Solar panel installation - any experience?

[CocktailQueen]

We're considering having solar panels installed that will pay for most of our electricity. Does anyone have them? Do they generate enough electricity to pay your bill? Have you had any problems with them? Pros and cons? do they devalue a property?? (Have emailed the company to ask for specific info but wanted some real experience too!)

Thanks! :)

[SybilBeddows]

we've only had ours a few months. They're not going to pay for most of our electricity - I think we're looking at about 20%, though of course as prices rise this becomes more and more valuable.
It's too early to say whether they devalue a property - I don't see why they would.
The people who have done proper analyses say that it makes the most sense if 1. you have a south-facing roof and 2. you have someone at home in the day who will use your free electricity.

[bemybebe]

Had ours for 6 years.
No idea how much is generated because you cannot ever compare like with like.
No problems with it so far as there is not much really that can go wrong with them (unless you throw bricks at your roof).
Pros - "doing bit the environment", cons - cost us a flipping arm and a leg (was my dh's idea and I just could not stop him really)...
Do not see how they can devalue the property unless it in a protected area and you will be obliged to take if off later. If anything it would probably add something, but I would not pay extra myself. I would be thinking that the people who have them have everything else in good working order (and not cutting corners) because it takes a particular type of person to spend that much money on that sort of thing. Just my thoughts.

[An0therName]

my parents have had it done - no problem - I think they have saved more than they thought - but not all the bill
but if you pay for them yourselve you get the feed in tarrif which is worth quite a bit
I don't think they will devalue the property I think they might put a few people off if they were on the roof facing the road - eg loose kerb appeal
this is a good article

www.moneysavingexpert.com/utilities/free-solar-panels

[BarryStar]

We've had them for about two years I think. Like bemybebe, it was all at dh's instigation. He was really keen on the idea and did a lot of research. He also went around spotting other houses with panels already installed and knocked on their doors and questioned the owners about what they thought (am glad to report that all householders treated him very kindly!). Can't really be very specific about the savings other than to say that we do save.

The people that we used were lovely - have a look at their website if you get a chance: www.raine-or-shine.com. Our panels are on a south facing roof and are very unobtrusive.