Picking A Solar Installer: A Homeowner’s Guide

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A key element contributing to a successful residential solar installation is conducting thorough research before signing a contract and picking a solar installer. Understanding the entire solar installation process from start to finish is also beneficial. Being well-informed can ensure a smooth experience and maximize your solar investment.

Navigating the solar installation process may not always be straightforward, unveiling a more complex narrative than initially meets the eye. Understanding such complexities can empower homeowners to take control of their solar journey and sidestep potential obstacles.

For instance, consider a case where a solar system was installed but never received the final inspection or permission to operate before the installer went out of business. This was further complicated when the installer failed to notify the homeowner about an incomplete 30-Year Solar Insure Monitoring and Warranty before becoming insolvent.

Although this situation is alarming, homeowners can proactively avoid such issues and remain alert for certain red flags.

Do this before signing any contracts

When sourcing the best solar installer, it’s essential to take these steps to ensure a smooth and successful solar installation experience. Here are some key steps to follow:

1. Read Reviews: Don’t rely solely on one review platform. Check Google, Yelp, and the Better Business Bureau for a comprehensive understanding of a company’s reputation. Look for responses to these reviews to understand better how the company interacts with its customers.
2. Shop Around: Solar pricing can be negotiable and varies between companies. Take the time to compare prices and offerings from different solar contractors to get the best deal possible. According to Energy Sage, 78% of customers do not go with the lowest price; they go for the best value.
3. Pay Attention to Warning Signs: Look for red flags in reviews, such as poor communication, delays in fixing issues, or unresolved problems. These can indicate potential problems down the line.
4. Verify with Solar Insure: Reach out to Solar Insure to check on a solar installer’s standing. This can help you gauge the reliability and trustworthiness of the company.
5. Monitor Accounts: Solar Insure monitors its Certified Installers to ensure quality service. If a company falls behind on payments or warranty registrations, Solar Insure takes action to protect customers. By staying informed about these triggers, you can make better decisions when choosing a solar contractor.
6. Ask for copies of your installer’s General Liability insurance. This ensures that if there is any property damage or personal injury during installation, you are covered by the company’s policy.
7. Check Contractor License: Check your installer contractor license number. The license should be free, clear of any infraction, and in good standing.

Following these steps, you can perform due diligence and select a solar contractor that best suits your needs and provides a hassle-free installation experience.

Installer closed before PTO (Permission to Operate)

What happens when you don’t have Solar Insure

Understanding what can happen without the protection of Solar Insure is crucial. Reflect on the scenario above, where a solar installer goes out of business before the system receives approval and is activated. In this situation, the homeowner is left unsupported and utterly disempowered, without an installer or a company to assist.

Though the individual in the scenario was not a Solar Insure customer, he received guidance from the city and the utility company. If the inspection didn’t pass, the homeowner would need to hire a new installation company to make any necessary corrections and repairs out of pocket.

With Solar Insure, if your solar installation company goes out of business, we will ensure that any repairs post-PTO and monitoring are set up through another Certified Installer in our network.

Homeowners must take proactive measures before signing a contract in a world where it’s not uncommon for a solar company to go out of business. After identifying a trustworthy contractor, the likelihood of encountering subsequent issues decreases significantly.

A company’s impending failure usually becomes apparent upon due diligence. By following our outlined preventive steps to protect your solar investment, avoid reaching the installation stage.

Steps to take after signing your solar contract

There are some steps homeowners can take to safeguard the completion of their project in case their installer goes out of business before the inspection or PTO.

Step 1: Reach out to your contractor and retrieve the design plan for your project and a copy of the permit, as soon as they’re available. This plan will help when contacting the city and filling out your net metering application. 

Step 2: If you do not have PTO or final inspection from the city and your solar company does go out of business, immediately call your city and ensure your permit is still valid. 

Script: Hello, my name is __________, and my solar installer just went out of business before I completed my inspection and received PTO. 

Given my situation, I am calling to check on the expiration of my permit, to see if I can have it extended, and to schedule an inspection so I can finalize my solar panels. 

