Finding the right solar company can be difficult when there are so many solar companies to choose from. It is important to go through a few steps when finding the right solar company that is tailored to your needs whether that may be financial requirements or incentives the solar company may offer. Below you will find a few things you should know before you choose the right solar company to move forward with. This guide can help you if you are looking for solar for your home or solar for your business!
1. Set The Right Expectations
Since this may be your first time getting in touch with a solar company you’ll want to set proper expectations. You can think of hiring solar panel installers similarly to hiring a contractor to work on your home. This means you’ll want to do some research on the company and work through all the fine print of the contact. Once you have some background and you have done your research you can get in touch with the solar companies representatives to get an idea of how knowledgeable and experienced they are.
2. Get Multiple Quotes/Estimates
Similar to any other big investments you make, you’ll want to get several quotes if you intend to get a reasonable price for what your home needs. In addition, you’ll want to compare their price along with the credentials they bring.
For example, you’ll want to avoid solar companies that may say your home is eligible for solar panel installation when in fact it may not be. A great tool you can use to indicate if your home is eligible for solar panel installation is Google Project Sunroof. This tool allows you to enter your exact home address and Google will give you a personalized estimate of your solar savings and give you a great indication if you’re eligible for solar. In addition, it gives you information to compare finance options such as a loan, lease, or purchase option for your solar panels.
A company that may not have your best interest will try to push you to purchase solar panels even if they may not be right for you. As a result, when you receive quotes from other solar companies that indicate to you that your home is not eligible then it’s safe to assume that they are not looking out for your best intentions. If it may be the case that your home is not eligible you could always look for other green alternatives such as community solar.
By getting multiple quotes you get the best chance of working with the company that is right for you. In addition, you can compare the difference between the installation methods and equipment that are offered. For example, you’ll want to inquire about how the racking will be secured on your roof. Installing solar panels takes experience and depending on the type of roof you have varies on the type of racking your solar installers will use to secure the panels to the roof. If the solar installers use the wrong material this will damage your roof and create future problems that could have been avoided.
As a result, it is crucial to learn the different solar techniques and equipment that will be used. If you notice that the solar company may be dodging your questions it’s best to avoid that company and work with a solar company that is straightforward.
3. Ask For A Portfolio
Solar Power is quickly growing and there are so many companies to choose from. You’ll want to choose a company that has experience. The best way to learn about this is by looking at their previous solar installations on homes that may have similar looking roofs or homes like yours. In addition, take a look at their Google and Yelp Reviews to see what others have experienced.
4. Look For A Well Rounded Solar Company
While it’s understandable that everyone wants to get the best solar incentives and deals, make sure any price that you are quoted is justified. There are many different types of solar equipment to choose from and this can change the overall solar installation cost. If a company quotes you high do your research on the products and equipment and verify that their equipment has the best warranties, quality, durability, and effectiveness. Similarly, if a company is quoting you significantly lower it could be for those same reasons and it wouldn’t be the best choice to go for low-quality equipment when it comes to an investment like solar panels. You want your solar panels to produce consistently and have a long life span.
5. Choose A Local Solar Company
It would be in your best interest to choose a company that has been in business for several years. You can learn more about the company but taking a look at their website to see how long they have been established.
Most importantly, you’ll want a solar company that will stick around for any future reasons such as solar maintenance or renewing any warranty services.
6. Verify The Companies License
Every state has different licensing terms so you’ll want to take a look at the Interstate Renewable Energy Council so you can look for solar licensing requisites for the state you live in. Some states require an electrician’s license while others might need a general contractor’s license.
If a license in your state is required, ask the California solar company for their license number to get this information to verify. If you live in California you will get a detailed and complete file of information which has everything from the license violations that have come up to just validating they even have a license, to begin with. However, you don’t have to dismiss a company based on their violations, you could always ask the company about them and see why they may have them.
7. Learn From Others
Reviews and testimonials are the bread and butter of buying any product or going with any company when it comes to pretty much everything we invest in. It is absolutely worth your time to go through all the reviews whether they may be the highest or lowest reviews. At times, low reviews could be something small and might not resonate with an issue you care about. Nonetheless, you’ll want to read them all to get an understanding of other customer experiences.
8. Ask About Warranties
There are several components that go into a solar panel, and every component is covered by a warranty. When you are making such a big investment it’s important to know what parts of the solar panel are covered and what is the duration of coverage. When discussing the warranties you should be covering the workmanship warranty also known as labor warranty and equipment warranty.
Similarly to a car or any high tech, you may own, solar panels can also degrade over time. Since we have these expectations you should inquire about the durability and efficiency of your panels along with the warranties that go along with it once the solar panels begin to degrade.
For example, at Sunlogix energy we offer a 25-year workmanship warranty and a 25-year equipment warranty. Our solar installers more often use LG solar panels because they are known to the industry to produce optimal efficiency and offer the best equipment warranties you can find.
9. Look For High-Quality Solar Panels
While warranties are essential to look at you want to choose high-performing and high-efficiency solar panels to give you the best power output. There are 3 types of solar panels that you can most commonly find which include polycrystalline, monocrystalline, and amorphous. There are pros and cons to each of these solar panels and the type you choose varies on several factors such as how much space you have on your roof and the budget you are working with. It is important that the solar company you choose can offer all three so that you have the option to choose.
10. Flexible Payment Options
It is important that the solar company that you choose to go with offers flexible payment options whether that may be leasing, owning, or loaning solar panels. It is ultimately up to you which option works However, it’s crucial that the solar specialist can offer all three. Each option gives you different benefits so you’ll have to evaluate what benefits are most important to you.
Overall Verdict
When you are looking for the right solar company to work with take these 10 tips to get the best solar experience. At Sunlogix Energy, our solar installers are able to provide solar services based on your needs. You can contact us at 760-844-6507 or request a solar quote online and we’ll get back to you with more information!