Solar / December 29, 2020

3 Reasons Your Home May Benefit from Ground Mounted Solar Panels

Going solar can be a great way to make your home eco-friendlier and can also save you a considerable amount of cash on energy bills. However, any solar power system is only as good as its solar panels, and the positioning of your new solar panels will usually dramatically influence the amount of power they can provide.

Most residential solar arrays go on rooftops, but many homes rely on solar panels mounted at ground level instead. Ground-mounted solar panels have a few drawbacks when compared to rooftop panels, but under certain circumstances, they can also have some highly significant advantages.

When Should Homeowners Choose Ground-Mounted Solar Panels?

1. Your Home Lacks a Suitable Roof

For rooftop solar panels to function effectively they should ideally be pointed south. South-facing solar panels can capture and harvest direct sunlight throughout the day, while panels facing other directions can be left in the shade. 

If your home’s roof does not have any south-facing slopes, you may not be able to install rooftop panels at an optimal angle. Panels that face southwest or southeast can still be effective but will not provide as much power as panels facing due south. The south-facing areas of your roof may also be overshadowed by neighboring buildings or large street trees.

Rooftop solar panels must also go on a roof capable of supporting their weight. This can be a problem if your home’s roof has been weakened by storms or accidental damage or you live in an older delray home search with relatively fragile roof trusses. 

Ground-mounted solar panels can face any direction and receive support from their own dedicated support structures, rather than your home’s roof. If you find that your roof cannot accommodate solar panels due to problems with design or load-bearing strength, ground-mounted panels are usually the better option.

2. Your Home Has High Power Requirements

Choosing rooftop solar panels also places a limit on the number of panels you can safely install, which limits the amount of power your solar system can generate. If your household has high energy requirements, your roof may not be able to support enough solar panels to meet your energy needs.

Ground-mounted solar panels can go in any suitable space on your property, as long as you have zoning permission. Properties with large amounts of unused land can accommodate very large and powerful solar arrays, and smaller yards and gardens may still provide more room for panels than the roof of a compact home.

If you need more power than a rooftop solar array can provide, ground-mounted solar panels are well worth the extra investment. They are particularly useful for multi-family homes, which tend to have higher energy requirements. Large ground-mounted arrays are also useful for homeowners who live in more remote areas of San Diego County or want to rely solely on solar power without using the city’s power supply.

3. You Want to Maintain Your Own System

Solar panels require a fair amount of maintenance to stay in working conditioning and may need readjusting after storms or high winds. They must be free of dirt, bird droppings, and other substances that can prevent light from reaching the panel’s surface.

A solar panel maintenance service can perform these tasks, but if you want to take charge of maintaining your own solar system, ground-mounted panels may be the better option. Their convenient locations means you can clean and repair them more easily and safely. Ground-level panels also usually benefit from more cooling airflow than rooftop panels and can be less vulnerable to overheating problems. If you still aren’t sure whether ground-mounted solar panels are the best choice for your home, contact the solar experts at Mauzy Heating, Air & Solar for professional, personalized advice.