Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
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Written By David Cusick
Last Updated April 2024
Rooftop solar energy is becoming increasingly popular for homeowners in Mount Pleasant. 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 lower your monthly energy expenses and shrink your carbon output. Before you get started, you want to make sure you find a trustworthy installer. Luckily, we've reviewed the options and assembled a guide to the best and most trustworthy solar installation providers in Mount Pleasant.
Reliable customer support
Free quotes
Clear pricing policy
Informative resources
Services Offered
Clear pricing policy
Free quotes
Informative resources
Reliable customer support
Services Offered
Clear pricing policy
Free quotes
Reliable customer support
Informative resources
Services Offered
Informative resources
Free quotes
Clear pricing policy
Reliable customer support
Services Offered
Reliable customer support
Clear pricing policy
Informative resources
Free quotes
Services Offered
Free quotes
Reliable customer support
Informative resources
Clear pricing policy
Services Offered
Free quotes
Informative resources
Services Offered
Informative resources
Reliable customer support
Clear pricing policy
Free quotes
Services Offered
Free quotes
Family-operated business
Reliable customer support
Clear pricing policy
Services Offered
Free quotes
Reliable customer support
Informative resources
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:
Adopting solar power lets homeowners cut utility bills while benefiting the planet by reducing your carbon footprint using clean energy. If you’re deciding whether to go solar, consider these key factors for choosing an installer.
It's important to hire a licensed solar installer. This ensures that the work is done properly using current installation best practices. There are no state-level contracting licenses issued in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, so each city or county can set its own requirements and regulations.
Look at review platforms such as TrustPilot, the Better Business Bureau (BBB), and Google Reviews to find out what previous customers say about local solar installers. Reviews can give you an idea of a company’s dependability and customer service. Avoid companies lacking reviews or with predominantly negative feedback.
Get free, detailed quotes from at least three solar companies. A quote should describe 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 strong workmanship and performance guarantees. A workmanship warranty addresses any installation defects (such as poor wiring, cracks in the panels, or poor alignment), while a performance guarantee ensures a certain level of energy production. Strong warranties demonstrate a company's confidence in its work.
Switching to solar power can help lower your energy expenses over time. Be sure to weigh these aspects when determining the cost and value of solar panels.
The cost of solar panels varies based on system capacity and the solar technology used. The typical Mount Pleasant solar array has a capacity of 7.0 kilowatts. Homeowners in the area can expect to pay approximately $3,550 per kilowatt; the average Mount Pleasant homeowners spends about $17,475 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 factors such as the size, capacity, and panel type of the planned system, and should include fees for permit fees, labor, and preliminary work.
Incentive Amount:
Manufacturer loans: $40,000 per job created within 3 years
Manufacturer grants: $5,000 per job created within 3 years
Loans for geothermal systems: $3 per square foot of space served up to $5 million; also limited to 50% of eligible costs for residential systems.
Loans for wind energy production projects: $5 million
Grants for wind energy production projects: $1 million
Grants for feasibility studies: 50% of cost up to $175,000
Loan guarantee grants: Up to 75% of deficient funds up to $5 million
Incentive Amount:
Varies based on market conditions; during 2015 the market price for PA-sourced SRECs has ranged from approximately $32 - $55/MWh ($0.032 - $0.055/kWh) although individual trades have taken place at substantially lower and higher prices.
Incentive Amount:
Appliances
Refrigerator: $75
Clothes Washer: $25- $50
Clothes Dryer: $50
Freezers: $25
Dehumidifiers: $25
Fridge/Freezer Recycling: $50
HVAC
HVAC tune up: $50
Furnace Fan Motor: $150
Ductless Minisplit AC : $200
Central AC: $100 - $200
Air Source Heat pump: $250 - $500
Geothermal Heat Pump: $600
Packaged Terminal AC: $75
Packaged Terminal Heat Pump: $150
Programmable Thermostat: $25
Others
Solar Water Heat: $500
Heat Pump Water Heater: $500
Home Energy Audit: $250
Lighting: Available as in-store discount in participating stores
Generally speaking, a solar photovoltaic (PV) array can be used to power any household appliance or system that uses electricity. In the smallest case, you can use 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 gain additional energy independence.
It depends on your location and what type of panels you're installing. Mount Pleasant can experience long, hard winters, so we recommend installing your system in the spring months to maximize your generation for the year.
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 Mount Pleasant amount to $842.
You might be pleasantly surprised at how quickly you can get a return on investment from your solar panels. In areas like Mount Pleasant with moderate sunlight, the period could last 20.8 years per 5 kW of power, but may be shorter if you have low electricity costs or a smaller energy capacity.
The specific required maintenance steps will vary based on the type of solar panels you have. With any system, you should clean and inspect each panel once a quarter. Your solar contractor might offer comprehensive plans where they'll do the maintenance on your behalf.
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 increase your property's solar viability enough to 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.
Solar energy is on par with other forms of renewable energy. They have low maintenance costs and today's systems can stand up to the worst conditions.
