If you’ve done the research and decided that solar power is right for your home, it’s time to reach out to one of the best solar companies near you. They’ll do a survey of your home and any obstructions in the area around it, then give you an estimate that will show how many solar panels you need, how much they’ll cost, and how soon they’ll pay for themselves.
At this point, you’ll likely have a lot of questions, and you may not even know all the right ones to ask. That’s where we come in.
There are five main categories of questions to ask:
Questions about the company
Questions about solar equipment
Questions about money
Questions about the work being done
Questions about the future
Asking these questions will give you a clear picture of how the installer runs their business, their installation quality, the cost, performance, and savings to expect, and how the company can support you after the installation is complete. Let's take a closer look at the questions to ask a solar installer, so you can rest assured that you've done the right thing for your home.
Join the over 1.5 million Americans who have used SolarReviews to find trusted solar comapniesUnless you’re choosing your sister-in-law’s new solar company because she’s trying to gain some experience, you should pick an installer with a good deal of experience under their belt. You should also make sure they’re licensed to work in your area and are insured against liability for mistakes and accidents.
Here are the questions you should ask a solar installer about themselves:
How long have you been in business?
How many solar systems have you installed?
Are you NABCEP-certified, licensed, bonded, and insured?
What is your business license number?
Can you share references of at least three satisfied customers?
How much experience do you have working with my local utility company?
Do you subcontract work on your systems, and if so, how do you ensure your subcontractors do a good job?
Satisfactory answers to these questions should put you at ease that the solar company is well-established and staffed by professionals. We strongly recommend choosing an installer who will ensure a NABCEP-certified professional will be on site at all times during the installation.
The last two questions in particular are important. Local utility companies all have different rules about how home solar energy systems will connect with their grid, and installers with experience know how to make sure things are done right to ensure that the process goes smoothly.
Subcontractors aren’t a bad thing; in fact, many solar energy companies use subcontracted roofers to attach solar racking systems and master electricians to do the final connection of the system to the electrical panel. Still, it’s good to get clarity on it, because top installers will be clear and forthcoming on this point.
If you use the solar calculator on SolarReviews to find installers near you, you can rest assured that you’ll be matched with certified pros with experience in the solar industry. Our site also has review pages for every installer with information on their certifications and verified reviews from real customers.
When it comes to solar equipment, most installers use high-quality brands with good warranty coverage and longevity, but it always pays to double-check.
You should be 100% sure that what you’re putting on your roof for the better part of the next three decades is built to last and compares favorably to other products on the market.
Here are the questions to ask about solar panels and other equipment:
Why did you choose the equipment you did?
What kind of system do you have on your own roof or business?
What warranty protection is available for the solar panels, inverter, etc?
What problems have other homeowners had with their solar equipment, if any?
Who do I contact if something goes wrong with my equipment?
How much would it cost to add a solar battery?
Do my solar panels need protection from animals?
You can use these quick tips to help assess the answers you get from solar installers regarding the equipment they choose.
The biggest consideration for most homeowners is cost, and closely tied with that is savings. As we said above, a good solar installer should provide a quote with the total cost, estimated savings per year, and payback period. The quote should also include information on the incentives available to you, including the federal solar tax credit.
Here are the questions to ask about costs and savings associated with your installation:
How can I be sure I am eligible for the solar tax credit?
Are there other incentives, and how do they reduce or repay the cost of the system?
When are payments for the system due? Is the entire amount due at one time?
How long will it take for the solar panels to pay back their cost?
What rate of increase in utility costs do you use in your estimates?
What financing options are available?
Will the payments for financed solar panels increase over time?
Will solar panels increase my home value?
Asking these questions about how solar can save you money and how you can pay for it is important; understanding their answers is just as essential! Here's what you need to know to better understand what the installer tells you.
Enter your zip code and amount of your most recent energy bill to see average solar panel costs in your areaOnce you’ve settled on the price and payment schedule, it’s time to think about the practical matter of getting this stuff on your roof and kicking out kilowatts.
Here are the questions to ask about the solar installation process:
What are the steps of the installation process?
How long will it take to complete the process, and what is the timeline?
What if you don’t finish the work on time?
What if the equipment in my contract isn’t available at installation time?
What guarantees do you offer for your work?
What happens if a leak develops well after the panels have been installed?
Now that you’ve squared away info about how and when the system will be installed and how much it will cost, it’s time to think about what happens during all the years you’ll be harvesting energy from the sun.
Solar panel systems are meant to last for at least 25 years, but things can go wrong, and it pays to be prepared for if that happens.
Here are the questions you should ask about the future:
How will I be able to monitor the solar energy my system generates?
What happens if the solar panels don’t produce as much energy as you claim?
How long will my contract with the utility company last?
What happens if I need my solar panels removed to have work done on my roof?
