Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
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Written By David Cusick
Last Updated June 2024
Solar is one of the most easily accessible forms of renewable energy for St. Clair residents. Switching to solar energy can lower your monthly energy expenses and shrink your carbon output. Before you get started, you want to make sure you find a reputable installer. That’s why, after reviewing and analyzing installers, we compiled a guide to the most dependable solar companies in St. Clair. These installers consistently deliver excellent service.
Services Offered
Prompt service delivery
Clear pricing policy
Free quotes
Reliable customer support
Services Offered
Clear pricing policy
Reliable customer support
Informative resources
Services Offered
Informative resources
Clear pricing policy
Free quotes
Services Offered
Reliable customer support
Informative resources
Clear pricing policy
Free quotes
Services Offered
Free quotes
Clear pricing policy
Informative resources
Prompt service delivery
Reliable customer support
Services Offered
Free quotes
Clear pricing policy
Informative resources
Reliable customer support
Services Offered
Informative resources
Reliable customer support
Clear pricing policy
Free quotes
Services Offered
Free quotes
Reliable customer support
Clear pricing policy
Informative resources
Services Offered
Reliable customer support
Clear pricing policy
Free quotes
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 planet by reducing your carbon footprint using renewable energy. Here are some key factors to consider when determining whether a solar installer is reliable.
Confirm that your solar installer is properly licensed. This helps ensure that the work is done properly using current installation best practices. In Illinois, the state Commerce Commission licenses distributed generation energy contractors, including solar installers.
Check review sites like Google Reviews, TrustPilot, and the Better Business Bureau (BBB) to see feedback from past customers about local solar companies. Detailed reviews can help you evaluate a company's dependability and level of service. Use caution with providers that have very few reviews or mostly negative ones.
To find a solar company that fits your budget, get free, detailed quotes from 3–5 providers. The quotes should list all costs as well as all solar equipment included. Looking at several quotes helps you identify the option that best fits your budget.
Quality solar installations should have strong workmanship and performance warranties. A workmanship guarantee addresses any installation defects (such as poor wiring, poor alignment, or cracks in the panels), while a performance guarantee ensures a certain level of energy production. Strong warranties demonstrate a company's confidence in its work.
Installing solar panels can help decrease your electric bills over time. When evaluating the total price and value of solar panels, be sure to consider these factors.
The average St. Clair homeowner will spend around $16,000 on a home solar system after federal tax refunds. Solar arrays in St. Clair cost approximately $3,760 per kilowatt, with the average residential solar system being 6.1 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 panel type, size, and capacity. Some homeowners prefer to lease their solar panels in order to reduce upfront costs.
Incentive Type: Property Tax Incentive
Incentive Amount:
Varies
A solar photovoltaic (PV) system can generate power to run any electric appliance or system 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 panels, you can recoup the cost of the system over time, lower your home's carbon footprint, and be better prepared if there's an outage to the local grid.
It depends on your location and the kind of panels you plan to use. Since there's a moderate amount of snowfall in St. Clair, your best time to install solar panels is in the spring and fall.
Absolutely. St. Clair uses a balanced mixture of solar energy and conventional power sources. While your panels at home will lower your home's emissions and provide cost savings, you'll still benefit from access to the local grid.
You might be pleasantly surprised at how quickly you can get a return on investment from your solar panels. The sun shines frequently in St. Clair, meaning your payback period could last 16.6 years per 5 kW of capacity on the high end.
While solar energy might not be the best option for some in dark or wet areas, the latest generation of equipment and energy storage systems could boost your property's solar viability enough where you could achieve a return on investment. A contractor could also recommend a different primary source of renewable energy like wind or geothermal to boost your generation.
The best type of residential solar panel depends on your specific needs and goals. In most cases, monocrystalline solar panels are the most efficient for houses in St. Clair. However, if you have a limited budget, then you may want to consider polycrystalline or thin-film solar panels. When selecting a solar company, make sure to ask about the different types of solar panels a contractor offers and the benefits and drawbacks of each.
