So, the day has come. You’ve decided to take steps towards obliterating those annoying energy bills. They come every thirty days from your energy retailer, and they have no plans to slow down, let alone stop.
Congratulations on taking your first steps into renewable energy. It’s good for the planet as well as being great for your bank account.
At Penrith Solar Centre, we understand the excitement at the beginning of a solar journey. We were just like you years ago, which is why we’re excited to guide you through the first day of your solar system: installation day.
In this article, you’ll learn what makes for a smooth installation day, which includes:
- Preparation with Your Solar Installer
- Summary of Pre-installation Steps
- Coordinating On the Day of Your Installation
- Jake’s Top Tips for a Smooth Solar Installation
By the end of this article, you’ll understand what will happen when we arrive onsite to install your solar system.
Preparation with Your Solar Installer
Your solar consultant has calculated the lay of the land for the installers to arrive.
They’ve identified where the team should park, how to access the roof, and they’ve probably put together a solid roof safety plan (we always do this). Permission to connect to your local DNSP should have been granted by now. All your ducks ought to be in a row.
To help you prepare in the days before your installation, a member of our operations team will call you and email you reminders. It will probably be Josh. He’s been with the company since 2021, and he’s been a father since 2023. He does a spectacular job at prepping customers for installations.
Summary of Pre-installation Steps
By this point, you will have provided a photo of your switchboard and a copy of your energy bill. This is done fairly early in the consulting process.
Notify About Property Works:
- Let us know about any other trades, renovations, or electrical work happening on-site. If there is anything happening, you’ll want to make sure the installation day is clear of other work to avoid conflicts.
Metering Requirements:
- Do not change energy retailers for at least 6 weeks after the installation. You’ll want a smooth transition for metering upgrades with your current energy provider. Waiting to change over helps with this process.
And in the days leading up to your installation day, someone from our operations team (it will almost certainly be Josh) will communicate the following:
First Email: This includes the installation date, a pre-installation booklet that tells you everything that needs to be done on-site to prepare, and any additional information for your customised system.
Second Email: This is sent one week out from your installation. It’s a reminder with another copy of the pre-installation booklet (just to be on the safe side).
Pre-install Call: This will happen the day before your installation. We’ll be confirming the installation and giving you some final instructions if necessary.
Payment Confirmation:
- Payment methods are confirmed during pre-installation calls (e.g., direct deposit or bank transfer).
- Final invoices are sent on the day of installation for the balance of your payment.
If you’d like to learn more about that, we suggest you check out the following article titled, How Long Will My Solar Install Take?
Click here for a free solar quote.
Coordinating On the Day of Your Installation
At 6:00 AM every morning, the roller door of the Penrith Solar Centre warehouse opens to greet the day. Our installers arrive with the brightness of the morning in their eyes. They get to work immediately, loading solar panels and batteries into trucks.
Our trucks are on the road by 6:30 AM every morning. Your installer should be arriving between 7:00 – 8:00 AM.
There are a number of things that need to be done before we arrive at your home.
First and foremost, any trade service doing major work on your home – like a solar installation – will need as much access as possible. This means keeping the driveway clear, removing any obstacles from the front lawn, and ensuring gates are open.
It’s also important to secure your pets in the backyard or inside the house. That last one’s a biggie – no one wants to spend half an hour chasing your cat down the street.
Taking care of these details, like keeping the driveway clear and providing easy access, makes a huge difference for the installers. It allows us to park our truck in a central location. This makes sure we can work efficiently on both the roof and the switchboard. This is especially important if we need to carry heavy batteries across the site.
If your home has a tile roof, we strongly, strongly recommend having spare roof tiles on hand before installation day. For standard tile roofs, we suggest keeping at least 12 spare tiles ready. If you have a terracotta roof, aim for up to 30 spare tiles, and for fancier Boral shingle terracotta-style roofs, we recommend at least 60 spares.
