Solar FAQs
Considering solar? Start here.
There’s a lot to consider when you’re thinking about solar for your home or business. Our goal is to help you understand your options and make a decision that works for you. We offer a consultative approach—no pressure, just clear communication and helpful information.
We’ve answered our most frequently asked questions below. If you still have questions, don’t hesitate to reach out and talk to our team directly. We’re here to help.
The Homeowner’s Guide to Going Solar in Maine
This guide answers the most common questions we get about solar installations in Maine—from costs and savings to how it all works.
Why Maine Solar Solutions?
There are many choices when switching to solar, so what sets us apart?
We were founded in 2012 by owner Sam Zuckerman and have been serving Mainers ever since.
Our office is in Freeport and our warehouse is in Brunswick. Our entire team lives and works in Maine.
We focus solely on Maine. Our consultants, designers, and installers understand the ins and outs of local permitting and building codes, which can vary town to town. When you work with us, you’re working with local experts who care about getting it right.
We also offer Maine’s longest solar warranty: a 30-Year Grid-Tied Solar Parts & Replacement Labor Warranty. That means you’re covered for the long haul.
Solar cost, savings & ways to pay
Your cost depends on a few factors—your electricity usage and how much of it you want to offset, your equipment choices, and your budget. During your free site evaluation, we’ll gather information and provide system options.
Most Maine homes use 9,000 to 12,800 kWh per year. A solar system that covers that usage typically costs $20,841 to $27,267 before tax credits. After the 30% federal tax credit, the net cost ranges from $14,589 to $19,087. These numbers assume an unshaded, south-facing roof with a 35° pitch. Actual costs vary based on your site conditions.
Most homeowners see a return on investment (ROI) in 7 to 12 years. Solar protects you from rising electric rates, and your savings can grow over time. Visit our solar pricing page for more details.
Yes. Solar power lowers your annual electricity costs. The amount you save depends on the size of your system and how much electricity you offset. We’ll walk through your potential savings during your consultation.
Yes. Solar is not only cleaner—it’s also more affordable than power from a utility company. It saves you money on electricity and can increase your home’s value. Best of all, once your system is paid off, it continues to produce free electricity for the rest of its lifespan.
Homes with solar sell faster than those without, and often at higher prices. That’s because buyers are often willing to pay a premium for a home that comes with a solar system.
Yes. For those who want to go solar but find the upfront price an obstacle, we offer no-money-down solar loans through several lenders. In many cases, your loan payment can end up being the same or lower than your current electric bill.
Some homeowners also finance with home equity loans or through mortgage refinancing.
Learn more about solar financing options here.
How solar works
Does Maine get enough sun for solar? What is net metering? How does solar work?
Yes. Even with our winters, Maine gets enough sun for solar to be effective and affordable. In fact, we get about 20% more sunlight than Germany, a world leader in solar installations.
Solar panels on your roof convert sunlight into Direct Current (DC) electricity. That electricity flows to an inverter, which turns it into Alternating Current (AC), the type of power your home uses. From there, it’s sent to your electrical panel to power your lights, appliances, and more.
During the day, your home uses the solar electricity you produce first. If your system produces more than you use, the extra power goes to the grid and builds up credit. At night or on cloudy days, when your home’s demand is greater than the amount of electricity being produced on the roof, the electric utility, or grid, will provide the rest.
At the end of your billing period, your electric provider will subtract the energy you put out on the grid from the energy that you imported from the grid and charge you for the difference. This is called net metering.
Net metering is a billing system that gives you credit for the excess electricity your solar panels produce. You send that extra power to the grid during the day and use your credits at night or in winter, when your system may produce less. You’re only billed for the “net” amount of power you use from the utility.
In Maine, credits roll over for up to 12 months, helping your summer production offset winter usage. For example, credits accrued in June 2025 can be used until June 2026.
Snow can temporarily reduce solar production, but panels tend to shed snow quickly—especially once the sun comes out. Solar panels are designed to handle heavy snow loads and work similarly to metal roofs when it comes to snow sliding off.
Even if you lose a few days of production, the impact on your annual output is small. We don’t recommend trying to rake snow off your panels, as it can be dangerous and might void your warranty. Let the sun do the work.
