Does My Home Qualify for Solar? 6 Things We Look At

One of the first questions homeowners ask us is: "Is my home even a good candidate for solar?" It is a smart question — and the honest answer is that most homes qualify, but not all homes are equally well-suited.

Here are the six factors our team evaluates during a free home consultation to determine whether solar makes sense for your property.

Before anything else, we look at your roof. Solar panels are designed to last 25–30 years, so we want to make sure your roof can support them for that long without needing a replacement that would require removing and reinstalling the panels.

What we look for:

• Roofs with 10+ years of remaining life are ideal
• Asphalt shingle, metal, and tile roofs all work well with solar
• Flat roofs can accommodate solar with the right mounting system
• If your roof needs repair or replacement soon, it is often best to address that first

Good news: Our program includes roof repair for solar placement — meaning if minor repairs are needed to properly mount the panels, that is covered. A full new roof is not included, but we will be upfront with you about what your roof needs.

The direction your roof faces has a significant impact on how much solar energy your panels can produce.

Best to good orientations:

• South-facing — Maximum sun exposure throughout the day; ideal
• Southwest or Southeast-facing — Very good production; slightly less than due south
• West-facing — Good production, especially in afternoon hours
• East-facing — Decent morning production; less optimal but still viable

Roof pitch (angle):

• A pitch between 15° and 40° is optimal for most of Pennsylvania
• Flat roofs can use adjustable mounting systems to achieve the ideal angle
• Very steep roofs (above 45°) reduce production and can complicate installation

Shading is one of the most important factors in solar performance. Even partial shading on one panel can reduce the output of an entire string of panels (depending on the inverter type).

What we evaluate:

• Trees, chimneys, neighboring buildings, and other obstructions
• Seasonal shading patterns (trees with leaves vs. bare in winter)
• Time-of-day shading (morning vs. afternoon shadows)

The good news about trees: Our program accommodates homes with 1–2 trees on the property that cause minor shading. We use microinverter technology that minimizes the impact of partial shading by optimizing each panel independently.

If heavy shading covers most of your roof for most of the day, solar may not be the right fit — and we will tell you that honestly rather than install a system that underperforms.

Solar makes the most financial sense for homeowners with higher-than-average electric bills. The more you currently pay, the more you stand to save.

Ideal candidates:

• Monthly electric bills of $100 or more
• Homes with electric heat, electric water heaters, or electric vehicles
• Homeowners who have seen their bills increase significantly in recent years

Lower-usage homes: If your electric bill is consistently below $80/month, the savings from solar may be modest. We will show you the real numbers during your consultation so you can make an informed decision.

For our $0 Down Solar Lease program, there are a few eligibility requirements:

• You must be the homeowner — Renters cannot participate (the system is attached to the property)
• You must be current on your mortgage — No delinquent mortgage payments
• You must be current on your energy bill — No outstanding utility delinquencies
• Household income at or below $165K — Required for the lease program

If you do not meet the lease criteria, we can discuss other financing options including solar loans and purchased systems.

We currently serve homeowners within 1 hour of King of Prussia, PA. This covers a large portion of southeastern Pennsylvania including Philadelphia, Montgomery County, Chester County, Delaware County, Bucks County, and surrounding areas.

If you are outside this area, we may still be able to help — contact us and we will let you know.

Not every home is a perfect solar candidate, and that is okay. Here is what we do in common situations:

The best way to find out if your home qualifies is a free, no-obligation solar consultation. Our team will:

1. Review satellite imagery of your roof
2. Analyze your last 12 months of utility bills
3. Evaluate shading, orientation, and roof condition
4. Design a system sized for your specific home
5. Show you a complete financial analysis — savings, costs, and payback period

There is no pressure and no commitment. If solar is not right for your home, we will tell you. If it is, we will show you exactly what it looks like financially.

Schedule your free solar consultation today — it takes about 30 minutes and could save you thousands of dollars over the next 25 years.