Solar Panel Installation – choosing the right company

If you are considering hiring a company for solar panel installation, here are some tips you can consider.

1. Location

This is the first factor you must consider. In fact, the installation area is a great consideration here. When you choose a company without considering the installation area, there are good chances that you will end up getting disappointed – especially when you come to know that they don’t do installation jobs in your locality. Consider making a first round list of all local installers. Just look in a phone book or you can search online to find solar panel installation companies.

2. Certification

Make sure the installers you’re considering hiring have NABCEP certification. This is a national organization and currently certifies installation companies who deal in photovoltaic or solar thermal or smaller wind-turbine systems. Do not forget to check whether the installer has employed properly licensed electricians to supervise your system’s connectivity with the local electrical grid.

3. Subcontracting

Quality installers NEVER subcontract any of their installation tasks. You’ve got to ensure that  your installer performs all the installation tasks by deploying their own trained personnel.

4. Responsiveness

While searching for installers, remember or note how each and every installer responded to your queries. Installers who don’t have much time to respond to your queries about their service or systems, is less likely to be responsive while they install or after they have installed your solar panels.

5. Experience

Try to figure out the length of installer’s tenure in the business. Check the number of systems (akin to yours) they’ve installed so far. Ask them for how long have their employees been working for their company.

6. Reputation

Good installers are likely to be able to show references and credentials. If they have successfully done their job, they should have satisfied clientele. And be sure to check with the BBB to know if anybody has filed complaints against them.

7. Brands

Each installer is likely to have professional relationships with various brands of solar panels. Some installers might be exclusively using a particular brand, while others might be maintaining a policy of stocking a variety of brands or configurations. So ask directly what brands they are installing. This gives you an opportunity to review each brands’ website.

8. Warranty

Solar panel installation should come with warranty. And so, your installer is supposed to stand by whatever work they do for you. They should provide you a clear warranty of 5-10 years as a minimum. That means, you need to take some time to realize their policies regarding warranty. Pay special attention to the parts and service that come with the warranty.

9. Rebates

Many utilities as well as states are now offering rebates when you install solar panels for household uses. So, the installer you picked should lend you a hand in dealing with the necessary paperwork for getting the rebates. Such rebates are significant in most of the cases, since they covering 50% of the underlying installation cost (sometimes even move).

Regards,

The Solar Heating Systems Team