You've done your research, picked your equipment, and signed with an installer. Now the big day is approaching — and if you've never had solar installed before, it's natural to wonder what's actually going to happen at your home. Here's a plain-English walkthrough of what a typical residential solar-plus-battery installation looks like, so you can show up prepared and confident.
Before the Crew Arrives: Permits and Pre-Work
Most homeowners are surprised to learn that the permit process starts weeks before anyone sets foot on your roof. Your installer will pull electrical and building permits from your local jurisdiction — in Texas, this typically takes 1–3 weeks depending on your city or county. If you're in Houston or the Dallas/Irving area, Solwel works closely with local installers who know the permitting landscape well.
Before install day, your installer may also schedule a site visit to confirm roof measurements, locate your main electrical panel, and identify where the battery system will be wall-mounted. The more accessible your attic, panel, and garage are, the smoother install day goes.
Install Day: What's Happening on Your Roof
A typical residential install takes one full day for a straightforward system — two days if battery storage is included or the system is large. Here's the general sequence:
Morning — Racking and panels: The crew starts by installing the mounting hardware on your roof. For most Texas homes, this means a rail-less system like the Sunmodo NanoRack, which uses individual roof attachments rather than long aluminum rails. It's faster, lighter, and leaves fewer penetrations. Once the mounts are set, panels go up row by row.
Midday — Wiring and inverter: Once panels are on the roof, the team runs conduit from the roof to your electrical panel (usually through the attic). Your inverter — whether it's a Sol-Ark, EG4, Sigenergy, or a set of APsystems microinverters — gets mounted and wired to both the panels and your panel box.
Afternoon — Battery and commissioning: If your system includes a battery like the FranklinWH aPower 2, EG4 WallMount, or Sigenergy SigenStor packs, the battery gets wall-mounted (usually in the garage), wired to the inverter, and configured. The installer will connect to the system via app and run through initial commissioning — verifying communication, charge/discharge settings, and backup behavior.
The Inspection and PTO
Your system won't turn on the same day it's installed — not legally, anyway. After install, your jurisdiction will schedule an inspection (typically 1–2 weeks out) to verify the work meets code. Once the inspector signs off, your utility issues a Permission to Operate (PTO) letter. Only then can the system be energized.
In Texas, the PTO process through most utilities runs 2–6 weeks after inspection. Your installer handles all the utility paperwork — you just wait for the green light.
Flip the Switch
Once PTO comes through, your installer will activate the system remotely or schedule a brief return visit to energize everything and walk you through the monitoring app. From that point on, your solar is producing, your battery is storing, and your utility bill starts dropping.
Tips for a Smooth Install Day
- Clear access: Make sure your garage, attic hatch, and electrical panel are accessible. Move cars out of the driveway.
- Someone home: An adult should be present for the full install day — the crew may need access to interior spaces and will want to walk you through the system before they leave.
- Note the brand and model: Take a photo of your inverter nameplate and battery label. You'll want these for warranty registration and any future service calls.
- Download the monitoring app: Most manufacturers (Sol-Ark, APsystems, Sigenergy, FranklinWH) have free apps. Your installer will give you login credentials — set it up before they leave so they can confirm it's working.
Ready to Get Started?
Whether you're still in the planning phase or ready to order equipment, Solwel stocks solar panels, inverters, batteries, and mounting hardware from Texas warehouses — with same-week shipping to most of the state. Our teams at our Houston (4620 S Sam Houston Pkwy W) and Dallas/Irving (350 S Belt Line Rd) locations are happy to help you spec the right system for your project.
Interested in learning more or placing an order? Shop our products here