Solar Panel FAQs

If you want to know how many solar panels you’ll need to power your house, then the answer will depend on a few important factors. As a guide, it is recommended that the typical three-bedroom home has 10 panels, and a one-bedroom home would run with 6 panels. However, to find the ideal number for your home, think about your average energy usage, how many people are in your home and the size of your home.
Solar panels will work best on any roof facing either South, South-East or South-West. Of course, the panels will work at their best when they are directly south facing, however, they will still perform at 86%, compared to south facing, when pointing towards East or West.

No, solar panels don’t need constant bright sun to generate electricity. They will work in all daylight hours and their optimum temperature is actually 10c.

Your solar panel system will be fixed to your roof using a rail system. This is designed to maintain the strength of your roof whilst also keeping it watertight.

Whilst solar panels don’t have any moving parts, they still need maintenance from time to time. To make sure that your solar panels are working at their best and running efficiently, we recommend booking an annual service.

Doing this will ensure that your panels are in full working order and will also flag any drops in the generation immediately, meaning that any repairs can be carried out as soon as they are needed.

Knowing how long it will take for your solar panels to pay for themselves will all depend on how much the overall system cost.

However, as energy bills are currently soaring in the UK, and the cost of living is increasing, many households with solar panels are taking much less time than usual to recoup the cost of the system.

Previously, solar panels would pay for themselves within 9 to 12 years, but in more recent times, these systems can now pay for themselves much more quickly.

Often, you’ll need to clean your solar panels around every six to twelve months. This may vary if your panels are exposed to dirt and grime in an urban area or are close to trees.

Most solar panel systems are designed to last around 20 to 30 years, with many manufacturers offering substantial warranties. To keep your solar panel system in good health, make sure to take good care of them and ensure that they are properly maintained.

Yes, even though the Government Feed-in Tariff has been removed, there are still significant long-term economic benefits to investing in solar panels. What’s more, with the Smart Export Guarantee, you could still receive some payments for the excess power you generate.