Doesn’t My Home Business Qualify for MACRS?
Beware Claims of Solar Panel Depreciation Don’t believe solar salespeople claiming that solar depreciation deductions apply to residential homeowners. They don’t! If a solar salesperson tells you this, they’re either misinformed or misleading you. Depreciation deductions are only for businesses and rental properties—not for homeowners installing solar on their primary residence. “You can take […]
Do you offer same-as-cash solar financing or solar loans that feature no payment for 12-18 months?
A&R Solar Doesn’t provide Same-As-Cash Solar Financing or Solar Loans Featuring No Payments for 12-18 Months, and Here’s Why. We recommend being extremely cautious about same-as-cash financing. Read the fine print! Many of these “deals” are deferred interest payments. If you can pay off your loan in full within the 12-month window, that’s great. But […]
Can the Federal Income Tax Credit Cover Roof Replacement Cost to Go Solar
No. While we are not tax experts, we can assure you that adding the cost of replacing your roof into the federal income tax credit equation is a bad, bad idea. Don’t listen to any contractor who tells you otherwise. You don’t want to give the IRS any additional reason to audit you, and you […]
Why Are You Telling Me My House Isn’t Right for a Solar Energy System?
We’re in the business of selling solar energy systems, but for certain homes, going solar just doesn’t make good financial sense. We love our trees here in the Pacific Northwest, but they can definitely be a barrier to solar potential. The shade that trees can cast on your roof means that your solar panels won’t […]
Why is Having a Performance Guarantee on a Solar Energy System So Important?
Solar Energy System Guarantee: Why It’s Important Because it’s your investment. If you have a solar installer promising you big production numbers and then has no written guarantee to back them up, think twice before signing up. We take great pride in our reputation, and we also care about the solar industry as a whole. […]
Can I install solar on my pole barn?
Pole Barns: Can You Install Solar Short answer: Maybe. Whether or not you can install solar on the roof of a pre-engineered structure–whether it’s a pole barn, carport, or manufactured home–has to do with its load-bearing capacity. This isn’t the time to guess or hope whether the structure will hold up under the added weight […]
Why Is NABCEP Certification So Important for Installing Solar
Because we really believe that NABCEP certification matters. A&R Solar has the most NABCEP-Certified PV Installation Professionals in the Pacific Northwest. NABCEP certification is the gold standard for solar. It means that our employees have been through rigorous training and testing–they’ve invested a significant amount of time and money to become a solar PV professional, as […]
Why are you asking me about the age of my roof?
Any reputable solar installer will want to know how many years you have left on your roof. We require homeowners to have at least 10 years of roof life left when installing a solar energy system, and recommend having at least 12 to 15 years of life left. Solar panels are designed to last decades, […]
Why does your design have setbacks of the solar panels from the roof line?
Fire setbacks for solar PV systems are required by the IBC (International Building Code) and adopted by some state and local permitting authorities. The intention of the setbacks is to provide firefighters with access to the peak of the roof in order to provide positive ventilation in the event of a house fire. This firefighting […]