Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
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Written By David Cusick
Last Updated April 2024
A new solar energy system will provide you with a renewable power source that will pay for itself in time. Solar power can reduce your energy costs and shrink your carbon footprint. However, it's important to hire a qualified solar installer. That’s why we’ve analyzed the options and compiled a guide to the most trustworthy solar providers in Orchards. These top installers offer high-quality and reliable services.
Free quotes
Clear pricing policy
Reliable customer support
Informative resources
Services Offered
Clear pricing policy
Free quotes
Reliable customer support
Services Offered
Informative resources
Clear pricing policy
Reliable customer support
Free quotes
Services Offered
Reliable customer support
Clear pricing policy
Free quotes
Informative resources
Services Offered
Free quotes
Informative resources
Reliable customer support
Clear pricing policy
Services Offered
Informative resources
Reliable customer support
Services Offered
Clear pricing policy
Reliable customer support
Free quotes
Informative resources
Services Offered
Reliable customer support
Free quotes
Clear pricing policy
Services Offered
Informative resources
Free quotes
Clear pricing policy
Reliable customer support
Services Offered
Free quotes
Informative resources
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:
Putting solar panels on your roof could reduce your electricity payments while benefiting the planet by reducing your carbon footprint through renewable energy use. Key considerations when looking at local solar installers are as follows.
It's important to hire a licensed solar installer. This ensures that the work is done properly using current best installation practices. Solar energy installers in Washington are required to hold an electrical contractors' license from the Department of Labor and Industries. In specific situations, the department may also conduct permit inspections to confirm compliance and the integrity and viability of a contractor's job.
Check consumer review platforms like Google Reviews, TrustPilot, and the Better Business Bureau (BBB) to see customer feedback about local solar companies. Detailed reviews can help you assess a company's dependability and level of service. Use caution with providers that have hardly any reviews or mostly negative ones.
Contact three to five solar companies for free, detailed quotes. Quotes should clearly outline all costs and specify the exact solar components included. Comparing multiple quotes helps identify the most cost-effective option for you.
Top-notch solar installations should have strong workmanship and performance guarantees. A workmanship warranty covers installation defects, such as poor alignment, cracks in the panels, or poor wiring. A performance warranty ensures a minimum energy output. Comprehensive warranties show that a solar company believes in its work.
Installing solar panels can help decrease your electric bills over time. When weighing the total price and value of solar panels, make sure to consider these factors.
Solar panel costs vary based on your system's capacity and the technology used. The typical Orchards solar array has a capacity of 4.4 kilowatts. Homeowners in the area should expect to pay approximately $3,590 per kilowatt; the average Orchards homeowners spends about $11,156 on a new solar system after accounting for federal tax breaks. (Some homeowners prefer to lease solar panels to lower upfront costs.) A personalized quote from a local solar company will account for factors such as the panel type, capacity, and size of the planned system, and should include fees for preliminary work, permit fees, and labor.
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.
There are a number of benefits to home solar energy. You can reduce emissions, raise your property values, and qualify for tax benefits. With the right storage equipment, solar panels can also give you additional energy security and offer some protection from power outages.
It depends on your location and the kind of panels you plan to use. With the winter months in Washington being very mild, you have a wide time window to install your panels, though they won't reach peak performance until summer arrives.
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 Orchards amount to $750.
You might be pleasantly surprised at how quickly you can get a return on investment from your solar panels. In areas like Orchards with moderate sunlight, the period could last 14.9 years per 5 kW of power, but may be shorter if you have low electricity costs or a smaller energy capacity.
The specific types of maintenance you need will depend on the type of panels you're using. Regardless of type, you should inspect your panels for damage and clean them regularly. Full-service solar contractors in the Orchards area offer comprehensive maintenance plans to help you make the most of your panels and keep them healthy for as long as possible.
The answer will depend on your specific needs and goals. Generally speaking, monocrystalline solar panels are the most efficient for houses in Orchards. However, if you have a limited budget, then you could thin-film or polycrystalline solar panels. When you're choosing a contractor, make sure to ask about the brand names and models of solar panels an installer offers and the benefits and drawbacks of each.
Solar panels are gaining traction for their high efficiency and low maintenance costs. Depending on how much sunlight your property receives, you may find they're the best performing source of renewable energy compared to others.
