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 April 2024
Solar energy is becoming increasingly popular for Granger homeowners. A new solar energy system can help you provide a dependable source of power, add value to your property, and decrease your carbon footprint. Making the switch to solar power helps cut your utility bills and shrink your environmental impact. But you'll want to find a trustworthy installation company first. Luckily, we’ve analyzed local solar installers and put together a guide to the best solar companies in Granger. These proven and dependable providers are smart choices homeowners can depend on.
Reliable customer support
Informative resources
Prompt service delivery
Clear pricing policy
Services Offered
Informative resources
Reliable customer support
Family-operated business
Free quotes
Clear pricing policy
Services Offered
Informative resources
Clear pricing policy
Services Offered
Clear pricing policy
Informative resources
Reliable customer support
Services Offered
Clear pricing policy
Free quotes
Services Offered
Reliable customer support
Free quotes
Informative resources
Prompt service delivery
Services Offered
Prompt service delivery
Clear pricing policy
Reliable customer support
Free quotes
Informative resources
Services Offered
Reliable customer support
Free quotes
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 save money on electricity costs and help the environment by reducing your carbon footprint using renewable energy. Here are some crucial factors to consider when deciding if a solar installer is trustworthy.
Confirm that your solar installer is properly licensed. This helps ensure that the work is done correctly using the most up-to-date installation methods. In Indiana, there are no electrical or solar contracting licenses at the state level, though local communities might adopt their own licensing programs.
Check review sites like the Better Business Bureau (BBB), Google Reviews, and TrustPilot 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 barely any reviews or mostly negative ones.
Get free, detailed quotes from at least three solar companies. The quotes should outline all costs and identify the exact solar parts included. Looking at several quotes can help you find the most cost-effective option.
Quality solar installations should come with comprehensive workmanship and performance guarantees. The workmanship warranty covers any installation issues such as cracks in the panels, poor wiring, or poor alignment. The performance guarantee promises a specific energy output level. Strong guarantees indicate that a solar installer has faith in its installations.
Solar energy can help lower your electricity costs in the long run. When considering solar panel's cost and value, be sure to consider these considerations.
Solar panel costs vary based on system capacity and the solar technology used. The typical Granger solar array has a capacity of 9.0 kilowatts. Homeowners in the area can expect to pay around $4,100 per kilowatt; the average Granger homeowners spends about $25,950 on a new solar system after accounting for federal tax breaks. (Some homeowners prefer to lease solar panels to reduce their upfront costs.) A personalized quote from a local solar company will account for things like the panel type, size, and capacity of the planned system, and should include fees for labor, preliminary work, and permit fees.
Incentive Amount:
Solar energy systems used for heating or cooling: out-of-pocket expenditures by the owner for the components and labor
Wind, hydroelectric, geothermal, solar thermal, solar PV, and other solar energy systems: the assessed value of the system
Incentive Amount:
Wi-Fi/Smart Thermostat: $50-$100
Air Source Heat Pump: $100 - $200/ton
Ductless Heat Pump/Mini Split: $80 - $285/ton
Geothermal Heat Pump: $120-$240/ton
Packaged Terminal Heat Pump: $100-$250
ECM Furnace Fan Motor: $100
Heat Pump Water Heater: $350
Variable Speed Pool Pumps: $200
Dehumidifier: $25
Generally speaking, a solar photovoltaic (PV) array can be used to power any household appliance or system that uses electricity. In the simplest case, you can use a solar water heating system.
With home solar panels, 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.
Yes, you can use home solar energy alongside conventional power sources. In many areas, solar panels are designed to supplement your existing energy sources, meaning that you can reap the environmental benefits and savings of solar energy without having to completely switch over.
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 Granger amount to $1,665.
Your payback period is the time to achieve an ROI on your solar panels. It will vary based on their rated capacity, the rate your utility charges per kilowatt of power, and the average sunlight in your area. Granger gets quite a bit of sunlight per day, so an average payback period could last up to 15.6 years per 5 kW of capacity.
Your recommended maintenance 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 installation company might offer comprehensive plans where they'll do the maintenance on your behalf.
Although solar energy is a valuable option for many, it might not be ideal for homeowners in wet, dark areas. In these cases, a contractor might recommend other forms of renewable energy, such as wind or geothermal power, as a primary source. It is also important to speak to a qualified installer to determine if their solar system is compatible with the climate and environment of your area. Even if you choose a different form of renewable energy altogether, you'll still lower your emissions and could still qualify for distributed generation or other money-saving programs.
With respect to taxes, the federal government offers a tax credit of up to 30% of the panels' cost. Depending on where you live, you could also claim or apply for state or property tax incentives. As for insurance, your monthly premium may be slightly higher because solar panels increase your property's value. You should talk with your accountant or insurance agent for information specific to your case.