Types of solar electric systems
What types do you install? Do they have to go on a roof? What about new construction?
Most of our customers install grid-tied solar electric systems. These connect to your utility and allow for net metering—so the electricity your system produces helps offset what you use.
We also offer grid-tied systems with battery backup and off-grid systems for customers looking for more energy independence or backup power.
South-facing panels are ideal, but east- and west-facing systems can still produce more than 90% of the energy of a south-facing array. We’ll help design a system that makes the most of your roof’s orientation.
It might. During your site evaluation, we’ll assess how much shading your roof gets throughout the year. If your roof has some shade, we can design a system that works around it and still performs well.
Yes. We check your roof’s condition during our site visit. Most asphalt shingle roofs last about 20 years, and architectural shingles can last 30 to 50. If your roof needs work before installing solar, we’ll let you know.
Solar panels can also help extend the life of your roof by shielding it from sun and weather.
Ground-mounted systems work just like rooftop systems—they generate electricity for your home. They’re a good option if your roof has too much shade or isn’t oriented well.
We offer a range of solar panel options. Panels differ in size, wattage, efficiency, appearance, and cost.
Larger panels often offer more wattage at a lower price. But sometimes, using smaller panels can allow you to fit more on your roof. Appearance matters too—some homeowners prefer the sleek look of all-black panels.
When we meet with you, we’ll walk you through a few panel options, compare costs, and explain the differences. We choose panels based on manufacturer reputation, product quality, availability, and long-term support.
Yes, if you heat with electric systems like heat pumps or geothermal. Your solar array produces the electricity those systems need to run.
Many of our customers pair solar with heat pumps or heat pump water heaters. That way, they reduce or eliminate their use of oil or natural gas—and lower their energy bills in the process.
We’re happy to explain how solar and heat pumps can work together to reduce your payback time and make your home more efficient.
Building a new home is the perfect time to go solar. With a properly sized system, you could eliminate your electric bill right from the start.
Many new homes are built all-electric, with heat pumps and electric water heating. A solar array can be designed to meet those needs—and if you roll the cost into your mortgage, you’ll be locking in predictable energy costs for years to come.
We’ll design your system based on your home’s size and anticipated electric usage. If you want room to grow, we can build to allow for future expansion.
Battery backup & solar
What happens during a power outage? Do I need batteries? What about storage?
A typical grid-tied system will shut off during an outage for safety. When the power returns, your system will automatically restart.
If you want backup power, we can install a battery-based system that keeps essential appliances running during outages.
No. Most solar systems don’t use batteries. Grid-tied systems are the most common and cost-effective setup. They don’t provide backup power, but they do maximize energy savings.
If you want backup power, we can add a battery to your system. During an outage, the battery will run key appliances—like your fridge, well pump, boiler, or lights—and it will recharge when the sun is shining.
We install a range of battery options, including Tesla Powerwalls. We’ll help you understand what’s possible and whether batteries make sense for your home.
We install battery storage for both grid-tied and off-grid systems. Options include traditional lead-acid batteries and modern lithium-ion systems like the Tesla Powerwall or SolarEdge Home Battery.
Please let your solar consultant know if you already have a generator or plan to install one. We design a manual or automatic PV system shut-off based on your generator type to ensure safe and efficient integration with your solar system.
Yes. Maine Solar Solutions is a certified Tesla Powerwall installer and a Tesla Solar Panel Certified Installer.
This guide answers common questions about how Powerwall works with solar, including specs, backup capabilities, and costs.
Yes! For customers looking for a reliable Tesla alternative, SolarEdge Home Batteries provides a powerful and efficient backup solution option. We also install Sol-Ark systems. Our team will discuss all of your options with you during your consultation.
If you install a Tesla Powerwall, you may qualify for Efficiency Maine’s Small Battery Demand Program.
Here’s how it works: during peak demand periods, you allow your Powerwall to discharge electricity back to the grid. In return, you can earn $100 per kilowatt discharged—often totaling more than $300 annually per Powerwall.
You’ll earn rewards, help reduce strain on the grid, and still keep the Powerwall’s emergency backup features.
To qualify, you must:
- Live in Maine
- Own a Tesla Powerwall
- Have it installed by a certified installer
You can enroll here.
