Learn · 56 guides
What no installer will explain to you
Guides written for Florida homeowners, with Florida numbers and sources at the bottom. No jargon, no hidden fine print. Start where it hurts.
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Energy efficiency
5 things raising your electric bill in Florida (and none of them is missing panels)
Incentives and tax credit
Federal solar tax credit in 2026: the 30% ended for buyers, continues for lessors
Water heating
Heat pump water heaters in Florida: how they work and what they save (2026)
Batteries and backup
Home solar batteries in Florida in 2026: what they do, what they cost, and when you don't need one
Your electric bill
How to read your FPL bill in 2026, line by line
Solar
Net metering in Florida in 2026: how your utility pays you for the energy you don’t use
Solar
14 guidesHow home solar works: from the panel to your bill
What happens to the electricity from the moment a panel makes it until you use it, what happens at night, and why Florida heat costs your panels output.
7 min read
Net metering in Florida in 2026: how your utility pays you for the energy you don’t use
What net metering is, how it works with FPL, Duke and TECO, and why your bill can come in negative at year-end.
6 min read
How many solar panels do I need in Florida? Sizing from your real kWh
How to size a solar system from your kWh, how much a kW produces in Florida, why 400 W panels are the standard, and why we design at 110% of usage.
8 min read
Solar panel cost in Florida in 2026: the real price per watt
Sourced $/W ranges for Florida, a cost-by-size table, what drives the price up or down, and what a fair proposal looks like next to an inflated one.
8 min read
How much solar really saves in Florida (and why some people don't save)
Why realistic savings are 25-50% of the bill and not 100%, what the minimum charge is, and the five reasons neighbors with panels say they 'saved nothing'.
8 min read
Free solar panels in Florida: what you're really being offered
Nobody gives away panels. 'Free solar' is a lease, a PPA or a loan under another name. What is behind each one, how it gets paid, and the red flags before you sign.
7 min read
Solar panel types and warranties: what to buy and what to ignore
Mono, poly and thin-film; what 'Tier 1' really means; the three warranties that matter (product, performance, workmanship) and how much a panel actually degrades.
8 min read
String inverters vs microinverters: which one belongs on your roof
What the inverter does, how string, optimizer and microinverter setups handle shade, the warranty each carries (Enphase, SolarEdge) and why it's the part you'll replace.
8 min read
Solar installation process step by step in Florida: from signing to PTO
The seven stages of a Florida solar installation (site survey, design, permits, install, inspection, interconnection, PTO), how long each takes and where it stalls.
8 min read
Solar panel maintenance in Florida: what to do and what to skip
How much maintenance a solar system really needs, whether rain cleans the panels, what to check in your monitoring every month, and what actually breaks.
7 min read
Solar and hurricanes in Florida: what panels withstand and what to do
What wind speed panels are designed for in Florida, what the code requires, how your home insurance treats them, and what to do (and not do) before a hurricane.
8 min read
Selling a home with solar in Florida: owned, leased or subscription
What happens to the panels when you sell, by who owns them; how the appraisal treats them (Fannie Mae), what they add to the price per Zillow, and what to prepare.
8 min read
My solar panels aren't producing and the installer is gone: what to do
Steps to diagnose a solar system that isn't producing, which warranties survive when the installer closes, how to recover monitoring access and who to call in Florida.
9 min read
How to read a solar proposal: the 7 numbers you have to find
The seven numbers in a solar proposal (monthly production, offset, $/W, escalator, warranties, minimum charge, tax credit): where to find them and what's reasonable.
9 min read
Ways to pay for solar
8 guidesThe 6 ways to get solar in Florida in 2026, compared
Cash, loan, lease/PPA, 3-5 year subscription, PACE and prepaid lease: who owns the system, who gets the tax credit, what happens when you sell, and which one fits your profile.
8 min read
Solar loan explained: dealer fees, the real APR and what owning means
How a 10-to-25-year solar loan works, what the dealer fee that inflates your price is, why a low rate is not a low price, and what happened to re-amortization in 2026.
7 min read
Solar lease and PPA explained: ownership, escalator, buyout and 48E in 2026
The difference between a lease (fixed payment) and a PPA (pay per kWh), what the annual escalator is, how buyout and transfer at sale work, and why the third party gets the tax credit in 2026.
7 min read
3-or-5-year solar subscription: how it works, who qualifies and when to skip it
The solar subscription model in Central Florida: fixed payment for 3 or 5 years, 30% savings guaranteed by contract on your total bill, no credit, debt or lien, free removal at the end. And the cases where buying saves more.
8 min read
PACE in Florida explained: paid through your property tax, and it complicates selling
What PACE financing is, why it is billed as a 'special assessment' on your property tax, why it approves without a FICO score, and what happens with Fannie Mae, FHA and the sale of your home.
