In This Review: Best Solar Panels | How to Find the Best Solar Panels | Our Conclusion | FAQs | Methodology
The process of moving to clean energy solutions for your home can be tricky. Once you have decided that solar panels are worth it for your home, you can now start the search for the top-rated solar companies available. Along with finding a company, you will also need to choose the best solar panels for your home. If you are just learning about the solar panel marketplace, you might get overwhelmed by options. We’re here to help with our roundup of the top five solar panels for homes.
Top 5 Solar Panels for Homes
The This Old House Reviews Team has reviewed dozens of the solar panel options available and narrowed the list down to the five best options. Read about each of the best solar panels for homes and find the right solar solutions for your home:
- SunPower: Most Energy-Efficient
- Q Cells: Best Value
- Silfab: Best Warranty
- Panasonic: Best Panel for Hot Climates
- LG: Best Design Variety for Homes
SunPower
Our score: 80 out of 100
SunPower offers some of the best high-efficiency photovoltaic (PV) solar panels on the market today. Made in-house by its solar panel manufacturer Maxeon, these high-quality panels are the best choice for homeowners looking to invest in top-tier solar panel options.
Given that the cost of solar power can deter some homeowners from investing in solar energy, you may find SunPower’s panels to be too high for your budget. However, you should not let the higher costs discourage you. Investing in efficient solar panels will help your system run efficiently with fewer panels needed for your home. The better the quality of your panels, the better your return on investment will be over time.
Sunpower backs its panels with a 25-year product warranty and a 25-year performance warranty. It guarantees that the panels will produce at 92% power output throughout the life of the warranty. If your panels fall below the guaranteed output at any time, SunPower will upgrade your panels at no extra cost.
Get your quote from Sunpower today.
Q Cells
Our score: 85 out of 100
If you need a balance of affordable panels that don’t sacrifice efficiency, Q Cells will be the best-value option for you. Although its panels don’t meet the standards of SunPower, homeowners can trust that Q Cells delivers quality panels at a reasonable price point.
Q Cells provides a 25-year product and performance guarantee. The panels are guaranteed to produce no less than 98% of the given output in the first year. Then, output reduces by 0.5% maximum for each year after that. At 10 years, the power won’t drop below 93%, and it will produce at least 86% by 25 years.
Silfab
Our score: 85 out of 100
North American company Silfab Solar provides solar panels with one of the longest warranties available. Backed by a 30-year performance warranty, the company promises panels that will outlast most solar panels in this review.
Homeowners will feel secure knowing that their Silfab panels are backed with a 12-year workmanship warranty. If you want to extend the coverage to the 25-year option, you must have your panels installed by an official Silfab installer.
If you are looking for one of the best performance guarantees around, you will also receive a 30-year performance guarantee, which is five years longer than the next longest warranty on our list. Silfab backs its panels with a guaranteed output of 83% by the end of 30 years. If your panels fall below that production level, Silfab states that it will cover the replacement of your panels.
Panasonic
Our score: 80 out of 100
Panasonic solar panels have proven to be the best option for homeowners living in hot climates. Thanks to its excellent temperature coefficient, Panasonic panels can withstand extreme temperatures while effectively producing solar energy.
Its AllGuard and TripleGuard 25-year warranty backs Panasonic panels. This warranty covers EverVolt panels for parts, product, labor, and performance. The company also promises at least a 92% output performance of its panels at the end of 25 years.
LG
Our score: 75 out of 100
Homeowners seeking solar panels made to accommodate unique home styles should look into getting LG panels. Backed by one of the most recognized names in the electronics industry, its panels provide high-power solutions for even the most unusual roof style.
The company provides a 25-year product warranty on all its panels. The production guarantee varies based on the model, though. LG NeON R panels provide an output of 98.5% after one year and at least 92.5% in its 25th year. The LG NeON 2 series is promised to produce 96.4% in 25 years.
How to Find the Best Solar Panels for Homes
While searching for the best solar panels for your home, consider the solar panel type, efficiency, and warranties. Some of these terms are difficult to understand and there are many options to choose from, but the right installer will help to guide you through the process.
