Best Solar Tubes & Skylights For Home

Solar tubes, sun tunnels, or tubular skylights refer to a tube that delivers indirect light within the house. It’s the best option for those who want to add a bit more daylight with better efficiency than traditional skylights. But with many options available, finding the best solar tubes can be more challenging than installing one.

Velux is one of the most trusted brands for skylights, and you can expect excellent quality from them. However, if you’re trying to find other options available, keep reading. We’ve reviewed 10 of the best solar tubes that you can install with varying features that may benefit you. 

#1. Velux TMR 014 Sun Tunnel

Velux is one of the most recognizable brands for solar tubes. They have a dozen different models for all roof types, but our top pick is their TMR 014 sun tunnel. This rigid tunnel has the most extensive daylight coverage with a pitched high-density flashing for all exposure locations. It allows you to deliver daylight inside your house throughout the day.

You don’t have to worry about your roof, where it’s facing, and its pitch just to get the maximum exposure to light. It has an angle of 14 to 60 degrees, allowing you to install it on any roof. Regardless of the design, TMR 014 will give you maximum indirect light to illuminate up to 325 sq. ft. (30.2 sq.m.). The tunnel is made of aluminum with a 99.99% silver reflective layer that provides a +98% total reflectance rating.

It’s one of the most efficient sun tunnels that you can install in your house. Aside from that, it’s also one of the easiest to install because it has everything you’ll need. The installation process will be a breeze if you already have all the specifics ready in your house.

Sun tunnels aren’t cheap, so durability is one of the biggest concerns for buyers. The TMR 014 sun tunnel is an even better choice because it comes with a 20-year tunnel warranty! That’s a lot of coverage for you to enjoy indirect daylight, allowing you to consume at least 50% less electricity for your lighting. On top of all these, it doesn’t require maintenance, making it virtually a set and forget system for your house.

With its extensive daylight area coverage, high-efficiency rating, versatility, and durability, the Velux TMR 014 Sun Tunnel is the best solar tube that you can get for your house. It has everything you’ll want for a solar tube, and it’s a well-rounded product that suits almost every home.

#6. ODL EZ14SCANH Tubular Skylight

If you have an asphalt roof and would like to cover a larger area, ODL EZ14SCANH Tubular Skylight is the one that we can highly recommend. Aside from its extensive daylight area coverage, one of the biggest reasons you want this in your house is that it’s a lot cheaper than other options. Sure, there will be compromises with the product, but it still works beyond our expectations.

The dome is made of UV-protected acrylic and has a built-in patented optic that delivers daylight up to 300 sq. ft. (27.9 sq.m.). You can also adjust the pitch from 15 to 55 degrees. However, what makes it different from other solar tubes is that it sits flat on the roof versus most models that only tilt towards one side. This design makes it possible for you to enjoy daylight in your room throughout the day without worrying about adjusting it accordingly.

Installation is easy—you don’t have to go through heavy construction just to install it yourself. The only difference you’ll notice when compared with incandescent lights is that it’s a bit bluish. It means that the tunnel delivers pure daylight, which is only noticeable if you use it together with incandescent lamps.

ODL EZ14SCANH Tubular Skylight is not the most affordable option for tight-budget projects. However, it’s one that delivers better value compared to other mid-range solar tubes. It doesn’t have the fancy features that you’ll get from other more expensive models, but it still gets the job done and does a pretty good job with it.

#7. Velux TGR 010 Tubular Skylight

If you’re a homeowner in hurricane-prone areas and need a more affordable option without dealing with too many compromises, you can opt for the Velux TGR 010 Tubular Skylight. It has a rigid tunnel and high-impact polycarbonate dome that keeps it secure and leak-free.

This solar tube is an excellent option for those looking for a way to illuminate small spaces. It can evenly distribute daylight in 200 sq. ft. (18.6 sq.m.). Aside from this, you can easily install it in areas that use low-profile materials with a roof pitch of 14 to 60 degrees. However, if you’re not comfortable with the installation procedure, you can also opt for an installation service, which may also be eligible for federal income tax credits.

One of the great features of the TGR 010 tubular skylight is that it comes with a 99% reflective tunnel that you can extend for up to 20 feet (6 meters)! You can purchase additional ZTR 010 extensions as needed, allowing you to distribute light anywhere in the house. Velux is even throwing in a 10-year limited warranty on your solar tube, adding more value to your investment.

It’s a great way to brighten any space in your house with an energy-efficient system that doesn’t require maintenance. It may not have all the features you want for a solar tube, but it’s more than enough to get you started in taking your home lighting off-grid!

#8. Kennedy Skylights 14″ Composite Tubular Skylight

Kennedy Skylights Composite Tubular Skylight is another high-end 14-inch tunnel perfect for attics with straight, unobstructed spaces. It promises the best quality solar tube in the industry and even offers a lifetime warranty for leaks and any factory defect.

This solar tube can illuminate spaces up to 300 sq. ft. (27.9 sq.m.). With its patented diffuser, you can expect that it will evenly distribute light throughout the room. Compared to other solar tubes that produce bluish light (pure daylight), this tunnel can produce whiter light. It may not be a deal-breaker for some, but I know that many homeowners don’t prefer having bluish daylight inside their houses.

