Does making solar panels harm the environment?

• <div><p>Although solar panels harness the sun's power, they come at an environmental cost. The manufacturing process requires large amounts of water and involves hazardous materials like cadmium, silicon, and gallium arsenide. These materials don’t pose safety hazards while the panels are in use but can pose a problem when left in landfills. Over time, hazardous materials can leach into the environment. This is why recycling solar panels whenever possible is better than taking them to landfills.</p></div>

What are some of the most common solar panel blockers?

• <div><p>Learn about common solar blockers in your area to determine how often you should wash solar panels and the best cleaning method:</p><ul><li><p><b>Soot: </b>If you have a fireplace, soot can disperse and accumulate on the solar panels.</p></li><li><p><b>Debris, dirt, and leaves: </b>These natural elements require light cleaning. Being close to trees or living in a desert area can cause more of these to accumulate.</p></li><li><p><b>Pollen:</b> Areas with a high pollen count require more frequent solar panel cleaning, and sticky plant material requires a deeper cleaning.</p></li><li><p><b>Bird droppings:</b> Bird droppings are binding and more difficult to remove. Keep this in mind if you live near a lot of surrounding trees. </p></li></ul><p></p></div>

Get matched with top solar panel pros in Addison, ME

Q: What other projects should I do at the same time as installing a new subpanel?

• <div><ul><li><p>Installing a new electrical meter box</p></li><li><p>Replacing your meter base</p></li><li><p>Replacing your service entrance cable </p></li></ul><p>The cost to install or upgrade an electrical meter box ranges from $100 to $650, including $50 to $250 for the unit. The meter base passes the power from your electric company to your panel. The cost to replace a meter base is roughly $50 to $250. </p><p>Service entrance cables are electrical cables with multiple wires, bringing power from electrical companies to residential buildings. The cost to replace a service entrance cable ranges roughly from $1,000 to $1,500.</p></div>

Q: How do you mount solar panels for a well pump?

• <div><p>The best solar-panel mounting system will depend on your property layout, but you&rsquo;ll typically want to try for south-facing panels to get the most sun. Roof mounting and wall mounting are both popular, but if your well setup is far away from buildings and other structures you can also set up a freestanding aluminum frame to mount your panels.</p></div>

Q: How long do solar shingles last?

• <div><p>Solar shingles typically last between 20 and 30 years, a lifespan comparable to that of traditional solar panels and standard asphalt shingles. The exact duration depends on the manufacturer and the quality of the installation. Because solar shingles are a newer technology, there is limited data on their actual long-term performance. Factors that can impact their durability and longevity include weather conditions, roof ventilation, and regular maintenance. To extend the life of your solar shingles, you should conduct regular inspections and cleaning, and make any necessary repairs as quickly as possible.</p></div>

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Verified Reviews for Solar Panel Service pros in Addison, ME

*The Angi rating for Solar Panel Service companies in Addison, ME is a rating based on verified reviews from our community of homeowners who have used these pros to meet their Solar Panel Service needs.

*The HomeAdvisor rating for Solar Panel Service companies in Addison, ME is a rating based on verified reviews from our community of homeowners who have used these pros to meet their Solar Panel Service needs.

Last update on June 22, 2025

Reviewed in June 2025
Needed help with water pooling up on my lawn. They were able to reslope the area to keep the water flowing down and not pool up. I recommend them.
Look's Point Construction
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Reviewed in August 2024
Chad and his crew were awesome. They did a fantastic job on our home, garage & shed. One other contractor put me off for over a year. I called Chad and they were working on my home on less than a month. They were fast, professional and cleaned up the entire property before leaving. My...
C P Hanscom and Son's LLC
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Reviewed in July 2023
Jeffery responded quickly to the request and assessed the situation. He completed the job on time and communicated the specific needs of the project. I would hire him again and would recommend him to others.
D&M Earthworks
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Reviewed in June 2023
Easy to work with, showed up when they said they would. Roof turned out great!
Roofsmith Roofing Jr., LLC
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Reviewed in April 2023
Jesse and his crew gave exceptional service. They not only cut down and chipped our tree, but they also used a leaf blower to clean up the debris. We will certainly hire them again!
Sons Of Thunder Tree Service
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Reviewed in February 2023
Solari energy is great. They guided me through financing, and I was able to pay nothing down. I spoke with my tax representative, and I qualified for the federal renewable tax credit as well. They put in a 12 kW system with a 9 kW battery backup at my house. They made the whole process easy. The...
Solari Energy Consultation
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Reviewed in September 2021
Dave and his crew were exceptional. From the assessment stage to the project’s end, Family Roofing was thorough and professional. I would definitely work with them again.
Family Roofing
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Reviewed in May 2021
In addition to the professional work done to remove 2 large trees endangering our house, great care was taken to maximize personal safety and to protect other trees, power lines, and surrounding vegetation. But perhaps the most remarkable quality of 3 C's work was the personal warmth and...
3 C's Professional Tree Removal
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Reviewed in November 2020
We hired AMEG to move our power panel to the opposite interior wall to bring it up to code. We also intend to get them to run new power lines to a redesigned kitchen. The work on the panel box was the first step in remodel of oui
AMEG Services
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Reviewed in August 2008
During an August heat wave, we finally decided we'd waited long enough (4 years) to upgrade an inadequate window a/c in our finished attic space, used as my spouse's home office. But we weren't sure what the best solution was: Did we need a bigger window a/c? A sunshade over the a/c? A...
Sila Heating, Cooling, Plumbing and Electrical
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Find Solar panel pros in Addison

R&J Solar LLC

5.0(

)

Solar Panel InstallSolar Panels For Electric System - Install - For BusinessSolar Panels For Electric System - Repair+1 more

Serving Addison, ME and surrounding areas

In business since 2022

Free estimates

Credit card accepted

We provide residential and commercial solar power options, and provide support services for industry partner companies. We offer no cost consultations and $0 down financing. Please contact our office for a consultation at (931)922-8258.

