Residential Solar FAQs
Going solar is a big decision, and Kokosing Solar works to make it simple, transparent, and grounded in what’s true for Ohio homeowners. Below are the most common questions about Residential Solar, organized for clarity and expanded to support the way homeowners actually research solar energy systems.
Yes! You are likely a good fit for Residential Solar if you meet any of these conditions:
A free consultation helps determine your system size, estimated energy production, and whether your roof or ground space is a good fit.
Yes. Residential Solar has upfront costs, but once installed, the sun’s power is free. With electricity costs rising ~3% annually (and even more in 2023), solar helps control long-term energy expenses.
The 30% Federal Solar Tax Credit (Investment Tax Credit) reduces the cost of your entire solar energy system — including panels, equipment, and installation. If your tax credit exceeds your tax liability for one year, it rolls forward to future tax years.
This combination of energy savings, incentives, and increased home value makes solar one of the most cost-effective home upgrades available.
Put simply: if you spend $25,000 on your solar system, you pay $7,500 less in taxes when you file. If the credit is larger than your tax liability in the first year, the remaining amount can be applied the next year. Generally, all expenses included in the quote you receive from your Solar Consultant can be included in the deduction. There is no cap on the value of the credit, and it is available to both residential and commercial customers.
It’s simple:
Residential Solar is turnkey — your consultant manages the entire process.
For safety purposes, grid-interactive solar systems are designed to immediately disconnect and shut off if a utility grid failure is sensed. The system will automatically restart a few minutes after grid power is restored. As a result, no power will be available from the solar panels during utility outages. This protects utility workers who may be out working on power lines.
Solar energy systems can provide around-the-clock, independent backup power during utility outages if they are connected to an appropriately-sized battery bank to absorb and store the energy they produce. Natural gas and propane generators are other options for backup power. We have installed solar panels and a generator on numerous jobs when secure power is an absolute must-have.
Solar panels last 30 years or more. The industry-standard panel warranty is 25 years.
Solar panels degrade gradually over time with exposure to sunlight, wind, and weather. Panels are typically warranted 25–30 years and have a design lifespan of over 30 years. Energy production is expected to degrade by about one-half of one percent per year.
Inverters are warranted for 10–15 years and have an expected lifespan of 15–20 years. You may need to replace an inverter once in the system’s lifetime and we figure that cost into our financial predictions.
All other system components have service lives over 30 years.
Great question! Grid-tied solar electric systems automatically feed power into your house. Any excess electricity produced by the solar system and not used by your home is put onto the electric grid and spins your electric meter backward. Your utility credits you on your bill for the kWh produced!
Great question! Grid-tied solar electric systems automatically feed power into your house. Any excess electricity produced by the solar system and not used by your home is put onto the electric grid and spins your electric meter backward. Your utility credits you on your bill for the kWh produced!
Your solar panels convert sunlight into electricity. Energy flows to your home first, reducing how much power you draw from the utility. Any excess solar energy flows to the grid and is credited through net metering, lowering future electricity bills.
A solar inverter converts the DC electricity from your panels into AC electricity your home can use.
Residential Solar systems are grid-tied, which means you can still use grid electricity anytime you need it.
That depends! We can build solar panel systems on the roof or on the ground. Rooftop solar offers a lower-cost option. The roof is an existing structure that can usually serve well as a mounting surface for solar panels. A ground-mounted solar system requires a foundation and may demand a long underground wire run back to the house.
Either type of installation can work well. We can provide whichever option you prefer, and we will advise you as to our opinion of which will work best in your case.
The short answer is no. In fact, the reverse is true—by shading the roof from the sun’s rays and from the damaging effects of wind, hail, and debris, the solar array will actually increase the life of the roof beneath it. And the panels themselves are quite durable—about as hard to break as a car windshield.
As experienced, certified installers, we take great care to ensure no damage is done to the roof during the installation or anytime thereafter. We work very hard to ensure that each and every one of our customers is satisfied with their solar system results.
The Solar market is constantly changing as new technologies come on the market.
Our experience gives us an educated eye when evaluating new and emerging products. Our offerings have been carefully selected from premium companies in the solar industry. We have seen many companies come and go in our 20 years of business. It’s important for us to vet our equipment suppliers carefully and only install the most reliable equipment.
At Kokosing Solar, we specialize in installing full turnkey, grid-interactive solar energy systems. In addition to solar installation, Kokosing Solar is also experienced in installing solar energy storage systems and maintaining various solar battery offerings, Electric Vehicle charging stations, and gas generators.
No, Kokosing Solar does not install off-grid solar systems.
We’re ready to help! All you have to do is reach out to our solar energy experts for a consultation, and we’ll take care of the rest.
Various state and local incentives including SRECs may be available to you for your solar panel installation. Your Solar Consultant, who specializes in your unique geography, will walk you through any available solar incentives.
The physical installation usually takes 1–3 days. The total process—from contract to permission to operate—generally takes 2-3 months, depending on our schedule and utility timelines. We keep clients informed every step of the way.
Yes, but going fully off-grid requires solar panels, batteries, and a generator. Most Ohio homeowners opt for grid-tied systems with backup storage, which offer resilience and better economics. Kokosing Solar can’t take you off grid but we can help you understand why a grid-tied system may make more sense.
Yes. Manufacturers may qualify for accelerated depreciation, and SRECs in some areas. We’ve helped multiple manufacturers structure high-ROI solar investments.
Ohio businesses can explore cash purchase, solar loans, and PPAs. We help evaluate ROI, depreciation, and incentive stacking to determine the best structure for your business or organization. Then, we can help connect you with the appropriate financing partners.
Ohio is a de-regulated energy market so there are many different utility companies with many different rate policies. That’s why working with a professional who understands your local utility is vital. We don’t see this often, but it is possible, especially if you belong to a rural electric co-op.
Ohio is seeing growing solar adoption and more clean energy interest from businesses, cities, and utilities. Federal and local policies are shifting. Kokosing Solar stays engaged with energy policy at the state and national level.
Look for proven experience, good reviews, transparent contracts, and in – house crews. Kokosing Solar has built its reputation on quality, integrity, and long-term service — not shortcuts.
Lower quotes may reflect:
Solar is a long-term investment, so quality matters.
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