System sizing & our process
How do you determine system size? What happens during the site assessment?
Every solar system we design is custom-built for your home and energy needs. Most home systems range from 3 to 10 kW. We’ll help you figure out the right size system for your needs and budget.
To design a system that works for your home, we need to understand your site. That means:
- Measuring your roof with drone-based tools
- Checking its pitch and orientation
- Looking for shading from trees or other buildings
If a ground-mounted system is a better fit, we’ll walk through possible locations and explain the difference between fixed and tracking systems.
We use this info to create a system designed to offset your annual electricity use. You can schedule your free solar site assessment here.
Yes. For rooftop solar, we visit your home to take roof measurements and assess shading. Then we design your system based on those details. Afterward, we’ll schedule a virtual meeting where your solar consultant will walk you through your customized proposal.
Some companies rely only on satellite images. That approach skips key details, like your roof’s condition or how much sunlight actually hits it. An in-person assessment ensures your system is built for your exact site and goals.
Your solar system is designed to match your annual electricity usage. We look at your current electric bill to calculate how much power you use. We also talk about your future plans. Are you planning to add heat pumps, an EV, or a hot tub? If so, we can design your system to accommodate increased usage or future expansion.
That’s okay! For new homes or new owners, we can still estimate your energy needs based on:
- The size and design of the home
- Planned heating, cooling, and appliance use
- Any future plans that could affect electricity usage
We’ll also look at the site to check for shading or other considerations.
Absolutely. If you have space, adding panels is straightforward. Many of our customers add more panels later when they install heat pumps, an EV charger, or other electric upgrades.
We often recommend installing a larger inverter up front to make expansion easier. But even if your inverter is maxed out, you can still add another one alongside new panels.
Whether your system was installed by us or another company, we’re happy to talk about your options.
Incentives & Tax Credits
There are many choices when switching to solar, so what sets us apart?
Right now, the federal government offers a 30% tax credit for solar electric systems and battery backup installations. This credit reduces the amount of tax you owe.
Here’s the current schedule:
- 30% tax credit through 2032
- 26% in 2033
- 22% in 2034
- Set to expire after 2034
Learn more on our solar tax credit page.
We offer a $500 discount to veterans, active duty, and reserve members of the military as a thank-you for their service. Note: One discount per customer, and this offer can’t be combined with other offers. Valid for current customers within 60 days of contract date, ID required.
Maintenance & warranties
Solar panels are built to last. Most are guaranteed to produce at 85–92% of their original output after 25 years. In practice, they often last even longer. That’s why we offer Maine’s first 30-year solar warranty, so you can feel confident in your investment for the life of your system.
Our 30-year warranty includes:
- Solar panels
- Inverters
- Optimizers
- Labor
- Remote monitoring
It protects your entire system and helps preserve your home’s value. We’ll also review each manufacturer’s warranty during your site assessment so you can make an informed decision.
Very little, as solar systems are low-maintenance. And with our warranty, you’re covered if anything goes wrong.
We recommend against cleaning your solar panels if they become covered by dirt or pollen—rain usually takes care of it. Snow will typically melt and slide off of panels within a day or two, which limits any impact to production. Attempts to clean or clear panels can easily damage them and void the warranty, so we strongly advise against it.
We also provide monitoring tools so you can track your system’s performance panel-by-panel, right from your phone or computer.
We recommend letting your insurance company know about your solar system. In most cases, it can be covered under your existing policy.
Installing your solar system
Your install team will arrive in the morning and get right to work. Some crew members will install the panels, while our licensed electricians take care of the electrical work and grid connection. We’ll need access to your electrical panel, but most of the work happens outside.
After installation, the team lead will walk you through your new system and answer any questions.
No. We use industry-standard flashed attachment points, which create a sealed, waterproof connection and protect the integrity of your roof.
Most residential installs take 1-2 days. Larger or ground-mounted systems may take longer.
The morning of installation, your job supervisor and electrician will meet with you to confirm placement and get access to your electrical panel. Your system will be up and running by the end of the process.
Let us design the right system for you
Our team is here to help you choose the right solar and battery backup solution for your home. If you’re ready to take the next step, reach out to schedule your free site assessment.
