Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
Please enter a valid 5-digit zip code!
Written By David Cusick
Last Updated February 2024
A new solar energy system could give you a renewable power source that will eventually pay for itself. Transitioning to solar energy can reduce your monthly energy expenses and decrease your carbon output. Before you begin the process, you want to make sure you find a reputable installer. Luckily, we’ve analyzed local solar installers and created a guide to the best solar companies in Garden City. These reliable providers are smart choices homeowners can depend on.
Reliable customer support
Informative resources
Clear pricing policy
Free quotes
Services Offered
Free quotes
Reliable customer support
Clear pricing policy
Family-operated business
Informative resources
Services Offered
Free quotes
Reliable customer support
Clear pricing policy
Services Offered
Clear pricing policy
Informative resources
Free quotes
Reliable customer support
Services Offered
Informative resources
Family-operated business
Reliable customer support
Free quotes
Clear pricing policy
Services Offered
Reliable customer support
Free quotes
Clear pricing policy
Informative resources
Services Offered
Clear pricing policy
Reliable customer support
Informative resources
Free quotes
Services Offered
Clear pricing policy
Family-operated business
Free quotes
Reliable customer support
Informative resources
Services Offered
Informative resources
Reliable customer support
Clear pricing policy
Free quotes
Services Offered
Clear pricing policy
Informative resources
Free quotes
Reliable customer support
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:
Adopting solar power lets homeowners lower utility bills while benefiting the planet by reducing your carbon footprint using clean energy. If you’re evaluating if you want to go solar, consider these key factors for choosing an installer.
Make sure you hire a licensed solar installer. This ensures that the work is done properly using current installation best practices. Idaho's Division of Building Safety recently began issuing solar PV contracting licenses. If it's a solar thermal system you're after, your installer must be a licensed plumbing contractor.
Check consumer review platforms like Google Reviews, the Better Business Bureau (BBB), and TrustPilot to see customer feedback about local solar companies. Detailed reviews can help you evaluate a company's reliability and customer service. Use caution with installers that have hardly any reviews or mostly negative ones.
Get free, detailed quotes from 3–5 solar companies. A quote should describe all costs and identify the exact solar parts included. Comparing several quotes can help you find the option that best fits your budget.
Quality solar installations should have comprehensive workmanship and performance warranties. The workmanship guarantee covers any installation issues such as poor alignment, cracks in the panels, or poor wiring. The performance guarantee promises a specific energy output level. Strong guarantees indicate that a solar installer has faith in its installations.
Going solar can help lower your energy expenses over time. Be sure to consider these aspects when determining the cost and value of solar panels.
The average Garden City homeowner will spend around $17,666 on a home solar system after federal tax refunds. Solar arrays in Garden City cost approximately $3,460 per kilowatt, with the average residential solar system being 7.3 kilowatts. An estimate from a local solar provider will include costs for preliminary work, permit fees, and labor, and will account for your system's capacity, size, and panel type. Some homeowners prefer to lease solar panels in order to reduce upfront costs.
Incentive Amount:
Air Source Heat Pump Conversion: Contact IFP
Air Source Heat Pump Conversion with Duct Sealing: contact IFP
Ground Source Heat Pump: $2,700-$3,150
Ductless Heat Pump: $720
Water Heater: $270-$450
Insulation (Attic, Floor, Wall): Varies, see program website for details
Windows: Varies, see program website for details
Incentive Type: Personal Tax Deduction
Incentive Amount:
40% in the first year; 20% per year for next three years
A solar photovoltaic (PV) system can generate power to run any electric system or appliance in your home. If you don't want to use solar power for your entire home, you can install a solar water heating system.
With home solar energy, you can recoup the cost of the system over time, lower your property's emissions, and be better prepared if there's an outage to the local grid.
Of course. The grid in Garden City already uses a large share of renewable energy sources, and you may be able to sell your excess generated energy to your utility for additional cost savings.
Your installer can give you an estimate of what your energy bills will look like after you install solar panels. Generally, your energy bills will decrease significantly because you'll be using energy from the sun for free, instead of buying energy from the utility company. The average annual savings in Garden City amount to $1,240.
Your payback period is the time to earn a net profit from your solar panels. It will vary based on the rate your utility charges per kilowatt of power, the average sunlight in your area, and their rated capacity. Garden City has extremely high daily sunlight levels, so you could recoup your investment in as little as 14.2 years per 5 kW of rated capacity.
The specific required maintenance steps will vary based on the type of solar panels you have. At a minimum, you should clean and inspect each panel once a quarter. Your solar installer might offer comprehensive plans where they'll do the maintenance for you.
Net metering is a type of "power purchase agreement." If your state or utility offers net metering, you can send the solar energy you don't use to your provider. In return, they'll give you a credit on your power bill.
The answer ultimately depends on your specific situation. You can take advantage of a federal tax credit of up to 30% of the system's cost, as well as state or local incentives depending on where you are. As for insurance, you'll need to inform your insurance company about your new solar panels. Your premium may increase due to added property values, but you'll have peace of mind if a covered event happens to the system.
