Despite the significant energy cost savings they offer, solar panels come with sizable price tags. Understanding your solar payback period can help you decide whether solar panels are worth it for your home. While the purchase cost or bill savings alone are insufficient metrics to gauge a system’s worth, your solar panel payback period is…

A solar power system is one of the best upgrades you can make to your home for energy efficiency. And yet, the upfront expense of solar panels can discourage many from making the switch. Fortunately, most solar companies offer several solar panel financing options, including loans, leases and power purchase agreements (PPAs). Solar leases and…

You may know that adding solar panels can help lower energy bills, but whether or not solar panels can increase home value depends on your system and when and how it was installed. Homes with solar panels — installed in the past five years — could make for a great selling point. “If panels are…

Solar panels are often worth it if your roof is properly oriented, and you can access state and local incentives. It’s important to talk to a few solar companies about the climate and regulations in your area. Professional solar providers can typically help you navigate tax credits and other benefits for which you may be…

Solar panels are solar panels, right? Well, not exactly. Since the types of solar panels vary in cost and efficiency, getting the type best suited for your home may help prevent unnecessarily high installation costs and maximize long-term savings on your electric bills. “There are three major types of solar modules: monocrystalline, polycrystalline and thin-film,”…

Solar panels save homeowners money on their energy bills since they’re not using as much — or any — electricity from the power grid. But how do solar panels work? To help explain, we spoke to Will White, a solar application specialist at Fluke Corporation, who distilled all of the technological and scientific information down…

Going solar can reduce your reliance on grid energy and save money on energy bills simply by harnessing the sun’s energy. But even if you have some of the top solar companies out there, solar panels only work when the sun is shining, you’ll be left without power for large portions of each day. That…

You might think solar panels require a lot of maintenance due to the complexity of the technology, but most systems require only routine inspections to stay in good working order, according to Will White, a solar application specialist at Fluke Corporation. Monitoring your system’s performance is the most important thing you can do to ensure…

In a perfect world, your solar panels always point directly at the sun. In practice, that’s highly unlikely unless you have the space and money to install ground-mounted panels with a tracking system to adjust their tilt according to the sun’s position. That’s why it’s important to set your solar panels at the optimum angle…

Do-it-yourself (DIY) solar panels might seem enticing to save money, but we don’t recommend tackling the project unless you’re an electrician with experience installing solar systems. Installing your own solar power system without the proper experience and certification comes with serious risks.  Solar power systems often involve high voltage, which can cause severe electric shock,…

ADT Solar (formerly known as Sunpro Solar) offers a 25-year warranty for its panels, performance, workmanship and microinverters, making it an investment that will give you peace of mind. While the industry average panel warranty is 25 years, most companies only offer five- or 10-year warranties for other system aspects. Customer reviews applaud ADT’s 24/7…

Solar panels last around 25 years, on average, although many continue to function even after 30 years or more. According to David Schieren, CEO of EmPower Solar in Long Island, New York, “The standard solar panel life span is 25 to 40 years, with reputable manufacturers offering warranties to cover those first 25 years.” A…

Elevation stands out for its extensive solar service catalog and in-house installation crews. With industry-standard warranties and full-ownership payment methods, Elevation’s service selection can fulfill your solar needs for an affordable price. Although Elevation has some reports of delays and scheduling difficulties, the company appears responsive to reviews and extends help for complaints. We don’t…

Trinity Solar features some of the best customer support tools we’ve encountered in our research. Past customers comment on its quality service, and it only works with certified installers.  Although its customer support and personable staff help you once you contact the company, Trinity’s online presence is vague compared to other top solar providers. Its…

Palmetto Solar is an excellent option for going solar if you view your solar panel system as an investment and desire financial flexibility. The company provides some of the most comprehensive active monitoring and ongoing protection we’ve seen from any of the providers we ranked as the best solar companies. Unfortunately, Palmetto locks most of…

Semper Solaris is a younger solar installation company founded in 2012. While a solar installer’s age doesn’t always equate to poor quality or service, our research revealed that the company has more of a mixed reputation with customers than the best solar companies. On one hand, Semper Solaris features glowing customer feedback about the attitude…

Blue Raven Solar is worth considering if you can’t afford the high upfront cost of a new solar system installation. The company offers its BluePower Plus+ loan option through an in-house financing department and uses some of the highest-performing solar panels on the market, Maxeon. These benefits help you get the most out of your…

SunPower is the best choice for a solar company if you want the most optimized and high-performance solar panel system possible. SunPower has a close relationship with Maxeon, which used to be SunPower’s sister company but now operates independently. This relationship allows SunPower to provide some of the most efficient solar panels on the market. …

Sunrun, a veteran in the solar industry, is a solid choice if you’re primarily interested in a solar lease.  The company offers two solar leasing plans, which is unique compared to most solar installers’ standard leasing plans. The company also offers worthwhile perks regarding its leasing plans, but its benefits for full purchases and loans…

Solar panel installation is a hefty investment, so you’ll want to ensure that you hire a quality and trusted solar installation company for the job.  We research, review and rate professional solar installation companies to help you find a reputable and reliable installer when you decide to go solar. Research Our research practices include understanding…