FAQ

💰 Residential solar system costs in Canada typically range from $15,000 to $30,000 before incentives, depending on system size and complexity.

📊 Cost factors include:

• System size (kW capacity)
• Panel quality and efficiency
• Roof complexity and installation requirements
• Inverter type (string vs microinverters)
• Location and permitting costs

After federal and provincial rebates, your net cost can be significantly lower. We provide detailed, transparent quotes with no hidden fees.

💳 Yes, we offer multiple financing options to make solar accessible:

• CUA (Credit Union Atlantic) - Competitive rates
• RBC - Flexible payment terms
• Canada Greener Homes Loan - Interest-free government financing
• Provincial financing programs - Location-specific options
• Solar leasing programs - $0 down options available

🎯 Our financing options typically offer:

• Monthly payments often lower than current electricity bills
• Terms from 5-25 years
• Competitive interest rates
• No prepayment penalties

We work to make every customer's situation work! Our team will help you find the best financing solution for your budget.

⏰ Most Canadian solar systems pay for themselves in 8-12 years, with some installations achieving payback in as little as 6-7 years with optimal conditions and incentives.

📈 Payback period depends on:

• Your current electricity costs - Higher bills = faster payback
• System size and efficiency - Better systems pay back faster
• Available rebates and incentives - Can reduce payback by 2-4 years
• Net metering rates - How much you earn for excess power
• Rising electricity costs - Accelerates savings over time

💡 Remember: After payback, you have 15+ years of essentially free electricity, with panels lasting 25-30 years!

❄️ Solar panels actually work very well in Canadian winters! While daylight hours are shorter, cold temperatures improve solar panel efficiency.

🌨️ Winter performance factors:

• Cold = Higher efficiency: Panels produce more power per hour of sunlight
• Snow reflection: Fresh snow can increase light reaching panels by up to 40%
• Self-cleaning: Snow typically slides off angled panels naturally
• Dark panels: Absorb heat and melt snow faster than surrounding surfaces

📊 Typical Canadian winter production: 30-50% of summer output, but still generates significant power on sunny winter days.

Annual systems are designed accounting for seasonal variations - your summer overproduction offsets lower winter output through net metering credits.

🔋 There are three main types of solar panels, each with distinct advantages:

We primarily install high-efficiency monocrystalline panels for optimal performance and space utilization.

⏱️ Most residential solar installations are completed in 1-3 days, depending on system size and roof complexity.

📋 Complete project timeline:

• Initial consultation: 1-2 hours (same day scheduling available)
• Design and permits: 2-4 weeks
• Equipment procurement: 1-2 weeks
• Installation: 1-3 days
• Inspection and grid connection: 1-2 weeks
• System activation: Same day as utility approval

🏠 Installation day process:

• Morning: Safety setup and roof preparation
• Mounting system installation and panel placement
• Electrical connections and inverter installation
• System testing and monitoring setup
• Site cleanup and homeowner walkthrough

We minimize disruption to your daily routine and ensure your property is left clean and secure.

📄 Solar installations require several permits and approvals, but we handle all paperwork for you:

🏛️ Municipal permits needed:

• Building permit: Structural and electrical review
• Electrical permit: Licensed electrician required
• Development permit: Some municipalities require for roof modifications

⚡ Utility requirements:

• Interconnection application: Permission to connect to the grid
• Net metering agreement: Sell excess power back to utility
• Electrical safety inspection: Required before activation

📋 Required documentation typically includes:

• Detailed system design and engineering drawings
• Equipment specification sheets and certifications
• Structural analysis (for complex installations)
• Electrical single-line diagrams

✅ Our permitting service includes: Complete application preparation, submission, and follow-up with all relevant authorities. We ensure compliance with all local codes and standards.

🏠 When properly installed by certified professionals, solar panels do not damage your roof and can actually provide protection from weather elements.

🔧 Our installation methods protect your roof:

• Flashed mounting points: Waterproof sealing at all penetrations
• Structural analysis: Ensure your roof can safely support the system
• Quality materials: Stainless steel hardware and premium sealants
• Professional installation: Certified installers follow industry best practices

🛡️ Roof protection benefits:

• UV protection: Panels shield shingles from sun damage
• Weather resistance: Protection from hail, rain, and debris
• Temperature regulation: Reduced attic heat in summer
• Extended shingle life: Less thermal cycling and UV exposure

🔍 Pre-installation roof assessment: We evaluate roof condition and recommend any necessary repairs before installation. All work comes with comprehensive warranties covering both equipment and installation.