“If you work with a turn-key installer that communicates at each step of the process, the home solar installation should be easy and worry-free,” says Matt Johnson, co-owner of Namaste Solar. “A seasoned installer should handle all the logistics from design to permitting to finding all the incentives and rebates available.”
The video below offers an overview of common considerations you and your installer should make when choosing solar panels:
Solar Panel Type
Although the panels in this review are mainly monocrystalline solar panels, different types of solar panels are available on the market.
Polycrystalline solar panels use older technology than mono panels and are a cheaper option. However, these panels are not as efficient as monocrystalline offerings and, in turn, require more panels to run as efficiently.
Thin-film panels are an even cheaper solar panel option for your home project. The manufacturing process is less complicated, so they take very little time to make. However, they lack the durability of the other types of panels, making them the most vulnerable to wear and tear over time. Although these are the least efficient options on the list, they do have practical uses. Thin-film solar panels are used in off-grid and smaller DIY solar projects, including RVs and small sheds.
Efficiency
Solar panel efficiency plays a vital role in your solar panel system. Higher efficiencies indicate that the solar panel can convert a larger percentage of sunlight throughout the day. The more sunlight gets converted, the more power generated to run your home.
Homeowners should shop for high-efficiency panels that meet their solar system budget.
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) states that solar panels typically fall between 16% and 22% efficiency. Of course, the panels with the highest efficiencies will cost the most money. However, the cost of going solar will be worth it when you have the best system in place that helps you save money on your energy bills for years to come.
Warranty
Solar panel warranty options usually cover the product and the performance. However, the coverage may not always be separate. Some companies provide comprehensive warranties that include both types of coverage.
A standard product warranty will cover 10 to 12 years and may include protection for defects, labor, and normal wear and tear. Some companies, however, offer extended product warranties
A standard product warranty will last for 10 to 12 years. Some companies offer longer warranties, extending to 25 or more years. Additionally, some companies only offer extended product warranties if you use one of their authorized dealers or installers. Be sure to review the restrictions for any warranty options that are dependent on your installer.
The standard performance warranty guarantees 90% production for 10 years, with incremental drops over the years to 80% by 25 years. Some premium solar panels come with performance warranties that include 90% or higher output in 25 years. These warranties typically include coverage for any failed performance as well. If your solar panels are not performing to the standards outlined in your warranty, the solar installer will replace the panels or upgrade them at no charge.
Our Conclusion
SunPower offers the most energy-efficient options in our review. Although its panels will cost more initially, you will benefit from top-tier panels in the long run. If overall cost is still a major factor for you, consider Q Cells panels for the right balance of affordability and great efficiency. If guaranteed product performance matters most for you, Silfab’s 30-year guaranteed panels will be the right addition for your home.
Solar panel installers will work with you to find the right number of panels for your home based on your energy needs. The selection offered between the different solar panel brands will vary. The best solar panel companies will keep your best interests in mind and select solar panels that fit your budget as well as your energy needs.
Your best option is to compare solar panels from various companies. Because solar panel installers have varying availability throughout the United States, it’s important to verify that their services are available in your area.
Frequently Asked Questions About Best Solar Panels for Homes
Our Rating Methodology
The This Old House Reviews Team is committed to providing comprehensive and unbiased reviews to our readers. This means earning your trust through transparent reviews and data to back up our ratings and recommendations. Our rating system for solar service providers is on a 100-point scale based on five factors:
- Payment options (40 points): Options include purchase, loan, lease, and Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs). Companies receive points for each of those four options it provides.
- Solar services (30 points): Does the company provide in-house installation of solar panels and battery backups? Can the company also monitor energy production and perform energy-efficiency audits to ensure system performance. The more options available, the higher the score.
- Warranty options (10 points): The success of a residential solar system depends on the workmanship, performance guarantees, and length of product coverage. We score companies based on the number of warranty options available. The more warranties a company offers, the higher the score it receives.
- State Availability (10 points): We award the most points to companies with the broadest service area and state availability.
- Reputation (10 points): We factor in how the Business Better Bureau (BBB) scores each company. We deduct points for any alerts or pending lawsuits.
To share feedback or ask a question about this article, send a note to our Reviews team at reviews@thisoldhousereviews.com.