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Wondering what happens after you decide to go solar? Mitch from Big Dog Solar walks through the seven major steps of getting a solar energy system installed and turned on.
The process starts with a site survey, where the Big Dog Solar team gathers the information needed to understand your home and prepare your project. From there, the system moves into plans and design, where the solar panel layout is created and reviewed for approval and engineering compliance.
Next comes permitting. Big Dog Solar submits the required permits and waits for approval from the appropriate local authorities. Once permits are ready, it’s installation day — the crew installs the solar panels, completes the necessary electrical work, and prepares the system to connect to the utility grid.
After installation, the system goes through an inspection. Once it passes, the utility company completes the necessary meter work so the home can properly track solar energy production and applicable utility credits.
The final step is system activation. Once everything is approved and ready to go, the solar system is turned on and monitoring is set up so the homeowner can keep an eye on system production.
From the first site survey to flipping the system on, Big Dog Solar helps guide homeowners through every step of the solar installation process.
Hey guys, Mitch with Big Dog Solar. Today, we’re going to walk you through the seven steps of getting set up with solar.
Step 1: Site Survey
We start with a site survey. This can be as easy as gathering pictures and information from your sales consultant, or we can send in the real professionals to get all the details we need.
Step 2: Plans and Design
This is when our professional team of designers lays out how your solar panels are going to look. They create the design, send it out for approval, and work with our engineering team to make sure everything is compliant.
Bada bing, bada boom.
Step 3: Permitting
We have to get the proper permits before we can do the job, so everything is legal and on the up-and-up.
We submit the permits and wait for them to come back. Usually, it’s pretty quick, but sometimes the permitting process can take a few weeks.
Step 4: Installation
Better than Disneyland, baby — this is where the magic happens.
Your installation crew shows up, puts the panels on your house, ties the system into your electrical panel, and gets everything prepared to connect to the grid.
Real magic happens here, baby.
Step 5: Inspection
Numero cinco: the inspection.
It’s a pretty simple process, but we have to schedule it and wait for an inspector to come out and make sure everything was installed correctly.
Step 6: Meter Swap
Next, your utility company handles the necessary meter work so your home can properly track the energy your solar system produces and any applicable credits.
Step 7: System Turn-On
Finally, it’s time to turn your system on.
You are officially a solar customer, and we’ll get you set up with monitoring so you can see how your system is producing.
Congratulations. See you later!
Every homeowner is unique, but may also share some traits with some of our other customers. Listen to why this family went Solar with Big Dog and started saving money right away. Read More
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