🧭 In Canada, solar panels perform best facing south at an angle between 30-45 degrees, but east and west-facing installations can also be highly effective.

📊 Optimal orientations by performance:

• South-facing (180°): 100% optimal production
• Southeast/Southwest (135°-225°): 95-98% production
• East/West (90°-270°): 85-90% production
• North-facing: Not recommended (significant production loss)

🏠 Real-world considerations:

• Roof space availability: May require multiple orientations
• Shading obstacles: Trees, buildings, or chimneys
• Aesthetic preferences: Visual impact on home appearance
• Usage patterns: East panels produce more morning power, west panels more evening power

💡 Professional assessment: Our site evaluation uses specialized tools to measure solar irradiance and identify the optimal panel placement for your specific property, accounting for shading and seasonal sun paths.

🔄 In Canada, unused solar power is sent back to the grid through net metering programs, earning you credits to reduce future electricity bills.

⚡ How net metering works:

• Excess production: Automatically fed into the electrical grid
• Credit accumulation: Utility meter runs backwards, creating credits
• Credit usage: Applied to future bills when you use more than you produce
• Annual reconciliation: Some provinces provide cash payments for excess credits

📈 Seasonal balancing: Summer overproduction typically offsets lower winter production, with many customers achieving net-zero annual electricity costs.

🔧 Solar panels require minimal maintenance - they're designed to be virtually maintenance-free for 25+ years.

🧹 Basic maintenance includes:

• Visual inspections: Check for damage or debris (2-3 times per year)
• Performance monitoring: Track production through mobile app
• Occasional cleaning: Rain typically keeps panels clean, manual cleaning rarely needed
• Professional inspection: Annual checkup recommended (often included in warranties)

❄️ Canadian climate considerations:

• Snow removal: Usually unnecessary - panels are designed to shed snow
• Ice dams: Proper installation prevents ice buildup
• Storm damage: Check after severe weather events

🛠️ Our maintenance support: We provide comprehensive monitoring services and can arrange professional cleaning and maintenance when needed. Most issues are covered under our installation and equipment warranties.

📱 Modern solar systems include advanced monitoring technology that lets you track performance in real-time through smartphone apps and web portals.

📊 Monitoring features include:

• Real-time production: Current power generation and daily totals
• Historical data: Monthly and annual production trends
• Financial tracking: Savings calculations and bill reduction estimates
• Environmental impact: CO2 reduction and environmental benefits
• System alerts: Notifications for maintenance or performance issues

🔍 Performance optimization:

• Panel-level monitoring: Identify individual panel issues with microinverters
• Weather correlation: Compare production to local weather conditions
• Usage patterns: Optimize energy consumption timing
• Predictive analysis: Forecast future production and savings

🎯 Our monitoring support: We help you set up monitoring systems and provide ongoing support to ensure you're getting maximum value from your solar investment.

⚡ Yes, with standard grid-tied solar systems, your power will still go out during a grid outage.

🔒 Why grid-tied systems shut down:

• Safety requirement: Prevents electricity from flowing back into the grid
• Worker protection: Ensures utility workers can safely make repairs
• Automatic shutdown: Built-in safety feature in all grid-tied inverters
• Code compliance: Required by Canadian electrical codes

🔋 Backup power options:

• Battery storage systems: Store excess solar power for outage use
• Hybrid inverters: Automatically switch to battery power during outages
• Secure power supply: Limited backup power without full battery system
• Generator integration: Combine solar with backup generators

💡 Battery backup benefits: With a battery storage system, you can maintain power to essential circuits during outages while continuing to generate solar power. We can design systems to provide backup power for your most critical needs.

🔄 Net metering is a billing arrangement that allows you to receive credit for excess solar electricity you send back to the grid, effectively using the grid as a battery.

