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 Colonial Heights homeowners. A new solar energy system can help you decrease your carbon footprint, add value to your property, 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 reputable installer. Luckily, we've reviewed the options and compiled a guide to the best and most reliable solar installation providers in Colonial Heights.
Clear pricing policy
Reliable customer support
Free quotes
Services Offered
Informative resources
Free quotes
Reliable customer support
Clear pricing policy
Services Offered
Reliable customer support
Clear pricing policy
Informative resources
Services Offered
Informative resources
Clear pricing policy
Reliable customer support
Services Offered
Prompt service delivery
Reliable customer support
Clear pricing policy
Free quotes
Informative resources
Services Offered
Informative resources
Reliable customer support
Clear pricing policy
Services Offered
Clear pricing policy
Free quotes
Informative resources
Reliable customer support
Services Offered
Informative resources
Reliable customer support
Clear pricing policy
Services Offered
Informative resources
Free quotes
Reliable customer support
Clear pricing policy
Services Offered
Clear pricing policy
Reliable customer support
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 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.
Verify that your solar installer is properly licensed. This helps ensure that the work is done properly using the most up-to-date installation methods. Since 2012, Virginia's Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation has issued Alternative Energy Systems (AES) licenses to contractors working on solar photovoltaic systems. A contractor with an AES license may need to subcontract plumbing, electrical or HVAC work.
Look at review platforms such as Google Reviews, the Better Business Bureau (BBB), and TrustPilot to find out what previous customers have to say about local solar providers. Reviews can give you an idea of a company’s reliability and customer service. Be cautious of companies with no reviews or with predominantly negative feedback.
Call three to five solar companies for free, itemized quotes. The quotes should outline all costs and list the solar equipment included. Reviewing multiple quotes helps you find the option that aligns with your budget.
Quality solar installations should come with comprehensive workmanship and performance guarantees. The workmanship guarantee covers any installation problems such as poor wiring, poor alignment, or cracks in the panels. The performance warranty ensures a specific energy output level. Strong warranties indicate that a solar installer has faith in its installations.
Solar energy can help decrease your electric bills over time. When weighing the total price and value of solar panels, be sure to consider these factors.
Colonial Heights homeowners typically spend about $19,418 on home solar systems after federal tax refunds. Solar arrays in Colonial Heights cost roughly $3,590 per kilowatt, with the average residential solar system being 7.7 kilowatts. A personalized estimate from a local solar provider will include costs for labor, preliminary work, and permit fees, and will account for your system's size, panel type, and capacity. Some homeowners prefer to lease solar panels in order to reduce upfront costs.
Incentive Type: Personal Tax Deduction
Incentive Amount:
20% of the sales tax paid by an individual
Generally speaking, a solar photovoltaic (PV) system can be used to power any household system or appliance that uses electricity. In the simplest case, you can use a solar water heater.
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.
Generally speaking, your energy bills will significantly decrease after you install solar panels. This is because you're using the energy you generate for free rather than buying it from your power company. In Colonial Heights, the average amount someone can save is $1,448 per year. With net metering programs offered by many utilities, you could ultimately make a profit from your system after the payback period concludes.
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. Colonial Heights gets quite a bit of sunlight per day, so an average payback period could last up to 13.4 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 clean your panels regularly and inspect them for damage. Full-service solar contractors in the Colonial Heights area offer comprehensive maintenance plans to help you keep your panels healthy and make the most of your system.
Net metering is a power purchasing policy that allows solar energy system owners to be compensated 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.
