Frequently Asked Questions

Determining if solar energy is right for you involves considering several factors such as roof space and access to sunlight, home energy usage, budget, and eligibility for incentives. At SunThrive Solar, we start by calculating a quick savings estimate based on your home, location, and current electricity costs. We then outline options based on your goals and the specifics of your home. All of this happens before you buy, allowing you to decide if solar is right for you based on a clear understanding of the potential costs and savings.

The majority of solar energy systems provide genuine benefits, both economically and environmentally. To avoid potential issues, people considering solar energy should do thorough research, obtain multiple quotes from reputable installers, and carefully review contracts before making decisions. Consulting with professionals and seeking objective information can help separate legitimate concerns from misconceptions or cases of fraud.

Exploring moving to solar energy can feel very complex, especially if you’re researching solar providers, technologies, incentives, requirements, permits, and the list goes on. SunThrive Solar provides end-to-end solar energy solutions that allow you to plug into savings with less time and no hassle. From financing and design to installation, tracking, and maintenance, our dedicated team of solar experts will answer your questions, address any concerns, and guide you through every step of the process.

Choosing the right solar energy system for your home will depend on various factors, including your current electricity usage, the size and layout of your roof, and how much you want to rely on your own energy. To identify the right solution for your home, we’ll outline estimated costs, environmental impact, monthly savings, and long-term savings based on system sizes that work for your home. Should you choose to invest, we’ll design a solution that meets your goals and maximizes your savings.

Before designing your custom solar solution, we’ll take a detailed survey of your property and assess the solar energy potential of your roof. Beyond the size, angle, and orientation of your roof, we’ll look at shading, estimated tree growth, materials, ventilation and drain pipes, and the overall condition or health. Because solar panel arrays can last 25-30 years without the need for repair or replacement, the roof beneath must be in good shape. In some cases, it may be advisable to have your roof repaired or replaced entirely before the installation of solar panels can begin. Once installed, solar panels can protect your roof and reduce the need for ongoing repairs. If roofing work is recommended based on age or condition, we will handle that too.  There are several benefits to including necessary roofing work in your solar project. You can claim 30% of the roofing price back with the federal solar tax credit. You can include the entire cost of roofing in your $0 down solar project financing. 

Your solar electricity production and grid use offset are calculated on an annual basis using net-metering. Solar panels produce more electricity in summer vs. winter and in the daytime vs. nighttime.  Net-metering allows your new digital meter to track and credit the electricity your home is producing, but not immediately using as it flows out onto the power grid. At night or in the winter, your home will pull electricity from the grid to supplement the solar electricity. The difference between the amount of electricity sent to the grid from your system and the amount of electricity drawn from the grid to your home is your “net usage”.  You would only pay for electricity that you pulled from the power grid that is in excess of the amount of credit you received for sending electricity out to the grid.

Our panels are all black, including the frames, so they blend nicely with darker shingles. We always use the cleanest, most symmetrical design layouts possible and when appropriate the panels will be placed on the back side of your house.  

It’s a common misconception that solar panels won’t work in cloudy or rainy weather. In reality, your solar panels can still capture and generate power from indirect sunlight. Advancements in solar technology, such as the development of more efficient panels and the use of tracking systems that follow the sun, have improved the ability of solar panels to capture sunlight in less-than-ideal conditions.

During the initial survey and design process, we’ll examine your overall electricity usage relative to your potential solar energy production and structure your array to optimize savings. Geography and weather are key factors in this process.

We offer financing through several reputable lenders, including Rocket Loans. We recommend using a $0 down financing program for immediate savings. Our loan programs are designed to keep monthly payments low and in most cases, lower than your average bill from the power company. The best part about financing your solar installation is your payments are fixed; the monthly payment is the same amount for the entire loan term. This protects your budget from increases in power company rates and fees that would have caused your monthly payments to go up, up, up.

Electricity rates can vary and some households do benefit from low monthly costs. However, electricity rates are on the rise and the environmental costs of relying on fossil fuels remains. Our solar savings estimator can forecast potential savings based on your location and current monthly electricity costs.

In many cases, while the upfront cost may be reduced or eliminated, there could be financial implications or constraints associated with such offers. Consulting with a reputable solar installer and carefully reviewing all details can help you make an informed decision.

“Free solar panels” is intentionally misleading and we question the ethics of any company who uses this type of advertising. Solar, like everything in life, does cost money.   

That being said, our program may affect your finances as if it were free or even as if you were paid to go solar. Consider the amount you were forced to pay the power company over the last 12 months and compare it to your $0 down solar loan payment for 12 months. Next, consider the income you will receive from the federal solar tax credit and the 8% average annual bill increase for electric utility customers over the past 8 years. It surely does seem “free” if you do the math, but only because it’s money you’re obliged to spend either way.