Can you please tell me the process (city name) has in place to finish my project so I can follow the appropriate protocol? (inform the city of the paperwork you’ve retrieved, i.e., the permit and the design plans). 

Are there any other forms I need to fill out? If so, where can I locate all the necessary forms?

*if you don’t have documents on your project, you can ask the city if they have your plans on file and have stamped them as approved. Then ask for a copy. 

Step 3:  Fill out any other forms or applications the city provides and submit them promptly. 

Step 4: Contact your utility company about their net metering program. As long as the net metering is done, the city passes the inspection, and then they pass that inspection on the utility, and the utility takes from there, does what it needs to do, and grants permission to operate (PTO). 

What if the project doesn’t pass inspection?

Where it can get dicey is if the inspection fails, then you would have to reach out to another installer or contractor who could help make corrections. This is where you can contact Solar Insure to find a trusted Solar Insure Certified Installer. 

Without an official 30-year Monitoring and Warranty, any project corrections would become something that you, as a homeowner, would have to pay for. But Solar Insure can give some help as far as finding a partner that could technically adopt you or help if they had to do something like a fix. 

Fortunately, the majority of inspections pass without issue.

However, as installers face financial difficulties and approach insolvency, they often begin cutting corners to expedite jobs, hoping to save money and raise capital.

This rushed approach frequently leads to a decline in workmanship and, in turn, a higher likelihood of failing an inspection.

In such situations, homeowners may need to seek out a reputable installer willing to perform service work, ensuring that the solar installation meets the required standards and passes inspection.

Solar Insure is here to help

As a company, we are more than willing to assist customers in need, offering recommendations and even helping with monitoring setup. Our team member Valerie has successfully helped several customers who had received permission to operate (PTO) but hadn’t set up monitoring.

The crucial step here is for customers to contact their inverter manufacturer and ensure that their monitoring is established. 

Customers can either refer to their plans or locate the inverter on the side of their house to identify the inverter manufacturer. Common manufacturers include Enphase, SolarEdge, and Generac. By offering our support, we aim to make the process more manageable and ensure our customers have a positive experience.

Due diligence recap and leveraging the help of Solar Insure

Thorough research and a solid understanding of the solar installation process are critical elements for a successful residential installation. Homeowners can avoid pitfalls and maximize their solar investment by staying well-informed and taking charge. While unfortunate situations may arise, such as installers leaving business or not fulfilling their obligations, homeowners can still take proactive steps to protect themselves and their investments.

Homeowners can confidently choose a reliable solar contractor by conducting due diligence before signing a contract, monitoring accounts, and being vigilant about warning signs. Additionally, they can follow the recommended steps after signing a solar contract to ensure a smooth process and safeguard their project. Should issues arise during the inspection or PTO process, seeking assistance from reputable solar installers or Solar Insure can help get things back on track.

Solar Insure is committed to helping customers navigate the complexities of solar installations and ensuring their needs are met. Solar Insure aims to make the process more manageable and ensure a positive experience for all involved by providing recommendations, assistance with monitoring setup, and support in identifying inverter manufacturers. By staying proactive, informed, and vigilant, homeowners can successfully navigate the solar installation process and reap the benefits of their investment.

Avoiding an Abandoned system

At the heart of our mission at Solar Insure is the commitment to assist homeowners in avoiding the predicament of an “orphan” solar system – a system left without warranty or monitoring support due to an installer going out of business. Shopping for the lowest price without considering the stability of the company or the protections in place can, unfortunately, land homeowners in such a situation.

Knowing your potential contractor and ensuring they offer Solar Insure is crucial in mitigating these risks. Our services ensure that even if a solar installer goes out of business, homeowners won’t be left without necessary repairs and monitoring, as these will be set up through another Certified Installer in our network.

The solar journey doesn’t need to be complicated or fraught with obstacles. You can secure your solar investment and avoid major pitfalls by researching before signing any contracts and ensuring protections are in place. Remember, an informed homeowner is an empowered homeowner, and we at Solar Insure are here to guide you every step of the way.