Home Improvement Today?

I'm using SunPro for my system.

Where in the country are you? I anticipate not having to clean with how much rain we get here in AR.

 

You’ll still have to clean. Dust, bird crap, and whatever else that gets on and bakes in the sun isn’t gonna come off with just rain. You might be fine, but your panels won’t put out as much current as they could being freshly cleaned.

 

Rain, hmm I've heard stories of water falling from the sky. I live in Utah and mud is what we get . Then nothing for weeks on end and the dust settles. I only clean them in the spring after the snow is gone and then once in the middle of the summer. It's not a big deal, unless you are an idiot like me, and hurt your shoulder using a pole that is too short.

 

From my 2 yr here in Arkansas, it seems to rain at least once a week, and the humidity is almost never below 50%.

 

I'm curious what a ballpark figure is for solar installed? I'm guessing the amount of panels you'll need will factor into the cost. I'm right under 2k sq ft single story if that makes a difference. (Google says $15k-$40k, ouch!)

Edit: Also, did y'all buy or lease solar? Lots of companies out here want to lease everything. Seems like it would make more sense to buy it outright?

 

I'm buying my system. It's $67k with 24 panels and the battery. Just the battery is $20k.

 

My Father in Law is a GC and has been for about the last 30 years or so. He has transitioned from doing full house builds to specializing in kitchen, floors, bathrooms for flips and also doing groups of bathrooms and kitchens in the same neighboorhood. He does one, word of mouth, next thing you know he has 6 full kitchen renos going at once. It keeps his crews all in the same area and things tidy for him. If he's found a neighborhood with a sweetspot that keeps giving, you probably won't like the estimate he gives to pull his crews out of that area. That's just how it is right now. He's able to be picky and has been for awhile.

 

Got the knife plate pockets plunged into the bottom of my 8x8 fir posts and got them all standing ... by myself today

This old man is tired

 

I paid cash for mine. 10 panels was around $15K or $8K after rebates. In 7ish years I'll be even and "making" money for the rest of the 25 year life of the panels. I realize most people can't pay cash up front, so that leaves loans or leasing. I'm active on solar panel forums and there are a lot of leasing horror stories. Most seem to revolve around solar panel companies hooking financially illiterate people into bad deals.

 

It's freeking crazy out there. I'm just a DIY'er and retiled my brother in law's guest bathroom. He had neighbors asking for my name to see if I'd do work for them too. I have no doubt that I could work full time just doing handyman stuff.

 

Tesla is charging me about $50k for a 12.24kw system and 3 power walls. Their assessment said that’s 140% of my daily usage with a 9-day reserve.

0.99% financing with 10% down makes it a no brainer.

 

Thanks for the feedback on solar. Our local power company isn't paying anything back for extra power delivered as too many customers have solar, but I've gone back and forth about installing it for my own benefit. I think it would pay off in the long run, but I need to research it more.

 

I've also been considering it, but the initial sticker shock is too steep for me.

 

I have 2 friends that have solar systems for 7 & 10 years with 2 different mounting systems.

The one system that seems to be liked the most is a ground mounted system ... but needs a lots of space with no HOA's or zoning issues.

My friend with the roof mounted system is concerned when the roof needs replacing in the next few years.

Both said with their 7 to 10 year old technology ... the projected savings has not paid for the solar systems yet.

I asked them if they would install solar today with the newer technology and they both said it would be a 50/50 decision (depending on financing and any tax credits).

I have another friend who has an electrical/mechanical service company and says IF the solar cells are mounted on a steep roof ... they are a nightmare to service and/or clean and roof work is almost impossible. He does no installs and only services them and suggests cleaning every 6 to 12 months for peak performance.

I was thinking about them at my previous home ... but now in a new and smaller home ... it would take too long for me to get a payback ... and access to my roof for servicing is very difficult now.

 

A client of mine was looking at having the Tesla roof tiles installed on his house. After talking with Tesla rep and figuring out how many Power Walls would be required for an 80 square roof, the rep recommended against it if client wasn't going to be staying for at least 20 years. Wouldn't see the payback - $250k for product and install and a tx credit of roughly $67k over so many years isn't worth the investment.

 

Anyone know why my sump pump power cord has a plastic tube sticking out of it? Right next to the plug, there is a white plastic tube that sticks out about a 1/2 inch. I'm guessing something with air pressure but I don't really know. The tube itself is about 1/16 inch diameter

 

A quick Google search came up with this:

Source: https://donan-profiles.hatfield.marketing/article/understanding-sump-pumps/

 

Phone is finally dried out from yesterday's wood splitting sweat bath, so here's a photo of the solar panel array.




Also, I bought a couple pieces of art recently which showed up on Friday. I got them on the wall a few minutes ago.

 

I have cement fiber board siding on this house I bought. A bunch of the bottom corners of the siding boards are not fastened and are presenting a significant area for wind and water incursion. What fasteners do ya'll recommend to fasten these down?