I refer to the post of david_cary wherein you’re talking about 6.4kw system that you’re installing with a savings of $700/year. Forgive me but I’m novice when it comes to cooling and heating or solar. May I ask if the 6.4kw system is a solar panel system? I figure it is since you mention about a 13kw system would need 52 panels. If this is so, it gives me an idea what to ask when the solar engineer guy will visit me to discuss about installing solar panels. Nevada has a good incentive on solar panels. The $25k net that my neighbor is paying for their solar panels is already net of the Nevada incentive. The old a/c that I have is 11 years old and the brand is York. The smaller one I know is 4 ton. However, I don’t know the bigger one. By the way, my electrict bill of $2,000/year includes the swimming pool and spa filter pump that runs 12 hours/day throughout the year. Hence, I thought, I don’t spend on electricity as much as I did when I was in NJ. With solar system, an electric bill of $10/month or $120/year must be a good investment. My neighbor’s electric bill during summer goes up to $600 in a month because she said that her husband wants it very cold while my highest bill during summer is $411 in a month. If she spends more on electric bill and she will only be paying $10/month with the solar system, will my bill be less than $10/month comparing her electric bill and my electric bill without solar? In other words, is it still based on the consumption? As for the post of mike_home, I will start looking for authorized dealers of Carrier to see the small crack on the heat exchanger as well as get an estimate for a new system if I need one. I had read some post regarding which brand to choose. Hence, I think I’ll start with Carrier. Does the brand don’t matter which State you live. As you know I live in the sun city Las Vegas wherein the temperature could go up to 118 degrees during summer. Last year, I was told by the heating, cooling & plumbing company that maintains our system that if you live in Nevada you need some special brand that could hold up the outside temperature. The company had recommended Goodman last summer when I was told that either we fix that part (don’t remember the name) that holds the Freon from leaking. Another HVAC and plumbing person told me that the freon does not leak that much but instead sold us 2 units of fan motor for the 2 a/c and change the capacitors for $1,300. You see if you know nothing about a/c or furnace, this heating, cooling and plumbing people will rip you off. Am I right? As the post of energy_rater_regarding the $10/month with solar system installed, I met a person year ago while I was in line inside the supermarket who was chatting with me while waiting in line who told me that he had solar panels installed which cost $100k. He got rebate from Nevada $40K and his electric bill is $10/month. Looks like that there is some truth to the $10/month; but I I think $60K net is too much. Next time if the heating and cooling company tells me that my system needs something that I have to spend, I have to go to this forum to get advise before I spend on heating and cooling. Thank you all for the advise/comments. I appreciate it.

Following up my original post. I tried the epoxy approach first, but that failed after a few weeks. I finally just bought the "Fafco clone repair kit" from Solar Direct http://shop.solardirect.com/product_info.php?products_id=139 Took me 10 minutes to plug the top and bottom of 3 tubes. Worked like a charm! The Solar Direct website looks pretty dubious, but the kit was delivered fast and worked great. I also spoke to them on the phone and they were friendly and helpful. The website description implies that it only works on smaller Fafco panels, but it did work fine on my larger, roof-mounted panels (14' long) with the 2.5" header tubes. I do recommend respecting the "2-inch from header" dimension on the instructions - that way you have a chance of actually getting two plugs into the tube back to back if necessary. If you get too close you'll only have space for 1 plug. Though more expensive, this looks like the right long-term repair approach, but you have very little to lose by trying the epoxy trick first. Here is a link that might be useful: Fafco solar panel repair kit

This and my basement are my next projects. I recently had my roof replaced and I wonder what happens if there is a leak after solar installation, would the solar company eat it or the roofing company? How are you protecting the panels from squirrel or bird nesting? Is your attic now hotter or cooler with panels on top? Is the big inverter better than the micro inverters, was there a cost difference on your package for the big inverter? Are you expected to clean the panels yearly or is the company offering that service? Did that company have a battery bank system what was the cost difference?

I'm confused with your response, annie. There are many jobs that require working on roofs. A roofing team put down the roofing material on your roof. A residential roof is the same no matter how high it is off the ground. You have solar panels, another team installed those. The installation is the same no matter the height of the roof, a higher one just requires higher ladders and longer wire to make the connection. Similarly, there are people who clear roofs and gutters. The height of the roof doesn't matter to them. I have a guy who does it with a leaf blower a few times a year. Part of the roof is two stories up because of sloping location. He doesn't care one bit. The advantage of gutters is to prevent getting drenched from runoff when you walk out of the house and to control water runoff from the roof. At a minimum, the downspouts take the water away from the house foundation. More and more, the downspouts are connect to drain lines that are part of the site drainage system. Depending on the location and the types of trees nearby, many roofs can collect leaves that need to be clear periodically. With or without gutters.