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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. 

Rooftop solar panels supply energy to a single household, where a solar farm can power multiple homes at once with clean energy. Residential rooftop solar panels cost more per watt with a lower project total, and those panels only service the residence they are installed on (in most circumstances). With a solar farm, multiple households can buy into the project and share the overall cost.

Yes, installing solar panels or a solar roof can increase your home's value by approximately 4% to 6%. For a home with a median value of $429,000, this could translate to an increase of around $17,000. A well-maintained solar installation appeals to environmentally-conscious buyers and those looking to lower their utility bills, often helping homes sell faster and at a premium in areas with high electricity rates. However, the exact increase in value depends on factors like the local real estate market, energy costs, and available solar incentives. It's also important that the system is correctly installed and maintained; an older or poorly maintained system may not add significant value, particularly if it's near the end of its lifespan. Other solar features, like panels on a shed, can also boost your home's value.

• 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.