Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
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Written By David Cusick
Last Updated April 2024
Solar energy is becoming increasingly popular for Clay homeowners. A new solar energy system can help you add value to your property, decrease your carbon footprint, and provide a dependable source of power. Adopting solar energy can help you save money and reduce your carbon footprint, but you want to make sure you find a trustworthy installer. Luckily, we’ve conducted comprehensive research local solar installers and compiled a guide to the best solar companies in Clay. These reputable providers are smart choices homeowners can depend on.
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Clear pricing policy
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Services Offered
Reliable customer support
Informative resources
Clear pricing policy
Free quotes
Services Offered
Free quotes
Clear pricing policy
Reliable customer support
Informative resources
Services Offered
Reliable customer support
Informative resources
Free quotes
Clear pricing policy
Services Offered
Reliable customer support
Informative resources
Free quotes
Clear pricing policy
Services Offered
Reliable customer support
Clear pricing policy
Informative resources
Free quotes
Services Offered
Informative resources
Free quotes
Clear pricing policy
Services Offered
Reliable customer support
Free quotes
Clear pricing policy
Informative resources
Services Offered
Free quotes
Reliable customer support
Clear pricing policy
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 lower 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.
Hiring a licensed solar installer is critical. This ensures that the work is done properly using the most up-to-date installation methods. Michigan law has a de facto licensing requirement for solar photovoltaic installers. In other words, there's no explicit requirement for solar installers to have a license, but workers dealing with electrical wiring jobs do need a license. Solar thermal systems must be installed by a licensed mechanical contractor.
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 assess a company's dependability and level of service. Use caution with installers that have very few reviews or mostly negative ones.
To find a solar company that fits your budget, get free, detailed quotes from three to five 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 comprehensive workmanship and performance guarantees. The workmanship warranty covers any installation issues such as poor alignment, cracks in the panels, or poor wiring. The performance guarantee ensures a specific energy output level. Strong warranties indicate that a solar installer trusts its installations.
Solar power can help decrease your electricity costs long-term. When evaluating solar panel's cost and value, be sure to consider these considerations.
The cost of solar panels varies based on system capacity and the technology used. The average solar system in Clay has a capacity of 6.0 kilowatts. Homeowners in the area should expect to pay approximately $4,060 per kilowatt; the average Clay homeowners spends about $16,921 on a new solar system after accounting for federal tax breaks. (Some homeowners prefer to lease solar panels to lower their upfront costs.) A personalized quote from a local solar provider will account for things like the panel type, capacity, and size of the planned system, and should include prices for labor, preliminary work, and permit fees.
A solar photovoltaic (PV) system can generate power to run any electric system or appliance in your home. More specifically, you can install a solar heating system for your water.
With home solar PV, you can recoup the cost of the system over time, lower your property's emissions, and gain additional energy independence.
It depends on your home's location and the kind of panels you plan to use. Since there's a moderate amount of snowfall in Clay, your best time to get solar is in the spring and fall.
Yes, it's possible to use home solar energy alongside conventional power sources. In many areas, solar panels are designed to supplement your existing energy sources, which means you can reap the environmental benefits and savings that come from using solar energy without having to completely switch over.
Your payback period is the time to achieve an ROI on your solar panels. It will vary based on their rated capacity, the average sunlight in your area, and the rate your utility charges per kilowatt of power. Clay gets quite a bit of sunlight per day, so an average payback period could last up to 16.8 years per 5 kW of capacity.
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. Many solar contractors in the Clay area offer multipoint maintenance plans to help you make the most of your panels and keep them healthy for as long as possible.
Net metering is a power purchasing policy that allows solar energy system owners to receive compensation for the amount of energy they put back into the grid. It's available in most states and is a great way to reduce energy costs.
Some frequently-used types of home solar panels in Clay include thin-film, monocrystalline and polycrystalline. Monocrystalline panels are balanced and efficient, while polycrystalline and thin-film panels pair good performance with greater upfront value. Ask your local provider about which solar panels they work with.
