me problems and so it ended up being replaced. Mike M. was great explaining and showing me the problem areas. He also did a great job explaining the pros and cons of repair vs replacement. The install team was... Read more
Trey was very diligent and professional as he repaired the subpanel at the corner of our deck. He was very neat and careful around all the landscaped garden plantings. A picture says it all and we were very pleased with his work and work ethic. I also would like to thank Lydia... Read more
My elderly mom had a clogged toilet, and her old house just had one bathroom. Bell was there within an hour of my call and had it fixed in 10 minutes. Everyone, from the lady who answers the phone to Jordan, the nice young man who came out, was very nice, easy to communicate... Read more
Just had Dylan with Bell Plumbing come out to replace a sump pump. I was getting an electrical work estimate, through Jeremiah (who was outstanding) and my sump pump stopped working when we were having weeks of rain. Although Bells schedule was packed they managed to make some... Read more
I found every person associated with Bell Plumbing incredibly professional, engaging and displayed a great work ethic. I can’t say enough about Noah, Nathan, Chris, Dante, Kyle and everyone else.
I have worked in the construction business for over 40 years and have worked with... Read more
We’ve used Bell for all of our maintenance needs over the last 5 years, and we’ve been pleased each time. We recently had a plumbing issue that needed prompt attention. The technician was on time and professional. Our issue was resolved quickly and at a very reasonable price.
Jordan from Bell Plumbing did an outstanding job with a preventive drain cleanout at my home. He even located an additional access point in our main drain line I didn’t even know existed! We’re good to go for a few years for only $89 — we have used Bell in the past for major... Read more
