For all of you guys who are homeowners or newly owned

[mgoblue]

Re: For all of you guys who are homeowners or newly owned

I believe you do have to get the okay from them first though.

Yeah, there's rules and stuff...

My coworker had solar put in and he's still connected to the grid. The installers couldn't put in a "cutoff" switch legally (or something, I'm not sure), but they suggested he could have a different electrician put something in that would allow him to disconnect from the grid in emergencies. Right now if power went down he'd be just like everyone else...He just saves a lot on power bills.

[23]

Re: For all of you guys who are homeowners or newly owned

Yeah, there's rules and stuff...

My coworker had solar put in and he's still connected to the grid. The installers couldn't put in a "cutoff" switch legally (or something, I'm not sure), but they suggested he could have a different electrician put something in that would allow him to disconnect from the grid in emergencies. Right now if power went down he'd be just like everyone else...He just saves a lot on power bills.

What happens if he tries to sell his home. How would that affect him?

[mgoblue]

Re: For all of you guys who are homeowners or newly owned

What happens if he tries to sell his home. How would that affect him?

He's all legal now, so I assume he'd have to transfer some sort of solar stuff to a new owner? He's planning on being there years and years, you don't really add solar if you're not there for a while....Cost him tens of thousands (don't remember exactly) down to add it, and he should pay it off eventually

[23]

Re: For all of you guys who are homeowners or newly owned

I was just wondering if there was some kind of downside to having them on the house

[jeremym480]

Re: For all of you guys who are homeowners or newly owned

I was just wondering if there was some kind of downside to having them on the house

I think the downside is cost versus payoff. By the time you have the system install it would probably take 15 years before you start seeing a profit. They just aren't cost effective enough. That's why you don't see many. Really the only ones you ever see are from the "Go Green" folks.

[23]

Re: For all of you guys who are homeowners or newly owned

It's probably more now than not because of the option to do the lease type thing which is what I was mentioning.

It's no cost to install or maintain, you just move your service, to the company... Solar City instead of paying whomever it is you pay now (city service or dwp or whomever it is.)

[jeremym480]

Re: For all of you guys who are homeowners or newly owned

It's probably more now than not because of the option to do the lease type thing which is what I was mentioning.

It's no cost to install or maintain, you just move your service, to the company... Solar City instead of paying whomever it is you pay now (city service or dwp or whomever it is.)

If you're getting to save money from the jump, then I don't really see a downside.

[Burns11]

Re: For all of you guys who are homeowners or newly owned

I would look closely at the terms, if they install them and then if you ever decide to stop the service do they have to leave them like satellite TV? Are they going to come rip them off your roof leaving damage?

[23]

Re: For all of you guys who are homeowners or newly owned

I would look closely at the terms, if they install them and then if you ever decide to stop the service do they have to leave them like satellite TV? Are they going to come rip them off your roof leaving damage?

Good question

Jeremy see bigeasts post

[bigeastbumrush]

Re: For all of you guys who are homeowners or newly owned

I would look closely at the terms, if they install them and then if you ever decide to stop the service do they have to leave them like satellite TV? Are they going to come rip them off your roof leaving damage?

I don't know specific terms but i think solar panels stay with the house.

Just look around at all of the foreclosed homes out there. They still have panels.

I would think there is some sort of lease transfer during home sales for the new owners to start picking up the payments. Just guessing here.

Edit- this is why companies like Solar City carry so much debt. They have to pay for materials and labor and it takes them years to realize any gains from it as people finance them monthly and many default in the process.

FWIW...my home has solar panels but I didn't install them. They aren't for the entire house though. They are solar pool heaters. Previous owner installed them and paid for them.

[23]

Re: For all of you guys who are homeowners or newly owned

One thing I didnt check was, if there are contract terms, like you would have with say, Directv or a cellphone company. 1 year, 2 years... didn't think about it.

[jeremym480]

Re: For all of you guys who are homeowners or newly owned

Does anyone have any advice on growing a live living screen or vertical garden or something similar to that? My neighbor is building storage shed to go with his RV and it's screwing up my pool view and reflections.

Spoiler

A couple of things to keep in mind
1) I don't really want trees because I already have a big water oak that I'm always going to be a constant leaf battle with
2) I need something kind of small because there's only a 6 foot path between my fence and the pool decking. 6 feet seems fine, but I really don't want to get my lawnmower wheels on the deck while mowing because sometimes I have to mow when it's wet
3) I think something like bamboo would be too much trouble

Here's some pics of ideas

Spoiler

[Phobia]

Re: For all of you guys who are homeowners or newly owned

Does anyone have any advice on growing a live living screen or vertical garden or something similar to that? My neighbor is building storage shed to go with his RV and it's screwing up my pool view and reflections.

Spoiler

A couple of things to keep in mind
1) I don't really want trees because I already have a big water oak that I'm always going to be a constant leaf battle with
2) I need something kind of small because there's only a 6 foot path between my fence and the pool decking. 6 feet seems fine, but I really don't want to get my lawnmower wheels on the deck while mowing because sometimes I have to mow when it's wet
3) I think something like bamboo would be too much trouble

Here's some pics of ideas

Spoiler

First thing that popped in my mind was Honeysuckle, they grow rampant down here in Louisiana. All you would need is the lattice/screen in place.

[LowerWolf]

Re: For all of you guys who are homeowners or newly owned

The novice is back with another DIY question.

I noticed a hole in my laundry room ceiling tonight. After some testing, I discovered there's a leak when I flush the toilet upstairs (that bathroom is right above the laundry room). No leak if I run water in the sink or bathtub up there. So it has to be the wax seal on the toilet, right? There's no water on the bathroom on the floor.

Assuming that's the case, and before I hit YouTubeU, how hard is that to fix?

[KingMansaMusa]

Re: For all of you guys who are homeowners or newly owned

About to begin the process, started a new job in government and am a veteran so I'll go with the VA home loan, kinda excited but not really lol.