Dominion does not provide home solar installations. They only recommend and refer to solar companies. It’s another profit center for Dominion, where they are paid by solar companies for providing leads. It seems like yet another example of power companies misleading their customers.  Would you trust a home phone provider to recommend a cell phone company? Same concept. Dominion is better served to recommend expensive or unsatisfactory solar installation companies in order to retain their customers.

The federal residential solar energy credit allows you to claim 30% of your total solar installation costs on your federal taxes and reduces the amount you owe in taxes as a credit. The installation of the solar energy system must be completed during the tax year. There is no maximum to the amount you can claim. To learn more – Visit the Department of Energy website for more information.

SREC stands for Solar Renewable Energy Certificate. 

As your home produces clean energy from your new solar panel energy system, you earn 1 SREC per 1,000 kWhs produced. The electric power companies purchase your SRECs to offset their excessive pollution as mandated by the government. Currently, the average value per SREC is $52 and the average home solar energy system produces 10,638 KWhs per year. That is an extra $520 per year that you can get paid for going solar!

Many homeowners want to know when they will reach their break-even point or payback date. This is when your total energy savings will exceed your total installation costs. If you pay for the project with cash, Most current estimates for the average solar payback period in the U.S. fall between roughly 6 and 12 years.  If you use $0 down financing, your installation costs are spread across the term of the loan. This allows you to see a more immediate Return on Investment(ROI), because you have only invested the amount you have paid towards the solar loan payments.  After receiving the federal tax credit on your financed project within 18 months, you will be way ahead of a break-even point.  That said, while electricity rates continue to rise, clean technologies have never been more affordable or efficient, resulting in a faster return on investment.

Not at all. During the initial survey and design process, we’ll work with you to outline overall costs as well as financing options and any incentives you may be eligible for. Since solar panels require little to no maintenance and are designed to reduce or eliminate your monthly electricity costs, we can easily forecast your savings before you buy. We include a 25 year extended warranty on your Entire solar system and the system’s electricity production amount is guaranteed for 25 years.  Plus, with best-in-class technologies and ongoing customer support, you can count on long-term savings with your solar energy system.

Solar panels require little to no maintenance and often reduce the overall maintenance costs on your home by protecting the structure of your roof. To maximize the performance of your solar array, it is important to keep panels free of dust and debris. Natural patterns of wind and rainfall will do most of the work for you, but annual cleanings can help to keep them functioning at their best. We offer free cleanings and inspections as part of our SunThrive Solar Ambassador Program.

At SunThrive Solar, we rely on best-in-class technologies that are both durable and easy to maintain. All solar panels installed by SunThrive come with a 25-year warranty. We include a comprehensive 25-year extended warranty on your Entire solar system (including the inverters) covering all parts and labor.   We also assist you in verifying that coverage through your homeowner’s insurance policy for the solar system is in place and won’t cost extra. 

The first solar cells were manufactured by Bell Laboratories in the late 1950s and are still functional today. Likewise, panels installed on homes in the 1970s and 80s continue to generate power. Our panels are rated tier-1 and have a 25-year power output warranty and may continue to produce power well beyond that point. Most panels installed in 2023 had ratings between 375w and 405w. Our panels are 405w, because only use the highest rated available panels, which means that you are getting the most up-to-date technology available. Increases in efficiency have been minimal over the past decade, meaning that increases in wattage output is more closely correlated to the panel dimensions rather than technological improvements. 

No. In net-metering states like VA, you receive full credit for excess energy sent out to the power grid. It’s like a virtual battery.  When your system is able to keep up with household demand (like at night), the power company sends back all of the electricity you sent out during the daytime when your system was producing more electricity than your house was requiring.  This saves homeowners tens of thousands of dollars on battery costs.  It’s also safer and more environmentally friendly than battery storage.  The only reason homeowners with net-metering opt for the added expense of a battery is so that they don’t lose power if the grid is down; similar to a home generator.

No. We will take care of it for you.  Please see FAQ 4. If roofing work is recommended based on age or condition, we will handle that too.  There are several benefits to including necessary roofing work in your solar project.  You can claim 30% of the roofing price back with the federal solar tax credit. You can include the entire cost of roofing in your $0 down solar project financing.  

As a rule of thumb, if your roof is over 10 years old, it is recommended that you replace the shingles before installing solar panels. Solar panels and roof shingles have similar life spans. If you put new solar panels on an older roof, you may need to uninstall and reinstall them when it’s time to replace your roof.

Solar panel systems generally do not need much (if any) maintenance over their lifespan. The panels are built to withstand hail, 140+ mph winds, and other bad weather. In terms of maintenance, all you need to do is keep your panels clear of debris. See our Sunthrive Solar Ambassador Program for info on free maintenance.

While it is possible to remove a solar panel system and reinstall on a new home, it’s often preferable to sell the home with the panels in place. Solar panels increase the value of your home, making it stand out, sell faster, and earn more in the real estate market.

According to a study by Zillow, homes with solar power sold for 4.1% more than comparable homes without solar power. Data reported by the Office of Energy & Renewable Energy, an averaged sized solar array increases the value of your home by $15,000.