From the desk
Notes for Central Florida homeowners
Shorter, dated pieces. Updated when the rules change — not left stale.
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Solar panels and Florida heat: what the cell actually does at 65 C
Short version Nameplate watts are measured at 77 F cell temperature. A Central Florida roof in July is not that lab. Cells commonly run 130-160 F in full sun, sometimes hotter on a dark shingle roof with a tight air gap. Every crystalline silicon module loses power as it heats. How much depends on the […]
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What happens when your solar company goes out of business
Short version The panels on the roof and the credits on the Duke, FPL, or OUC bill do not vanish because a contractor closed. Three different relationships were always in play: the equipment makers, whoever holds the money, and the company that did the labor. Only the third one is gone. Manufacturer warranties usually survive. […]
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Solar panel maintenance in Central Florida: what actually matters after the install
Short version Most Central Florida systems do not fail from neglect of washing. They fail from unnoticed inverter faults, chewed wiring, storm-shifted hardware, or a monitoring app nobody opens. Rain rinses loose dust. It does not finish the job on oak pollen, lovebug residue, or bird droppings. Watch production on clear days. Clean when the […]
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Grid-tied vs off-grid solar in Central Florida: what you’re actually choosing
Short version If Duke Energy Florida, FPL, or TECO already serves the house, grid-tied solar is the default for a reason: Florida’s investor-owned utilities still credit exports at the full retail rate under PSC Rule 25-6.065. A standard grid-tied array shuts off in an outage. Adding a battery (hybrid) keeps selected loads on during a […]
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Can You DIY Solar Installation in Florida? What’s Actually Allowed
Skipping installer labor costs is appealing once you realize how much of a solar quote goes toward labor rather than equipment. Florida law does technically allow it, but the honest picture is more complicated than a straightforward yes. Short version: Florida’s owner-builder exemption lets homeowners legally pull their own permits and perform electrical work on […]
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Buying a Home With Solar in Florida: What to Check Before Closing
When a listing mentions solar panels already installed, it’s usually presented as a bonus. Whether it actually is one depends entirely on one detail most buyers never think to ask about right away. Short version: Before buying a home with solar already installed, find out whether the system is owned outright or financed through a […]
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New Construction vs. Retrofit Solar in Florida: Which Costs Less?
If you’re building a new home in Florida and solar is even a maybe, the decision window is shorter than most people realize. Once framing starts, the cheapest opportunity to plan for it closes fast. Short version: Installing solar during new construction is meaningfully cheaper than retrofitting it onto an existing home, mainly because electrical […]
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Solar Sales Scams in Florida: What to Watch For Before You Sign
Florida’s combination of abundant sun and a huge homeowner population makes it a genuine target for aggressive and sometimes outright fraudulent solar sales practices, not just the occasional bad review. Short version: Florida’s Attorney General has sued multiple solar companies for deceptive practices and released an official consumer guide on the issue. The most common […]
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Cash, Loan, Lease, or PACE: Comparing Solar Financing Options in Florida
Our Cost Guide covers financing briefly, but this is where a lot of the real decision making actually happens, and where the tradeoffs are easy to miss if you’re just comparing monthly payment numbers against each other. Short version: Cash and conventional solar loans keep you as the owner, which means you keep Florida’s property […]
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Can You Put Solar Panels on a Florida Townhouse?
“Townhouse” describes what a home looks like, not how it’s legally owned, and that second part is actually what decides whether you can put solar on your roof. Short version: Whether you can install solar on a Florida townhouse’s roof comes down to one thing: is your community legally a condominium or a fee simple […]
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Florida Solar Incentives in 2026: What Changed, and How to Actually Claim Them
A lot of what’s written about Florida solar incentives online is either outdated or skips the part homeowners actually need, which is what you have to do, if anything, to actually get them. Short version: The federal 30% tax credit is gone for purchased systems as of 2026, but Florida’s own incentives, the property tax […]
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Does Solar Increase Your Home’s Value in Florida?
Anyone selling a solar equipped home wants a straight answer to this. The honest one is more complicated than the number most articles lead with. Short version: Probably, but be skeptical of any single confident percentage. National estimates range from as low as 1 to 2 percent in a 2026 study reflecting today’s reduced incentive […]
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Solar and Hurricane Season: What Central Florida Homeowners Should Know
Solar and hurricanes are two things Florida forces you to think about together, especially if you’re deciding whether to install right before storm season starts. Short version: Solar systems installed under a proper Florida permit are engineered for your county’s specific wind requirements, among the strictest in the country. Real world storm data, including from […]
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Can Your HOA Stop You From Going Solar in Florida?
You’ve got the roof, the sun, and the electric bill to justify it. Then you remember your community has an HOA, and the whole plan stalls before it starts. It’s one of the more common reasons Central Florida homeowners never even request a quote. Short version: No, your HOA cannot legally prohibit you from installing […]