More people are making the move to solar today as traditional utility generation costs are skyrocketing and as ROI for the systems increases. With new clean, pure energy from the sun coming into your home you’re not only reducing your monthly bills but you’re doing your part to reduce carbon emissions and protect the planet.
If that’s not enough, there are also currently tax incentives being offered to sweeten the deal. Homeowners are eligible for a federal solar investment tax credit of 26 percent in 2021.
Now that you’ve made it to the ‘shop around’ phase of investing in solar, it is important to know not only who will be installing your solar system, but also the products they’ll be using.
Making an informed financial decision means understanding what sets products apart and what to ask the solar installer about their services.
Here are 3 important questions you should ask before choosing a solar installer.
1. Who Does The Installations? Is It A 3rd Party Or Does The Sales Representative Work Directly For The Installer?
Be sure that the company that is coming to do your solar installations has knowledge and experience in doing this type of work. Many “solar consultants” out in the field ae actually working for a larger sales agency and working towards commission goals. You want to be sure you’re choosing a professional company that’s familiar with your local town ordinances for the installation of solar panels. It is far better to know that you are working directly with the installer to ensure the best value now and for the long term.
You can also check the Department of Consumer Protection or Better Business Bureau’s website or ask about the specific licenses they hold.
SAVKAT holds Board Certifications from the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP) the most respected, well-established, and widely recognized certification organization for North American solar professionals in the field of renewable energy.
2. How Do You Arrive At The Savings Estimate?
Numbers can be misleading if you’re not careful. Shady estimates are unfortunately out there and it’s easy to inflate the productivity of the system to show more power per panel and therefore more savings from the system than what is reality.
Find out how the solar company arrives at their calculation. You can also ask the provider to give you a conservative estimate and to disclose the solar lease escalator rate in case there is a yearly increase you need to know about.
While you’re inquiring about cost savings estimates, don’t forget to also look over the actual terms written in the contract when it comes to unused power being generated by the system on your home. Will you be credited for it? Are there other hidden monthly fees you should be aware of?
3. What Are The Maintenance & Warranties?
You can never be too prepared. For this reason, you should talk to the solar company and see what the maintenance and warranties are for the life of the panels on your home. If a problem were to occur how would it be fixed? Would the warranties also include parts and labor? Does the warranty cover replacement cost like labor and shipping, etc.? How many different manufactures’ warranties are involved? Conventional systems have a separate product/manufacturer warranty for the panels, inverters, racking, monitoring, and other components.
Understanding all of the above-mentioned scenarios and how a company will handle them is important as you choose the solar installer for your home’s system.
SAVKAT is a direct-to-consumer solar installation provider. Visit our Solar 101 page to educate yourself on what your home’s solar possibilities are and when you are ready, you can order online and save!
