Frequently Asked Questions

The installation process for a whole solar system typically involves several steps, including:

Initial consultation: Before installation, a solar professional will typically conduct an initial consultation with the homeowner or business owner to assess their energy needs and determine the best solar solution for their property.

Site survey: Once the solar professional has determined the best solar solution for the property, they will conduct a site survey to assess the property’s roof or land for solar panel placement and any potential shading issues.

Design: Based on the site survey, the solar professional will create a customised solar system design that includes the number and placement of solar panels, the type of inverter, and any necessary wiring and mounting hardware.

Permits and approvals: Before installation can begin, the solar professional will obtain any necessary permits and approvals from the local building department and utility company.

Installation: The solar panels, inverter, and other necessary equipment will be installed by a team of trained professionals. The panels will be mounted on the roof or on the ground, and the inverter will be connected to the electrical panel.

Inspection and connection: After installation is complete, the system will be inspected by the local building department and utility company to ensure that it meets all safety and performance standards. Once approved, the system will be connected to the utility grid.

Ongoing maintenance: To ensure the continued performance and longevity of the solar system, ongoing maintenance and monitoring is necessary. This may include regular cleaning of the panels, monitoring of the inverter, and occasional repairs or replacements of components.

Overall, installing a whole solar system requires a combination of technical expertise, specialised equipment, and knowledge of local regulations and requirements. It’s important to work with a qualified and experienced solar professional to ensure a safe, reliable, and efficient installation.

Year on year there is an increasing amount of homes which make the leap towards Solar Energy. And with more intricate systems has resulted in them generally become more readily available. So it is no surprises that Installation Fees and the actual Solar Panel Residential Installation Cost have decreased.

Average Prices nowadays range between £400 – £550 per Solar Panel, with a complete 4kW system costing around £6500. This is a standard model, with there being different kW systems. However, prices will vary between systems and between residential solar panel installation services and commercial solar energy systems installation.

The number of solar panels needed to run a house depends on several factors, including the size of the house, the amount of energy consumed by the household, and the location of the house.

To estimate the number of solar panels needed, a solar professional will typically consider the household’s average daily electricity usage, the amount of sunlight available in the area, and the efficiency of the solar panels.

It’s important to note that most solar installations are designed to supplement rather than replace the household’s energy consumption from the grid. A well-designed solar system will typically offset a significant portion of the household’s energy usage, resulting in lower energy bills and reduced carbon emissions.

No, solar panels do not work at night because they require sunlight to produce electricity. Solar panels work by converting the energy from sunlight into direct current (DC) electricity, which is then converted into alternating current (AC) electricity that can be used to power homes and businesses.

At night, when there is no sunlight, solar panels cannot generate electricity. However, many solar installations are equipped with battery storage systems that can store excess electricity generated during the day for use at night or during periods of low sunlight. This allows solar-powered homes and businesses to continue using electricity even when the sun is not shining.

It’s important to note that the amount of electricity that a solar panel generates can also be affected by factors such as cloud cover, shading, and the angle and orientation of the panels. In general, solar panels are most efficient when they receive direct sunlight at a perpendicular angle to the sun, and when there is no shading or obstruction of sunlight.

SMS deploys a meticulous approach to solar panel fitting, utilising industry best practices and precision engineering. Our team ensures the perfect alignment and positioning of panels for maximum sun exposure and calculations in the process.

An initial consultation, site assessment, system design, installation, and post-installation monitoring. The goal is to provide a hassle-free experience and exceptional results for maximum customer satisfaction.

Here at SMS we uses up to date industry leading solar software to accurately calculate your expected output. PV Software accurately takes into account panel performance, inverter performance, shading, roof pitch, roof orientation and your local weather data to calculate how much electric you will generate.

We then include these figures and how much money you are likely to save, based on your usual usage and the amount that will be returned to the grid.

No, leave that to the team at SMS it’s our job to inform the local DNO and building controls about the process of installing PV.

You’ll see savings on bills immediately. Payback of the installation cost depends on many variables including quality of panels and inverters, your local weather conditions, shading, pitch and orientation of your situation.

Typically, in areas of the uk you can expect to pay off a home system in 8-12 years and a commercial system in 6-8 years. After that, it’s like getting free energy for the lifetime of the system (25-50 years with quality panels).

This can also differ for battery storage, and it will come down to your consumption and the size of the battery you require.