The Top 5 Solar & Battery Mistakes People Make
Homeowner Guide
The Top 5 Solar & Battery Mistakes People Make
A solar and battery system is a long term investment that should save you money for many years. Choosing the right installer and equipment matters just as much as choosing the right price.
Here are five common mistakes we see, and what to look for before you commit.
01 / Best Value
Choosing the Cheapest Quote
A low price can be tempting, but it often comes at a cost. Some installers use lower quality equipment, cut corners on installation or offer little support once the system has been commissioned.
What to look for: quality panels, inverters and batteries; experienced, qualified installers; clear product and workmanship warranties; and a detailed quote that explains exactly what is included.
A quality installation will usually deliver better performance, greater reliability and lower maintenance costs over its lifetime.
- High quality panels, inverters and batteries
- Experienced, qualified installers
- Clear product and workmanship warranties
- A detailed quote explaining exactly what is included
02 / Battery Sizing
Buying a Battery That Is Too Small
Many homeowners are sold the smallest battery because it keeps a quote looking attractive. Unfortunately, a battery that is too small may not store enough energy to make a meaningful difference to electricity bills.
A properly sized battery considers: daily usage, whether you are home during the day, any EV or heat pump, and future energy needs.
A correctly designed system can often deliver a much better return on investment.
- Daily electricity usage
- Whether you are home during the day
- EV or heat pump plans
- Future energy needs
03 / Future Plans
Not Planning for the Future
Your energy requirements may change over the next 10 to 20 years. Think about any additional demand and whether you may want to expand the system.
Future possibilities include: an electric vehicle charger, a heat pump, more solar panels, air conditioning or additional battery storage.
Choosing equipment that can expand later may save significant money compared with replacing components.
- An EV charger
- A heat pump
- More solar panels
- Air conditioning
- Additional battery storage
04 / Smart Controls
Ignoring Monitoring and Energy Management
Modern solar systems are far more than panels on a roof. The best systems help you see and manage how energy moves around your home.
Useful features include: phone monitoring for production and usage, charging batteries on cheaper tariffs, maximising your own use of solar power, tracking savings in real time and finding faults quickly.
Without good monitoring, it is difficult to know whether your system is performing at its best.
- Show production and usage on your phone
- Charge batteries on cheaper tariffs
- Maximise your use of generated electricity
- Track savings and identify faults
05 / Property Assessment
Choosing an Installer Who Does Not Properly Assess Your Home
Every home is different. The right installer should inspect the property and design the system around its actual conditions.
A proper assessment covers: roof orientation and pitch; shading from trees, chimneys or neighbouring buildings; annual electricity usage; consumer unit capacity; cable routes; future expansion; and DNO requirements where applicable.
A properly designed system almost always performs better than a standard one size fits all package.
- Roof orientation, pitch and shading
- Annual electricity usage
- Consumer unit capacity and cable routes
- Future expansion
- DNO requirements where applicable
Plan for the Whole System
Property
Roof orientation, shading and electrical setup affect the design.
Battery Size
Capacity should fit your actual electricity usage and future needs.
Monitoring
See generation, battery charge and energy use in one place.
Future Loads
Consider an EV, heat pump or system expansion early.
Our Approach
Designed Around Your Property
At Saltire Solar, every system is designed around your property and electricity usage, not around a standard package.
We take time to understand how you use electricity, explain your options clearly and recommend a solution that delivers long term value. Whether you want to reduce bills, increase energy independence or prepare for future needs, we design a system built to perform for years.
Thinking About Solar?
Get a Personalised Survey and Quote
Thinking about solar? Contact Saltire Solar today for a free, no obligation survey and personalised quotation.