Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
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Written By David Cusick
Last Updated February 2024
Solar is one of the most easily accessible forms of renewable energy for Pelham residents. Solar power can cut your energy costs and shrink your carbon footprint. However, it's important to choose a reputable solar installer. That’s why, after conducting thorough research on providers, we put together a guide to the most reputable solar companies in Pelham. These installers have a reputation for excellent service.
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Clear pricing policy
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Clear pricing policy
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Free quotes
Services Offered
Reliable customer support
Free quotes
Clear pricing policy
Informative resources
Services Offered
Today's Homeowner looks at dozens of datapoints on solar companies to come up with our data-driven rankings. It's not possible for a company to pay for preferential treatment in our rankings. We look at the following key factors in determining who should top our list:
Going solar can be a great way to reduce electricity costs and help the environment by reducing your carbon footprint using renewable energy. Here are some key factors to consider when deciding if a solar installer is reliable.
Confirm that your solar installer is properly licensed. This ensures that the work is done properly using current installation best practices. Alabama licenses solar contractors similarly to other electrical professionals. They must have at least 4 years of relevant experience and submit an application with the state's Electrical Contractors Board.
Check review sites like TrustPilot, the Better Business Bureau (BBB), and Google Reviews to see feedback from past customers on local solar companies. Detailed reviews can help you evaluate a company's reliability and customer service. Use caution with companies that have no reviews or mostly negative ones.
Get free, detailed quotes from at least three solar companies. A quote should outline all costs and identify the solar parts included. Looking at several quotes can help you find the option that best fits your budget.
Quality solar installations should come with comprehensive workmanship and performance guarantees. The workmanship guarantee covers any installation issues such as poor wiring, poor alignment, or cracks in the panels. The performance warranty ensures a specific energy output level. Strong guarantees indicate that a solar installer trusts its installations.
Solar energy can help reduce your energy expenses over time. Be sure to consider these aspects when determining the cost and value of solar panels.
Pelham homeowners typically spend about $22,070 on home solar systems after federal tax refunds. Solar arrays in Pelham cost roughly $3,490 per kilowatt, with the average residential solar system being 9.0 kilowatts. An estimate from a local solar provider will include costs for labor, permit fees, and preliminary work, and will account for your system's size, capacity, and panel type. Some homeowners prefer to lease their solar panels to reduce upfront costs.
Incentive Type: Personal Tax Deduction
Incentive Amount:
100%
A solar photovoltaic (PV) array can generate power to run any electric appliance or system in your home. A more specific example is installing a solar water heating system.
With home solar panels, you can recoup the cost of the system over time, lower your home's carbon footprint, and gain additional energy independence.
It depends on your home's location and the kind of panels you plan to use. With the winter months in Alabama being very mild, you have a wide time window to install your panels, though they won't hit peak performance until summer arrives.
Of course. Pelham uses a balanced mixture of solar energy and conventional power sources. While your panels at home will save you money and lower your home's individual emissions, you'll still benefit from access to the local grid.
You might be pleasantly surprised at how short it takes to get a return on investment from your solar panels. In perennially-sunny Pelham, you could make enough from your solar panels to recoup your investment in 11.0 years per 5 kW of rated capacity at maximum.
The type of solar panels you have will have specific maintenance steps to follow. Regardless of type, you should inspect your panels for damage and clean them regularly. A majority of solar contractors in the Pelham area offer comprehensive maintenance plans to help you keep your panels healthy and make the most of your system.
Of course. Solar panels exist independently from the power grid in Pelham and will continue to generate power even if the grid is having problems. Keep in mind, however, that a solar system won't take you through a nighttime outage if you don't have a storage system. Your contractor can discuss some economical options to keep your home's power access reliable through the worst conditions, including battery backups or an emergency generator.
