Solar myths, busted

Solar has been around long enough to collect a fair few myths. Here are the ones we hear most often — and the reality.

“Solar doesn’t work in winter or cloudy weather”

It works, just at reduced output. Panels run on light, not heat, so they still produce on cloudy days and through winter — less than in summer, but enough that a well-sized system earns its keep year-round. In fact, panels are slightly more efficient in cooler temperatures.

“You need to be off the grid for it to be worth it”

The opposite, usually. Grid-tied solar is the simplest and best-value option for most homes — you use your own power when the sun’s out and lean on the grid when it isn’t. Going fully off-grid is expensive and only makes sense in specific situations.

“Solar panels need constant maintenance”

They really don’t. There are no moving parts. Rain does most of the cleaning, and beyond the occasional check and keeping an eye on monitoring, a good system quietly gets on with it for decades.

“It’ll never pay for itself”

For a well-designed system matched to your usage, payback in New Zealand is commonly six to ten years, after which the power is essentially free for the rest of the system’s 25-plus-year life. The key is honest sizing and good self-consumption.

“Solar makes a house harder to sell”

A properly installed, documented system is a selling point, not a liability. What makes buyers nervous is missing paperwork and unclear performance — both easily solved with the right documents on hand. Heard a solar claim you’re not sure about? Ask us — we’ll give you the straight version.