Solar FAQ

Every system is custom to your exact needs, and for qualifying homeowners, solar is a no up-front cost investment that is built to reduce or completely cover your electric bill. To find out exactly how much your solar installation would cost, set up an appointment with us here. You can lease your panels or buy them outright and they are also fully insured for 25 years. Read more about the solar installation process here. 

When we say panels are an investment, we mean it! Manufacturers warranty the panels to produce 85%-90%+ for 25 years. The industry standard lifespan is 25 to 30 years though some last for up to 40 years. Keep in mind: the panels on the international space station that were installed in the 60’s are original! Learn more here.

Solar energy is power that is generated by the sun. Because it is renewable, which means it is found naturally in the environment and constantly replenished, it is free and abundant to all. It can be used to power anything from small electronics to houses to large commercial businesses.

I feel like you already know the answer to this one—absolutely! What is worse than spending your hard earned cash on recurring electric bills? Because you own your own energy with solar panels, you save big on your electric bills—and can get to the point where you are paying absolutely nothing for electricity and even banking excess energy to apply to future bills or selling it back to the energy companies. 

In 2022, the nationwide tax incentive also allows you to deduct up to 26% of the cost of your solar panel system from your taxes. If you live in Massachusetts, you can also receive 15% of the cost of the system back, saving up to $1,000. Check your state’s solar incentives to see what additional savings you can earn. In addition, adding solar panels to your home is proven to increase your home value by 4.1% which comes into play especially when you are looking to sell. There are so many benefits to going solar.

Panels are low to no maintenance, and our installation partner Freedom Forever and finance partner Sunrun guarantee production for 25 years regardless of which method of financing (cash, loan, lease/PPA) you decide to go solar with.  

If cleaning ever is needed, it depends heavily on their specific style and type. Because they are all a little different, you should always clean your panels according to their specific directions. It is important to note that if your area receives a lot of precipitation, you are less likely to need to clean your panels at all. Keep in mind that cooler days are the most optimal time to clean. 

To serve purely as a general resource, here is an overview of how many solar panels are typically cleaned. Your system should always be turned off when you begin cleaning and you should never touch the underside of the panels. Start by gently brushing the panels with a soft brush on the end of a telescopic extension pole in order to dislodge any branches, dirt, bird feces, or the like. Next, use a garden hose to wash down the panels. Lastly, let the surface air dry in full sun.

In the United States, the average cost for standard solar panel maintenance falls in the range of $140 to $180, but Boundless covers these services in our 25 year warranty. We monitor your system remotely, and perform an in-person inspection if we find the system is underperforming. With Freedom Forever’s 25-year production guarantee, you can submit a claim for reimbursement if you get an electric bill you were not supposed to. No one else in the industry does this. Could we make it more simple? With Boundless, solar panel maintenance costs you nothing.

Panels are guaranteed by Freedom Forever and Sunrun to produce, and have a manufacturer linear power warranty stating that if a panel does not produce what it is supposed to within the 25 or 30 year warranty (depending on the manufacturer) the panel is replaced at no cost to you.

Groups of photovoltaic cells, which are made of silicon semiconductors, are connected together to create a panel. The photovoltaic cells are what conduct the solar energy into electricity. 

Yes! Installing solar panels to your home helps to increase your home’s value by up to 4.1% when compared to similar, non-solar homes. This drastically comes into play if you end up selling your home. Though this is considered an investment, typically homeowners see their solar panels pay for themselves in 9 to 12 years so you’ll find that in the long-run or short-term these panels are an intelligent decision. 

Definitely! Your photovoltaic panels can use any type of sunlight, whether it be direct or indirect, to create power. Though they are most effective in direct sunlight, clouds and rain are actually helpful in other aspects of your panels, such as cleaning. Because in most locales the weather changes daily, your energy production balances out in the long run. 

Boundless installs your panels in a few easy steps. After obtaining the necessary permits and conducting an inspection of your roof during our site audit, we send you your personalized solar design for approval. Once we get the green light from you, we install your system and then schedule a local inspector to make sure everything is safe and up to code. Following this, we gain permission to operate which is when we switch the system on for your use. That’s it! You can read in detail about the process here. 

In 2022, when you install a system, you receive 26% off your total project costs including equipment, permits, and installation, if you qualify. But, it is important to note that in 2023, this is expected to drop and in following years, this federal tax incentive could be terminated so we suggest you act now. 

Solar energy is renewable! This means that it is naturally occurring in our environment and it is constantly being replenished. Because it is energy from the sun, it is the cleanest and most abundant renewable energy source. Join the green energy movement by switching to solar—Mother Nature needs us now more than ever.

Solar panels can save you big in terms of rising property values (up to 4.1%), lower or no electricity costs (you can even sell your energy back to many large energy companies if you bank enough of it), and tax breaks up to 26% on your total installation cost. Each year, utility companies typically raise their energy costs by 4% meaning that when your system hits the 25 year mark, you’ll have saved around 45%. How much money you specifically can save depends on the location of your roof in terms of hours of direct sunlight your panels would receive, the size of your system, and your local utility rates. 

Think of it this way: With inflation rates higher than they’ve been in 40 years, imagine how much you would have to spend if you were to pay for all the gas you are going to use for the next 30 years. Essentially, installing a solar system is having your own power plant that produces your electricity— significantly cheaper than the utility—and protects you from inflation and rising rates with the utility company.

The cost of solar panels per a square foot ranges from $4 to $10 depending on the amount of energy used. For a more accurate representation that is personalized to your situation, use our cost calculator here. 

Yes, solar panels work all year around and in all weather conditions. Though the winter may cause a lower output of energy compared to other seasons because of shorter days and less direct sunlight, you can rest assured that they are still absorbing energy. 

Our solar experts design the systems to overproduce and create net metering credits with the utility during the months the systems produce more. This allows homeowners to offset the months where the systems produce less with those credits. For example, our systems produce enough electricity during the day to power a system through the night while the sun is not in the sky.