If you decide to go ahead with a solar array, you can’t exactly just install it and forget about it. Maintenance is always an issue, especially in the beginning, and just like Christmas lights, solar panels are much easier to deal with if you can easily reach them. It can be dicey having to get up on the roof every time there’s an issue with the system. If a part like a microinverter runs into trouble, removing the panels to access the components underneath will be more difficult from atop a slanted roof. The same goes for ongoing cleaning issues, like removing snow, dust, or whatever other debris blew its way onto the delicate solar array.
All of the above is much easier to do when you’re standing safely on the ground and merely need to lean over instead of climb a ladder. That tends to enter into our decision-making process in addition to weighing costs, convenience, placement, and long-term savings.
Whether solar panels are placed up on the roof or down on the ground, one configuration isn’t inherently better than the other. It all depends on the size and nature of your property, energy efficiency needs, and budget. However, considering these factors will help you avoid a time in which you’re staring at a freshly installed solar array, wishing you’d put it somewhere else.