Recommended by100%of homeowners

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Dish Network Retailer Satellite Country

4.0(

283

)

Solar Panel InstallSolar Panels For Electric System - Install - For BusinessSolar Panels For Electric System - Repair+1 more

Serving Addison, ME and surrounding areas

In business since 1990

Free estimates

Credit card accepted

"WE lose signal when it storms, but only for a very short time. A little expensive compared to Dish, but the programming is much better.
"

Recommended by74%of homeowners

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New England Home Renovations LLC

4.0(

311

)

Solar Water Heater System - InstallSolar Water Heater System - Install - For BusinessSolar Water Heater System - Repair+1 more

Serving Addison, ME and surrounding areas

In business since 1983

Free estimates

Emergency services offered

"When working around the house I noticed that my main circuit breaker panel was suffering some severe corrosion which turned out to be due to a leak coming down the main power cable. NE Renovations had gotten good reviews so I asked them and others for a quote. The NE Renovations team (I believe sub-contractors) seemed to know the most about what they were doing and also helped me take temporary measures to stop the leak. When they came back to perform the job they were very quick, clean and professional. This included replacing the interior and exterior wall penetration, meter box, main feed cable and some pieces on the circuit breaker panel. They also dealt with the town for permits and the electric company for pulling the box. Overall they did exactly what they said for the price that they quoted and I was very pleased with their service. I also used two of the Angie's List "BigDeal" coupons, which they handled without any problems. I would definitely recommend them to others.
"

+37

Recommended by89%of homeowners

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American Home Shield – Home Warranty

3.5(

5,688

)

Solar Water Heater System - InstallSolar Water Heater System - Install - For BusinessSolar Water Heater System - Repair+1 more

Serving Addison, ME and surrounding areas

In business since 1971

Credit card accepted

"We've used them for 16 years between our two homes.The cost is very reasonable.We pay a service fee visit. If its not covered, let say when our dishwasher was replaced. We wanted a more expensive one so we paid the difference."

Recommended by65%of homeowners

Serving Addison, ME and surrounding areas

In business since 2019

Free estimates

Credit card accepted

Silicon Maine is based on the belief that our customers' needs are of the utmost importance. Our team is committed to meeting those needs. We welcome the opportunity to earn your trust and deliver you the best service. No job is too big or too small for our experienced team. Call today for a quote. \n

Response time4 days

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Solar Panels questions, answered by experts

Although solar panels harness the sun's power, they come at an environmental cost. The manufacturing process requires large amounts of water and involves hazardous materials like cadmium, silicon, and gallium arsenide. These materials don’t pose safety hazards while the panels are in use but can pose a problem when left in landfills. Over time, hazardous materials can leach into the environment. This is why recycling solar panels whenever possible is better than taking them to landfills.

Learn about common solar blockers in your area to determine how often you should wash solar panels and the best cleaning method:

Soot: If you have a fireplace, soot can disperse and accumulate on the solar panels.
Debris, dirt, and leaves: These natural elements require light cleaning. Being close to trees or living in a desert area can cause more of these to accumulate.
Pollen: Areas with a high pollen count require more frequent solar panel cleaning, and sticky plant material requires a deeper cleaning.
Bird droppings: Bird droppings are binding and more difficult to remove. Keep this in mind if you live near a lot of surrounding trees.

Installing a new electrical meter box
Replacing your meter base
Replacing your service entrance cable

The cost to install or upgrade an electrical meter box ranges from $100 to $650, including $50 to $250 for the unit. The meter base passes the power from your electric company to your panel. The cost to replace a meter base is roughly $50 to $250.

Service entrance cables are electrical cables with multiple wires, bringing power from electrical companies to residential buildings. The cost to replace a service entrance cable ranges roughly from $1,000 to $1,500.

The best solar-panel mounting system will depend on your property layout, but you’ll typically want to try for south-facing panels to get the most sun. Roof mounting and wall mounting are both popular, but if your well setup is far away from buildings and other structures you can also set up a freestanding aluminum frame to mount your panels.

Solar shingles typically last between 20 and 30 years, a lifespan comparable to that of traditional solar panels and standard asphalt shingles. The exact duration depends on the manufacturer and the quality of the installation. Because solar shingles are a newer technology, there is limited data on their actual long-term performance. Factors that can impact their durability and longevity include weather conditions, roof ventilation, and regular maintenance. To extend the life of your solar shingles, you should conduct regular inspections and cleaning, and make any necessary repairs as quickly as possible.

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