Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
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Written By David Cusick
Last Updated April 2024
Every year, more Franklin Farm residents use rooftop solar panels to lower their carbon footprint and add value to their property. Making the switch to solar power can help cut your utility bills and reduce your environmental impact. But you'll want to find a reputable installation company first. Luckily, we’ve analyzed local solar installers and compiled a guide to the best solar companies in Franklin Farm. These reputable providers are reliable options known for their quality services.
Clear pricing policy
Informative resources
Free quotes
Reliable customer support
Services Offered
Free quotes
Reliable customer support
Clear pricing policy
Informative resources
Services Offered
Free quotes
Prompt service delivery
Reliable customer support
Informative resources
Clear pricing policy
Services Offered
Reliable customer support
Informative resources
Free quotes
Clear pricing policy
Services Offered
Free quotes
Reliable customer support
Services Offered
Reliable customer support
Informative resources
Free quotes
Clear pricing policy
Services Offered
Free quotes
Reliable customer support
Services Offered
Prompt service delivery
Reliable customer support
Free quotes
Clear pricing policy
Services Offered
Free quotes
Clear pricing policy
Reliable customer support
Services Offered
Clear pricing policy
Free quotes
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:
Putting solar panels on your roof could reduce your electricity payments while helping the environment by reducing your carbon footprint through renewable energy use. Key considerations when researching local solar installers are as follows.
Hiring a licensed solar installer is critical. This helps ensure that the work is done correctly using current best installation practices. Since 2012, the Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation has issued Alternative Energy Systems (AES) licenses to contractors working on solar photovoltaic systems. Even if a contractor has an AES license, they may still need to subcontract electrical, HVAC or plumbing work.
Check Google Reviews, TrustPilot, the Better Business Bureau (BBB), and other review sites to see what past customers are saying about local solar providers. Detailed reviews can help you assess a provider's integrity and customer service. Stay away from companies with few or mainly poor reviews.
Call three to five solar companies for free, itemized quotes. These quotes should describe all costs and list the solar equipment included. Reviewing multiple quotes helps identify the best option that fits your budget.
Quality solar installations should come with strong workmanship and performance guarantees. A workmanship guarantee covers any installation defects (such as cracks in the panels, poor alignment, or poor wiring), while a performance warranty ensures a certain level of energy production. Strong warranties demonstrate a company's confidence in its work.
Solar energy can help lower your energy expenses. Be sure to weigh these aspects when judging the cost and value of solar panels.
Franklin Farm homeowners typically spend about $20,263 on home solar systems after federal tax refunds. Solar arrays in Franklin Farm cost roughly $3,590 per kilowatt, with the average residential solar system being 8.1 kilowatts. A personalized estimate from a local solar provider will include costs for permit fees, preliminary work, and labor, and will account for your system's panel type, capacity, and size. Some homeowners prefer to lease their solar panels to reduce upfront costs.
Incentive Type: Personal Tax Deduction
Incentive Amount:
20% of the sales tax paid by an individual
A solar photovoltaic (PV) system can generate power to run any electric appliance or system in your home. A more specific example is installing a solar water heating system.
With home solar PV, you can recoup the cost of the system over time, lower your home's carbon footprint, and gain additional energy independence.
It depends on your home's location and what type of panels you're installing. Since there's a moderate amount of snowfall in Franklin Farm, your best time to get solar is in the spring and fall.
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 Franklin Farm amount to $1,448.
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. Franklin Farm gets quite a bit of sunlight per day, so an average payback period could last up to 14.0 years per 5 kW of 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 four times a year. Your solar energy company might offer comprehensive plans where they'll do the maintenance on your behalf.
Net metering is a power purchasing policy that allows solar energy system owners to receive bill credits or payments 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.
Yes, solar panels can still provide you with energy during a grid outage. To ensure that your solar system is able to keep working during a power outage, make sure to choose a quality solar provider that offers battery backup systems or emergency generators.
