Alex Hawkins is a writer for USA TODAY Homefront. He has worked on consumer surveys with over 5,000 homeowners, conducted in-depth interviews with solar and windows industry experts and has experienced ride-alongs with professional window installers. His work has also been featured on This Old House, MarketWatch and Architectural Digest. Alex has a Masters in English language and literature from Texas Tech University but now lives in Knoxville, Tennessee. In his free time, Alex explores the Smoky Mountains or publishes video essays and book reviews on his YouTube channel.
You’ll want to ensure your furnace is up to task before cold weather arrives. Our guide cuts through the noise to name the five top-rated furnace brands for reliability, efficiency and overall value. Our top recommendation is Carrier, which provides some of the most well-rounded furnace options and the best customer support. We also place…
Tesla Energy is a household name in the residential solar energy industry. Though the company is best known for its CEO, Elon Musk, and its electric cars, it is also touted for its solar roof, which uses low-profile solar shingles to mimic the appearance of a traditional roof. The roof acts as a solar panel…
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…
Momentum Solar has been providing residential solar energy systems for 15 years, but it still has a rather limited service selection compared to other top solar providers of its size. For example, Momentum offers Enpower Smart Switch solar battery installation in select states, which automatically detects power outages and switches on your power source for…
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…
Ordering the right-size furnace is crucial for your home’s day-to-day function and performance. If you get the wrong furnace size, you could deal with increased energy bills, costly repairs or the furnace shutting off when you need it most. To get the perfect fit, you must determine the required Btu output. Btu (British thermal units)…
Choosing an appropriately sized air conditioner (AC) for your space is the key to keeping cool in summer. The sweet spot is an AC powerful enough to keep your home at the right temperature on the hottest days. A properly sized unit runs long enough to remove humidity without wasting energy from overcooling or cycling…
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 popular solar providers. Its…
Palmetto Solar is an excellent option for going solar — depending on your priorities. If you care about treating your solar panel system as an investment and desire financial flexibility, Palmetto is for you. The company provides some of the most comprehensive active monitoring and ongoing protection we’ve seen from any of the popular solar…
Semper Solaris is a younger solar installation company that was 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 an overall mixed reputation among the other top solar companies. On one hand, Semper Solaris features glowing reviews about the attitude and…
We analyzed the top brands in air conditioning and compared critical factors such as features, reliability, warranties and overall value to help you choose the right AC brand. The best air conditioner brand is Carrier as they top our list with some of the best all-around AC units, offering a combination of features that give…
Venture Solar was founded in 2015, making it relatively new to the solar industry. The company provides quality solar products with excellent installation teams and financing options, and it stands out in these areas from some other competitors we’ve reviewed. Venture Solar uses products from reputable brands, such as Tesla and SunPower, and it offers…
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…
If you want the most optimized and high-performance solar panel system possible, SunPower is your best choice. 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. However, this results in…
Sunrun has substantial experience in the solar industry, as it was founded in 2007, but that doesn’t necessarily make it the best choice for you. However, if you’re primarily interested in a solar lease, Sunrun is an excellent option. The company offers two leasing plans, which is uncommon compared to the standard leasing plan most…
Many Americans are considering solar power to meet their residential energy needs. Our October 2023 survey of 1,000 solar customers revealed that 54% were concerned with saving money through solar panels. Trinity Solar leads the pack in our ratings by providing one of the best customer support networks with high-quality solar panel installations, and Elevation…