⚖️ How net metering works:

• Bidirectional meter: Measures electricity flowing both ways
• Credit accumulation: Meter runs backward when you produce excess power
• Credit usage: Draw from credits when your usage exceeds production
• Monthly billing: Net difference between production and consumption

🍁 Provincial net metering programs:

• Nova Scotia: Enhanced Net Metering - credits carry forward indefinitely
• New Brunswick: Net metering available, annual reconciliation
• PEI: Net metering program with seasonal balancing
• Ontario: Net metering with monthly billing cycles
• Newfoundland: Customer-generator program similar to net metering

💰 Financial benefits: Net metering maximizes your solar investment by ensuring you receive full value for every kilowatt-hour your system produces, regardless of when you use the power.

🏠 While solar panels don't directly extend shingle life, they do provide significant protection that can help preserve your roof's condition.

🛡️ Protective benefits include:

• UV protection: Panels shield shingles from harmful sun rays
• Temperature reduction: Lower roof surface temperatures reduce thermal stress
• Weather protection: Shield from hail, rain, and debris impact
• Reduced thermal cycling: Less expansion and contraction of roofing materials

❄️ Winter benefits:

• Ice dam prevention: Even temperatures reduce ice formation
• Snow load distribution: Panels can help distribute weight
• Wind protection: Reduced wind uplift on covered shingles

While panels provide protection, it could be argued that they may help prevent some forms of roof damage, particularly wind damage to shingles in the covered areas.

🏢 Sun Kissed Energy is a locally-owned Canadian company with our headquarters located at 160 D Robie Street, Truro, Nova Scotia.

📍 Regional office locations:

• Nova Scotia: Truro (HQ), New Glasgow, Elmsdale
• New Brunswick: Saint John
• Expanding coverage: Additional locations opening soon

🍁 We currently provide solar installation services in:

• Nova Scotia - Complete provincial coverage
• New Brunswick - Full service area
• Prince Edward Island - Island-wide service
• Newfoundland & Labrador - Major population centers
• Ontario - Select regions (expanding)

🚀 Service area expansion: We're actively expanding our service territory across Canada. Contact us to confirm availability in your specific location and to discuss project timelines.

🎯 Local expertise: Our regional teams understand local building codes, utility requirements, and provincial incentive programs to ensure seamless installations.

📏 Most residential solar systems require 300-600 square feet of suitable roof space, depending on your energy needs and panel efficiency.

🔢 Space calculations:

• Standard home (10kW system): ~600 sq ft (25-30 panels)
• Smaller system (5kW): ~300 sq ft (12-15 panels)
• Large system (15kW): ~900 sq ft (35-40 panels)
• High-efficiency panels: Require less space for same power output

🏠 Roof suitability factors:

• Orientation: South, southeast, or southwest facing preferred
• Tilt angle: 30-45 degrees optimal for Canada
• Shading: Minimal obstruction from trees, buildings, or chimneys
• Roof condition: Structurally sound and recently maintained
• Access: Safe installation and maintenance access

💡 Small roof solutions:

• High-efficiency panels: More power in less space
• Ground-mount systems: Alternative for insufficient roof space
• Partial-roof coverage: Still worthwhile for bill reduction

Our site assessment includes detailed measurements and shade analysis to determine the optimal system size for your available space.

⚠️ While DIY solar kits exist, we strongly recommend professional installation for safety, performance, and warranty reasons.

🚫 DIY challenges and risks:

• Electrical safety: High-voltage DC electrical work requires expertise
• Roof work dangers: Risk of falls and structural damage
• Code compliance: Must meet local electrical and building codes
• Permit complexity: Professional engineer certification often required
• Warranty voidance: DIY installation may void equipment warranties

🏛️ Legal and regulatory requirements:

• Licensed electrician: Required for electrical connections in most provinces
• Building permits: Professional drawings and certifications needed
• Utility interconnection: Professional installation often required
• Insurance considerations: DIY work may affect home insurance coverage

✅ Professional installation benefits:

• Safety guarantee: Trained installers with proper equipment
• Performance optimization: Proper system design and installation
• Full warranties: Equipment and workmanship protection
• Permit handling: Complete regulatory compliance
• Ongoing support: Maintenance and troubleshooting assistance

Professional installation ensures your system operates safely and efficiently while protecting your investment with comprehensive warranties.