Thinking About Getting a Home Battery? Ask Your Installer These 5 Questions

I’ve been writing about and evaluatinghome battery systemsfor over a year.

These are five essential questions to ask your installer before purchasing a home battery system.

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How much energy can my home battery store at once?

Not all home batteries store the same amount of energy.

If you know nothing else about your battery, at least know itsenergy storage capacity.

This is the amount of energy your battery can hold at once, measured in kilowatt-hours (kWh).

The higher the number, the more energy your battery can store.

But that doesn’t mean you should purchase the biggest battery you’re able to find.

Bigger isn’t always better.

This is a tricky question.

Think essentials like yourrefrigerator,heating and cooling system,internet equipment, a few lights, etc.

Most home battery systems will last you somewhere between 10 to 15 years.

Every time you drain and recharge your battery, it completes a cycle.

Once your battery hits the cycle count stated on the warranty, your warranty will expire.

Similar to cycle count, manufacturers will also use throughput as a way to measure battery lifespan.

Be sure to ask your installer to see the warranty and explain the terms and conditions.

You’ll also be able to control your battery system’s operating mode from the app.

Most systems will come with three operating modes: backup, time of use and self-consumption.

you’ve got the option to reserve some of your battery’s capacity for backup as well.

Time of use mode is where things get fun.

The battery will charge back up again when rates go back to normal.

The answer to this is almost always a yes.

If it’s not, take that as a red flag.

Home battery systems are expensive, with most of them starting at a minimum of $10,000.

That’s a huge price tag, and installers know that.

This is why there will almost always be some sort of financing option available for your battery system.

It’ll likely either be through the battery manufacturer or a third-party financial service or bank.

Getting a loan from your bank is always an option too.

double-check to ask your installer about all your financing options and pick the best option for your budget.

Watch out for hidden fees, early payment penalties or interest rates that can change suddenly.