Having these tiles available makes sure we can replace any that might crack or break during installation. We’re always looking for ways to guarantee the best possible result. Using silicone or Sikaflex to patch damaged tiles and leaving them on the roof isn’t a practice any reputable solar installer should follow. We certainly don’t. Spare tiles are a must.
Another important part of installation day is being available to talk to our team members as they walk you through the process of installing your solar system. This includes discussing the final battery location, panel placement, or any adjustments that need to be made. You’ll need to make yourself available so you can make informed decisions in collaboration with the installers.
If you’re the type of person who likes to have a cuppa during the day, make sure your kettle is boiled in the morning. The power is going to go off at some stage, and while you’ll get a five-minute notice, having hot water ready ensures you can still enjoy a tea or coffee.
If you have a young baby or newborn at home, it might be best to take them off-site for the day of the installation. Not only are there critical services like water that you might need, but the installation process is inherently noisy. Tools like impact drivers, drills, and hole saws are used throughout the home, creating a lot of commotion that could be overwhelming for a baby.
Another tip for a great installation day is to avoid relying on your power being on all day. For some solar-only installations, the power may be off for up to two hours. If you’re installing solar and batteries, or just batteries alone, the power can be off anywhere between 2 and 8 hours, depending on the complexity and condition of your electrical switchboard.
If you’re interested in learning a bit more about the importance of a good installer for your solar (the most important component of any system, seriously), you might want to check out the following article titled, In-house Installers vs. Subcontractors: Which is Better?
Ready to go solar? Click here.
Jake’s Top Tips for a Smooth Solar Installation
Here’s a summary of Jake Warner’s top tips for a solar installation. He knows a thing or two about this, he’s our director, after all.
Clear the Driveway and Front Lawn
- Any trade service doing major work on your home, such as a solar installation, will need as much access as possible.
- Make sure the driveway is clear for the installer’s truck to park close to your home.
- Move any items on the front lawn that could be a tripping hazard.
- Open any gates for easy access for the team.
Lock Up Your Pets
- Secure your pets in the backyard or inside the house to avoid any escapes or distractions for the installers.
- This saves time and ensures everyone’s safety (including your pets!).
Gather Spare Roof Tiles
- If you have a tile roof, have at least 12 spare tiles available.
- For terracotta roofs, ensure you have 30 spare tiles ready.
- For shingle terracotta roofs, we recommend 60 spare tiles on-site.
- This ensures the team can replace any cracked or damaged tiles during installation.
Be Readily Available
- Make sure you’re around to answer questions and discuss final decisions.
- For example, you may need to approve the exact location of panels or batteries or address any last-minute adjustments.
Boil the Kettle in Advance
- The power will go off during installation (usually for a few hours).
- Boil your kettle in the morning so you can enjoy a cup of tea or coffee even when the electricity is off.
Take Young Babies Off-Site
- If you have a newborn or small child, it’s best to arrange for them to be off-site for the day.
- Solar installations can be loud (impact drivers, drills, etc.) and may disrupt their naps or cause distress.
Prepare for a Power Outage
- Solar-only installations: Expect power to be off for up to 2 hours.
- Solar and battery installations: Power may be off for anywhere from 2 to 8 hours, depending on the complexity of your electrical switchboard.
By following these steps, you’ll ensure a smooth and efficient solar installation process while making things easier for the installation team.
If you’re interested in learning a bit more about how roof type affects your installation, you might want to check out the following article titled, Considerations for Installing Solar On Terracotta Tiles.
At Ohm with Penrith Solar Centre
Now you have a good idea of what to expect when our team shows up at your home to install your new solar system. You know the process leading up to your installation day and what to do the day of to have a smooth installation.
At Penrith Solar Centre, we want every installation to be as smooth as humanly possible. By following the above steps, you’ll be set up for our best work.
If you’re interested in learning a bit more about what to expect with your installation, you might want to check out the following article titled, What to Expect on the Day of Your Solar Installation.
