The questions everyone asks, answered straight
Some of these answers do not help us sell. We give them anyway, because someone who installs with doubts does not recommend us, and recommendations are how we live.
The worries
If there is a power cut, does my house have power?
With panels alone, no. For safety, every grid-connected system shuts down when the grid goes down: it is the anti-islanding protection, and it protects the person repairing the fault. To keep the lights on during a cut you need a battery with a backup function, sized to cover the essentials. If that matters to you, say so at the study stage: the system is designed for it. And no, we are not telling you this after the blackout of April 2025: we tell you before selling you anything.
Are you going to leave my roof leaking?
The right question, and the answer is the whole point of our trade: each fixing is chosen for your roof, whether aged Arabic tile, flat with ballast or metal sheet. Every penetration is sealed and documented with photos. And if your roof is asbestos-cement, it is not touched without removal by a licensed company: anyone who tells you otherwise is putting you at risk.
What if Captia closes tomorrow?
The manufacturers' warranties on panels, inverter and battery are yours, not ours: they remain valid. And the legalised file is in your name in the official registers. Even so, behind Captia Energy is Captia Technology, an engineering firm with industrial clients: we are not a brand set up for this summer's campaign.
My installer no longer exists. Am I stuck?
No. We service and maintain other companies' installations, and if yours was never legalised, we make it legal with all the paperwork complete. It is more common than you think.
Money and paperwork
Do I have to change electricity supplier?
No. Self-consumption works with any supplier. That said, while you are at it, it is worth checking what each one pays for your surplus: we explain it here without taking commission from any of them.
What happens if I sell the house?
The installation stays with the property and adds value: a better rating on the energy certificate and an electricity bill that convinces any buyer. The legalised file is handed over at the sale like any other documentation for the house.
Do I need to tell my home insurer?
Yes, it is worth notifying them so the policy covers the installation. It rarely raises the premium significantly and it leaves damage such as hail covered, subject to the terms of each policy. We remind you of it when we hand over the paperwork.
How much does an installation cost?
It depends on your roof, your consumption and whether it includes a battery. That is why we do not publish a price that would then need correcting at your house: we do the study with your data and the quote we sign is the one that stands. Here we explain what the price depends on, with market figures, so you can compare properly.
The technical side, in plain words
How long do the panels last?
Decades. They lose around 0.4 per cent of performance a year: at 25 years they still produce the great majority of what they did when new. The inverter is usually replaced sooner, which is why its warranty and its spare parts matter so much when choosing a brand.
I live in a flat. Can I have panels?
Yes, through collective self-consumption: the system goes on the building's roof and the production is shared among the neighbours who take part. It needs the agreement of the community of owners and has its own procedure. If your building is considering it, we will talk to whoever is needed.
Do the panels need maintenance?
Not much, but not none. Here we explain what gets checked and when cleaning is worth it, and when paying for it is throwing money away. With monitoring, visits also happen when the data calls for them.
How long does it all really take?
The installation itself is a matter of a few days on site. What takes time is the paperwork afterwards, and that depends on each council and official body. Our commitment is specific: complete filing of your file and follow-up with updates at every milestone. What we will not do is promise you a resolution date that does not depend on us.
Is your question not here? Ask us the awkward one too.