Professionals You'll Need To Work With When Installing Photovoltaic Panels On Your Home's Roof

Installing and utilizing an on-grid photovoltaic system is a phenomenal way to save money on your electric bills. And, if your photovoltaic panels provide you with more electricity than your home needs, your local power company may pay you for the electricity your system generates in what is called net metering policies.

To produce an optimal amount of electricity to take advantage of your state's net metering policy, you'll need to correctly install a photovoltaic panel system via several professional services.

Building Code Enforcement Officer 

First, you'll need to speak with your local building code enforcement officer to determine whether or not you are able to install photovoltaic panels on your home or property. If you can, you'll need to obtain a permit. The enforcement officer will inform you of any policies, restrictions, and requirements that you need to be aware of before, during, and after you have a photovoltaic system installed on your property. This also includes the licensing requirements of the contractors who you will hire to perform the installation of the system for you. 

Electrical Engineer or Solar Panel Installation Service

You'll need to hire a licensed electrical engineer to install the components of the photovoltaic system and tie it into the power grid. The components of a photovoltaic system include the photovoltaic panels, the mounting structure for the panels, the inverter, the electrical panel with switches and circuit breakers, the cables, and the power meter. A solar panel installation service typically has someone on staff or hires a sub-contractor who has the necessary licensing and credentials to install an entire photovoltaic panel system. 

Structural Engineer

If you are planning to have the photovoltaic panels installed on the roof of your home, it is crucial for a structural engineer to assess the condition of your home's roof and roofing structures as well as the structural integrity of the load-bearing walls and foundation. This is important to make sure the structure is capable of withstanding the additional weight of the panels and mounting structures.

The structural engineer will also need to assess the mounting structures before and after the solar panels are installed. If the structural engineer determines that the structural integrity of the roofing and home may be compromised by installing the panels on the roof, they will provide a list of alternatives, such as placement on the ground instead of on the roof or to bolster the roofing structure so it can support the additional weight of the photovoltaic panels. 

Contact a local photovoltaic panels installation service to learn more.