One of the best features of this composite rigid solar tube is that it has one of the most straightforward installation procedures we’ve seen. You can install it by yourself, and it’ll be leak-proof and maintenance-free for several years. Although its coverage is slightly smaller than other similar solar tubes, it still makes it easy for everyone to take their daylights off-grid.

Finding the best solar tubes can be daunting for anyone, but Kennedy Skylights made it easier for many people by providing a solution that anyone can set and forget. It may not be the cheapest option you can find, but it’s one that anyone can use without turning your house into a construction site.

#9. ODL EZ10SCANH Tubular Skylight Kit

If you’re looking for a daylight alternative that you can use for smaller spaces, ODL EZ10SCANH Tubular Skylight Kit is an even more affordable option for you. Sure, there will be some compromises with its efficiency and design, but it’s still one of the most efficient solar tubes that you can get for your house.

It has a total reflectance rating of +98%, which is more than enough to cover areas up to 150 sq. ft. (13.94 sq.m.). The roof applications will be slightly less than other solar tubes on our list; it’s only applicable for a roof pitch of 14 to 45 degrees. However, proper installation can still provide your house with ample daylight throughout the day.

Installation may not be a strong suit for the EZ10SCANH tubular skylight, and you may even need installation service for it. However, its energy efficiency is certified, which may be eligible for federal income tax credits for both the product and installation cost. It allows you to reduce your electric consumption for home lighting by at least 50% without the high upfront costs, giving you an even better return.

The EZ10SCANH tubular skylight may not have the best features you’re looking for in a solar tube, but it’s still one of the best ones you can get. The price and energy-efficiency are the strong suits that make it easy for anyone to reduce their electric consumption drastically. This perfectly suits for kitchens, living rooms and Bathrooms.

#10. Natural Light 13KFW Tubular Skylight

When it comes to solar tubes for larger spaces, Natural Light 13KFW Tubular Skylight is, perhaps, one with exceptional returns. It has one of the most extensive manufacturer warranties we’ve seen—25 years. Aside from that, it’s also one of the most versatile sun tunnels that you can get, allowing you to install it on a pitched, flat, or curb roof!

The 13KFW tubular skylight is far more efficient than most solar tubes for larger spaces. It can illuminate up to 300 sq. ft. (27.9 sq.m.), and it’s diffuser allows you to adjust the light that it gathers according to your liking. It comes with three different diffusers that make it easy for you to adjust your house’s lighting.

Installation is almost much easier, and you don’t have to go through all the guesswork. It fits perfectly on all roof types and allows you to have enough coverage throughout the day.

Aside from its versatility and ease of installation, another great feature of the 13KFW tubular skylight is its high-impact acrylic dome. It’s perfect for houses in hurricane-prone areas and ensures that you’ll have continuous daylight without requiring maintenance. You can even opt to install a light kit that you can manually turn on at night, taking your home lighting 100% off-grid.

There are only a few solar tubes that you can use for larger spaces, but the 13KFW Tubular Skylight is one of the most efficient. The warranty that comes with it only makes it easier for us to include this solar tube on this list, despite some of the cutbacks they had to make to provide consumers with more affordable options. This skylight is the perfect choice for kitchens and bathrooms.

Whether you want to have nature light in cold weather or in summer, whether you want to use it on Homes or kitchens or bathrooms, these solar skylights are best for you.

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Conclusion

Solar tubes are far more efficient than traditional skylights, but it doesn’t mean that you can pick any, and it will automatically improve your house. You still need to ensure that its energy efficiency is certified. Being eligible for federal income tax credits is one way to reduce the actual cost of switching to renewable energy.

Besides this, you also need to consider the color of light that it distributes inside your house. Bluish light is pure daylight, and some of them don’t have sufficient UV protection for your clothes, furniture, and rugs. The construction is also a crucial factor that you need to consider, especially if you’re living in hurricane-prone areas where sun tunnel leaks are common.

How Do Solar Tubes Work?

A solar tube consists of a metallic tube with a reflective polished sheet inside. Due to its construction material, when light enters the tube from outside on the roof, the Solar tube acts as a mirror and channels it to the other end. Solar Tubes are also known as solar tunnels. Solar light tubes are the best alternative for a skylight.

Advantages of Solar Tubes

1. More natural light inside the home.
2. Saves a lot of energy in summer by reducing the need for lights. Solar tubes will directly impact our environment. 
3. Solar light tubes will allow you to enjoy the Sky view from inside your home.
4. Solar light tubes can be an excellent selling point while selling your home.
5. When you don’t need direct light inside your home, you can close the solar tube’s lid.
6. Coming Solar light tubes, they are easy to install when we compare it to Skylights.
7. The overall cost of Solar tubes will be less.
8. Solar tubes are highly energy efficient.

Sources:

• Sun Tunnel Skylights
• Kennedy Skylights Brochure
• Benefits and Drawbacks of solar tube lightning
• Light tube