7 min read
Prepaid solar lease explained: the third party takes 48E, you finance 70%
How a prepaid solar lease works in 2026: a third party owns the system for the first years and captures the federal credit, you pay about 70% of the price, and in year 6 you buy at 'fair market value'. Who it suits and what to check.
7 min read
The escalator in a solar lease: what 0% vs 2.9% means over 25 years, with a table
The escalator is the percentage your lease or PPA payment rises every year. Illustrative table of a $150 payment at 0%, 0.99%, 1.99% and 2.99% over 25 years, and how to decide which one to accept.
6 min read
Solar with bad credit in Florida: real options and what to avoid
What you can do if your score is below 650: subscription with no FICO, PACE on equity, a co-signer, credit-union loans and improving your score. And the 'no credit check' offers to avoid.
7 min read
Incentives and tax credit
2 guidesFederal solar tax credit in 2026: the 30% ended for buyers, continues for lessors
What happened to the 30% solar tax credit (25D) after December 31, 2025, why 48E remains in force through 2027 for third-party-owned systems, and what it means for buying versus leasing in Florida.
7 min read
Florida solar incentives 2026: what exists, what ended and what never existed
Sales tax exemption, property tax exemption, 1-to-1 net metering and utility programs in Florida in 2026. There is no state rebate and the federal credit for purchases ended. Sources: Florida statutes, DSIRE, FPL.
7 min read
Your electric bill
9 guidesHow to read your FPL bill in 2026, line by line
What every charge on your FPL bill means (base charge, energy, fuel, storm, taxes), where your 13-month kWh history lives, and how to download the PDF from the app or FPL.com.
8 min read
How to read your Duke Energy Florida bill in 2026
Customer charge, energy charge, fuel, asset securitization, taxes and the $30 minimum: what each line on your Duke Energy bill means and where to see your usage.
7 min read
How to read your TECO (Tampa Electric) bill in 2026
Daily basic service charge, energy, fuel, storm surcharge, storm protection and clean energy transition: what each line on your Tampa Electric bill is and what it costs per kWh.
7 min read
Why electric bills rise in Florida (2026): the 4 real causes
Rate cases, the fuel clause, storm cost recovery and more air conditioning: what moves your bill at FPL, Duke and TECO, and which part you actually control.
8 min read
The utility minimum charge in Florida: why your bill never reaches $0
FPL and Duke bill a $30 minimum base bill every month even if solar covers all your energy; TECO bills a daily basic charge. What it includes, what it does not, and how it affects net metering.
7 min read
Time-of-use rates in Florida 2026: when they save and when they cost you more
What a time-of-use rate is, what FPL, Duke and TECO offer, each one's peak hours, and why it only pays if you can shift big loads (EV, battery, pool) out of the peak.
8 min read
What is a kWh and how much does a Florida home use (2026)
A kWh is the unit your utility bills. The average Florida home used 1,104 kWh a month in 2024. What the AC, water heater, pool pump and dryer draw, with the formula to work it out.
7 min read
Home energy audit in Florida: how to do it yourself and when to call someone
DIY audit steps (air leaks, insulation, AC, hot water, phantom loads), the free audits from FPL, Duke and TECO, and when a diagnosis with equipment is worth paying for.
8 min read
How much electricity costs in Florida in 2026: ¢/kWh and average bill
Florida paid 15.10 ¢/kWh residential in June 2026 versus 18.34 in the U.S., but uses more: the average bill was $156 in 2024. Figures from EIA, EnergySage and the FPL, Duke and TECO tariffs.
7 min read
Batteries and backup
6 guidesHome solar batteries in Florida in 2026: what they do, what they cost, and when you don't need one
How a solar battery works, the difference between kWh and kW, what one costs installed, and why with 1-to-1 net metering in Florida it is for backup, not savings.
7 min read
Do I need a battery if I have net metering in Florida? The honest answer for 2026
With 1-to-1 net metering at FPL, Duke and TECO, a battery does not lower your bill: it is for backup. When it does pay: time-of-use rates, frequent outages, medical needs.
6 min read
Solar backup in Florida hurricanes and outages: why your panels shut off and what a battery keeps running
A grid-tied solar system shuts off when the grid drops. What a battery can keep running (fridge yes, central A/C partly), how it is sized, and partial vs whole-home backup.
7 min read
Solar battery vs generator in Florida in 2026: cost, fuel, noise and which one fits you
Honest battery vs generator comparison for Florida outages: installed price, fuel, noise, maintenance, runtime, permits and resale. Neither one always wins.
