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Alex Hawkins is a writer for 潘金莲传媒映画 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.
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Momentum Solar has provided residential solar energy systems for 15 years but offers a limited service selection compared to our picks for the top solar companies. For example, Momentum only offers Enpower Smart Switch solar battery installation in select states, which automatically detects power outages and switches on your power source for you, and it doesn鈥檛 provide electric vehicle (EV) charger installation.
Momentum鈥檚 workmanship warranty is impressive thanks to its long-lasting coverage, but it has no power production guarantee, which would promise a certain level of solar panel performance. Its roof-penetration warranty is only for five years, which is lower than some competitors.
For this Momentum Solar review, we tapped our in-depth research and methodology, including solar energy expert interviews, a survey of 1,000 home solar customers, and an analysis of Momentum鈥檚 warranties and product selection.
We rated Momentum 4 out of 5 stars based on our methodology. The company received this rating because it doesn鈥檛 use installers and has less warranty coverage than other providers. We still find the company a solid option for homeowners in its service area because it has an excellent customer service reputation and quality financing options.
We like that Momentum uses in-house installers. Though it’s common for solar installation companies to use third-party subcontractors for installation, companies that use in-house installers often provide easier scheduling and clear communication about potential installation issues.
Additionally, the company provides in-house financing that works with individual credit and budgets. For instance, Momentum tailors each loan to match your budget and credit rather than offering a one-and-done option that might not align with your financing goals.
One of the best things about Momentum is its focus on keeping service local. The company鈥檚 reputable and well-reviewed customer support team will help you obtain local incentives and rebates and make it easier to deal with local utility companies.
According to JD Dillon, chief marketing officer at , customer support is an overlooked perk, as there are often communication difficulties between solar installation companies and utility providers who are competitive in the marketplace. Having a solar installer that aims to partner and maintain ongoing relationships with utility providers makes permitting and inspections easier for your solar project.
In addition, Momentum鈥檚 base warranty coverage is excellent, especially its 25-year labor warranty. Most other providers only offer a 5- or 10-year labor warranty, so you鈥檒l receive more long-term labor support through Momentum.
Momentum keeps its service options simple: In most places, it only offers solar panel installation. The company has a limited service area 鈥� including California, Florida, New Jersey, New York and Texas 鈥� where it offers solar battery installation. By contrast, competitors such as Sunrun and Blue Raven Solar provide comprehensive service options that include EV charger installation and ongoing protection plans.
Momentum provides less warranty coverage than other companies. Notably, the company doesn鈥檛 include a power production guarantee and limits its roof penetration warranty to five years. Other companies provide an average roof penetration warranty of 10 years or more. Other providers also include a production guarantee or performance warranty of roughly 25 years.
When it comes to performance and roof-leak coverage, Momentum is not at the forefront. However, due to its positive reputation and financing options, it scored higher on our methodology than some other providers.
Momentum doesn’t reveal the brand of solar photovoltaic (PV) panels it installs, which is a common practice in the industry. However, according to customer reviews, it has used Qcells and Enphase products in the past.
The company emphasizes using Tier 1 monocrystalline panels, which are currently the best-performing solar panels. Monocrystalline panels have an efficiency range of 15% to 24%, but they are expensive and require complex manufacturing. The term “Tier 1” means the manufacturer must have been producing solar panels for at least five years, regardless of the brand Momentum uses. We like that Momentum makes this distinction for its panels.
According to Will White, a solar application specialist at , going with a solar panel manufacturer that hasn鈥檛 been in business that long has its pitfalls. White explained that a newer solar panel brand might offer competitive pricing, but doesn鈥檛 have as much bankability as more established brands. As a result, customer support and your warranty might be void if that company goes under.
Though Momentum doesn鈥檛 disclose what brands it partners with for solar panels, it does share what brands it partners with for its microinverters. The company supplies Enphase Energy microinverters, which convert renewable energy directly at each panel instead of using multiple junction boxes and inverters.
Momentum鈥檚 smartphone app assists you in keeping track of your project and provides information about the completed and upcoming installation steps, such as permitting and design. We haven鈥檛 encountered many other monitoring apps that integrate with the overall installation, as most focus on post-installation performance.
The app also shares energy production data that informs you of your panels鈥� most efficient and high-production hours. You can contact customer support through the app via email or phone support. Additionally, you can use the app to schedule appointments and have control over each step of the installation process.
The app features a rating of 2.5 out of 5 stars on both Google Play and Apple App Store. Reviews mention having to enter your username and password every time you log in and long load times, but others highlight that quick access to customer support is a perk.
