How Many Solar Panels Are Needed To Power Your House?

As an aspiring solar homeowner, no doubt you have some questions before getting started. Some common questions include: How many solar panels are needed to power your house? The answer depends on the size of your house, how much power you are currently using, how many hours of sunlight you can expect in the area, and more. In this article, we share with you how to find out how many solar panels are needed for your house.

Factors to Consider

There are numerous factors that will affect the number of solar panels needed. These include:

  • The energy requirements of your household, which you can easily calculate with some basic information
  • The climate in your area, which will affect the amount of sunlight you get
  • The size and efficiency of each individual solar panel you are getting

Because each household will have different energy requirements as well as variations in available roof space, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer when it comes to how many solar panels are needed to power your house.

Current Energy Consumption

One way of determining how many solar panels you will need is to find out your current energy consumption. Find your most current electricity bill and look for the kilowatt-hour (kWh) used. You can easily find out your hourly energy consumption by doing some simple calculations. Based on this figure, you will have a good idea of how much power you will need your solar panels to generate, ensuring that you are well-covered for all your household needs.

Hours of Sunlight in Your Area

If you live in an area that doesn’t get much sunlight, this doesn’t mean that you cannot make use of solar power. However, it does mean that you will need a larger number of solar panels when compared to a homeowner in an area that gets more sunlight.

Solar Panel Size

Another factor to consider when deciding on how many solar panels you need is the size of the panels you intend to get. This will be dependent on the amount of usable roof space you have. If you have a large available roof space, you can get several larger panels to achieve your desired energy output. However, if the roof space you have is limited, it would be a better idea to get smaller panels that are more energy-efficient. 

Solar Energy Solutions of America Can Assist You with Solar Panel Installation

Whether you are looking to get solar panels to make use of solar electricity or for pool heating purposes, you can turn to Solar Energy Solutions of America as your one-stop shop. We are committed to giving our customers the very best, which is why we partner with UMA Solar to get the high-quality panels you need to suit your budget and needs. We are a veteran-owned and -operated company as well as being fully licensed and insured – you can come to us for all your sustainable energy needs with full confidence.