7 min read
How long do solar batteries last? Cycles, warranties and why Florida heat matters (2026)
What a cycle is, what Tesla (10 years, 70%) and Enphase (15 years or 6,000 cycles, 60%) guarantee, how a battery degrades, and the difference between LFP and NMC chemistry.
6 min read
Enphase IQ Battery vs Tesla Powerwall 3 in 2026: a comparison with no favorite brand
Capacity, power, warranty, chemistry, efficiency and price per kWh for Tesla Powerwall 3 and Enphase IQ Battery 5P and 10C, straight from the datasheets. Which fits your system.
7 min read
Energy efficiency
2 guides5 things raising your electric bill in Florida (and none of them is missing panels)
Pool pump, old A/C, water heater, leaky ducts and phantom loads: how much each weighs with sources from FPL, DOE and ENERGY STAR, and what to check before buying anything.
7 min read
The 3 consumption pillars: A/C, insulation and hot water before solar
Heating, cooling and water heating add up to about 70% of a home's energy (EIA, DOE). Why those three pillars get fixed first, and why solar is production and comes after.
7 min read
Air conditioning
4 guidesWhat SEER means on your air conditioner and why it matters in Florida (2026)
SEER and SEER2 explained plainly: what it measures, the legal minimum in Florida, and how much more a 10-year-old unit costs to run than a new one, with sources.
6 min read
Old air conditioner, high bill: why solar alone will not be enough (Florida 2026)
If your A/C is 12 years old or more, it is probably half your bill. What it wastes, what happens if you add panels without replacing it, and how to decide the order.
7 min read
Right-sizing an air conditioner in Florida: Manual J, tons and humidity
What a ton of cooling is, why an oversized unit leaves a Florida home damp, and why a Manual J load calculation matters more than the square-footage rule.
6 min read
Air conditioner maintenance in Florida: the pre-summer checklist
Filters, coils, refrigerant and the drain line: what to check yourself, what to leave to a technician, and how much energy clean filters alone recover, per the DOE.
6 min read
Insulation
3 guidesWhat insulation R-value is and how much a Florida attic needs
R-value measures how much insulation resists heat flow. What ENERGY STAR recommends for Florida's zones 1 and 2, what the code requires, and which types exist.
6 min read
Attic insulation in Florida: blown-in, radiant barrier and what pays first
Stop cooling the street: how the attic decides half your bill, what a radiant barrier returns per the DOE, what sealing and insulating saves per the EPA, and the right order.
7 min read
Leaky ducts: the 20-30% of your cold air that goes into the attic
The DOE estimates a typical house loses 20-30% of its duct air to leaks. How to spot it, how it is tested and sealed, and why in Florida this comes before panels.
6 min read
Water heating
3 guidesHeat pump water heaters in Florida: how they work and what they save (2026)
A heat pump water heater uses 2-3 times less electricity than a resistance unit (DOE). Why Florida is its ideal climate, what it costs and when it does not make sense.
7 min read
Tank vs tankless water heater in Florida: the amperage problem
Electric tankless, gas, resistance tank or heat pump: comparison table with efficiency and lifespan per the DOE, and why an electric tankless collides with your panel.
7 min read
Solar water heating in Florida: thermal vs panels + heat pump
A solar thermal water heater can cut 50-80% of your hot water bill (DOE). When it beats photovoltaic panels with a heat pump water heater, and why the answer changed in 2026.
7 min read
Roofing
3 guidesRoof before solar: when to replace it first (Florida 2026)
Panels last 25-30 years; if your asphalt shingle roof is over 10, replace it first. What it costs to remove and reinstall panels, and how Florida's 15-year insurance rule weighs in.
7 min read
Florida roof programs: My Safe Florida Home and insurance discounts (2026)
What My Safe Florida Home provides (free inspection and a grant up to $10,000 with a 2-to-1 match), who qualifies under the law, how funding works, and what discounts the law requires insurers to give.
7 min read
How long a roof lasts in Florida: asphalt shingle, tile and metal
Lifespan of each roof type in Florida's climate, why asphalt shingles last less here than elsewhere, the signs a roof is ending, and what the 15-year law says.
6 min read
Water
2 guidesFlorida tap water: what you are drinking and how to read your annual report
Hard water from a limestone aquifer, chlorine or chloramine, unmonitored wells: what is in Florida water, how to read the CCR report your utility sends by July 1, and when to worry.
7 min read
Water purification options in Florida: softener, carbon, reverse osmosis or whole-house
What each system removes and what it does not, which one solves scale, chlorine or a specific contaminant, a comparison table, and when you need none according to your water report.
7 min read
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We look at the real numbers of your home and tell you what makes sense, and what doesn’t. You leave the conversation knowing what to do, whether you move forward or not.