Momentum has a standardized installation process to custom-build and install solar panels that meet your energy needs. The process involves the following stages:
Momentum also offers solar battery installation in select areas. Momentum offers the Enphase IQ for its battery backup system installation. A solar battery is a device that stores surplus electricity generated by your solar system. It ensures uninterrupted power supply to your home even when the solar panels are not producing electricity. This device also provides electricity during power outages. Moreover, it helps you save money by utilizing an Enpower Smart Switch, automatically detecting a power outage and switching your power source from the grid to your solar battery.
Momentum provides a 25-year warranty for workmanship and equipment. This means that if there are any issues with your equipment due to installation or manufacturing faults, Momentum will fix them for free. However, Momentum does not offer a power performance guarantee. You will not receive compensation if your solar panels produce less energy than expected.
Additionally, there is a five-year warranty for roof penetration, which is comparatively short compared to similar weatherization warranties offered by other sun panel companies.
Our most recent October 2023 survey of 1,000 home solar customers revealed that Momentum customers were quoted an average of 鈥嬧��$15,380 for their system. According to recent reports published by the , this price falls below the national average for a 6-kilowatt system, which is estimated to be $18,960.
If you buy the entire solar energy system upfront or take out a solar loan, you can receive the federal solar investment tax credit (ITC), a government incentive offered by the . The offers a Residential Clean Energy Credit to encourage the use of solar power systems.
Per current legislation, solar system owners can deduct some of their qualified solar expenses from their federal income tax returns, which equals up to of the installation cost of their solar energy systems. This means you can reduce your owed federal taxes by this amount, but you don鈥檛 receive this amount upfront as cash or credit.
Momentum offers all payment methods for solar financing, but the company discourages power purchase agreements (PPAs) given their low cost-effectiveness, based on our assessment of customer reviews.
Momentum is available in the following states:
Momentum has a favorable customer reputation online. The company has an on Better Business Bureau (BBB) with a customer review rating of 3.21 out of 5 stars. We noticed that Momentum is highly communicative and replies to 100% of the reviews on the BBB. This is uncommon in the industry, highlighting that Momentum aims to be helpful.
It does show a 1.9-star rating on its , but many of the reviews focus on unwanted sales tactics, such as frequent calls and repeat door-to-door visits, rather than the actual quality of Momentum鈥檚 work.
The positive reviews on both platforms mention the company鈥檚 fast and efficient installation process and the overall helpfulness of Momentum鈥檚 staff and installers. Negative reviews mention trouble fulfilling proposed reimbursements from mishaps and scheduling repairs.
Momentum offers solid solar panel installation services paired with well-regarded customer service. Overall, the company maintains simple offerings, but we like that it limits its service area to make permitting and incentive approval easier for you.
If you want a more robust system with additional components and services, such as roofing upgrades or EV charger installation, consider SunPower or Elevation. The same goes for long-term security around your solar investment, as Momentum鈥檚 roof-leak warranty is only five years, and it doesn鈥檛 offer a performance guarantee.
We recommend getting at least three solar quotes before signing a contract with an installer. This approach lets you compare costs and offerings and then weigh all options before committing to a solar panel installer.
We rate and compare solar installers using our in-depth methodology. Installers are scored out of 100, and we then divide the final score by 20 to get the 5-star rating we include in our reviews.
We evaluate solar installers on a variety of key factors, including their customer service, breadth of services, consultation process, website experience, panel quality, payment options, financing availability and warranty coverage.
Apple App Store, BBB, Google Play and Trustpilot information is current as of June 2024.
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Homefront has an affiliate disclosure policy. The opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Homefront editorial staff alone (see About Homefront). Homefront adheres to strict editorial integrity standards. The information is believed to be accurate as of the publish date, but always check the provider鈥檚 website for the most current information.
Trinity Solar is our first choice for solar installations. It provides top-notch customer support networks with high-quality solar panel installations. Elevation is also among the best solar companies, with an impressive solar services catalog and comprehensive website features. If upfront cost isn鈥檛 your primary factor, you might favor SunPower for its top-performing, highly efficient solar鈥�
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, 鈥淭he standard solar panel life span is 25 to 40 years, with reputable manufacturers offering warranties to cover those first 25 years.鈥� A鈥�
Elevation stands out for its extensive solar service catalog and in-house installation crews. With industry-standard warranties and full-ownership payment methods, Elevation鈥檚 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鈥檛鈥�
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The compensation we receive from these companies may impact how and where products appear on this site. This compensation does not influence the recommendations or advice our editorial team provides within our content. We do not include all companies, products or offers that may be available.