What if a solar panel fails due to a manufacturing defect or breaks because of a storm or other natural disaster?
What if I want to add additional panels to my installation? What about a battery?
What happens if I move while still paying off the panels?
A good solar quote should contain enough information to make you feel confident that the installer knows what A good solar quote should contain enough information to make you feel confident that the installer knows what they’re doing and will provide you with all the information necessary to make a decision. It should answer more questions than it raises.
We always recommend getting quotes from more than one solar contractor so you can compare what each one offers. As you talk to different solar installers, you’ll start to get a feeling for which one will be your best long-term partner.
Here’s a rundown of all the information you should expect to see in a solar quote:
Solar panel make/model, and number of panels to be installed
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Inverter or microinverter make and model
Total system size in kilowatts DC (kW)
Expected electricity production in kilowatt-hours (kWh) per year
Solar panel degradation rate over time (should be 0.5% per year or less)
Anticipated savings in dollars per year (with a clear number for estimated annual increase in utility rates)
Information about any solar incentives for which you qualify
Total system cost before and after incentives, broken down by dollars per watt
Details on any financing or solar loan, including upfront cost, monthly payments, and interest rate/APR
Information about warranties on equipment and workmanship
On a separate page: a satellite photo or 3-D representation of your roof showing proposed panel layout
Multiple options for panels/inverters at different price points
Comparison of solar costs vs. estimated utility costs over time
Details about the cost to add a home solar battery
Battery storage make and model (if any)
Information about solar production monitoring apps
As we said above, a good solar quote should answer the most important questions, like how much the solar panels cost and how much you’ll save. By reading the quote, you should then know all the essential information to determine whether the proposed solar installation will be a good financial investment.
Choosing to install solar panels on your home is a big deal, and if you’re like most people, you’ll want to make sure you’re making a smart choice and asking the right questions.
Whatever questions you ask, your installer should have a good, logical answer for you, and they shouldn’t have any problem answering. You can tell the difference between a good and bad installer by how willing and open they are about answering all your queries.
Solar panels represent the ideal of a low-maintenance product, and once yours are fully installed and activated, you may never have to contact your installer again. Still, you’re about to enter into a 25-year relationship with a company, so you should make sure they are ready to be there for you.
Home solar panels can reduce your electricity bill for decades. But if you're left with questions like, “Really?” or, “What’s the catch?” or, “How do solar panels even work?” no one would blame you, though solar panels are now a commonplace technology.
Whether you’re paying the cost of solar panels upfront and buying them, or getting a solar lease, it’s important to understand your decision and investment. Asking the right questions can help you find the best installer for you and weed out any bad deals along the way.
To achieve the best possible experience when you go solar, let’s play a game of 20 questions you can ask at your next solar consultation.
While you’ll still receive an electricity bill after going solar, you should save money. While it’s impossible to predict exactly how much solar panels can save you, installers can give you a reasonable estimate. Your actual savings will depend on how much your electricity rates change and whether incentives like net metering shift during your solar panels’ lifespan.
Your savings will also shift throughout the year, thanks to solar seasonality. It’s useful to get a clear understanding of your potential savings throughout the year and over the projected lifetime of your solar installation.
Asking your installer about available incentives is important to maximizing the value of your investment. Whether or not you qualify for the federal solar tax credit and other local solar incentives may significantly impact the return on investment of your energy system.
Around the country, solar incentives vary greatly by state and region, with some cities, counties, and utilities offering their own programs, tax credits, tax exemptions, rebates, and more.
Decide whether you will buy or lease a solar system based on your personal preferences, financial goals, and available options and make sure your installer can deliver what you want.
Buying means the system is your property and, in most cases, you will save more over the lifetime of your systems. A lease or power purchase agreement, such as Palmetto’s LightReach Energy Plan, will give you solar power from a home system with no upfront cost and manageable monthly payments.
Unless you’re able to pay for your panels upfront or are leasing them, you may need to finance your system through a loan. Many reputable solar installers offer loans, though you can always shop around..
By working with a company with multiple financing options, you are more likely to find a solar loan structured to fit into your budget that can unlock your long-term savings on electricity.
One of the most common questions solar companies are asked is, “What type of panels do you install?”
While there are differences in performance among solar panels, you probably don’t need to stress over the options. In some instances it may be beneficial to pay a bit more for highly efficient solar panels, you can typically achieve your savings and energy goals with multiple solar panel options, so long as your installer can provide solar panels of typical efficiency (around 20%) and wattage (350 watts and above).
You will likely have multiple solar warranties (product, performance, installation) associated with your energy system.
Before signing on the dotted line, talk to your installer about exactly what each of these warranties covers, how long the coverage periods are, and if you can extend the policies during the lifetime of your solar panels.
Along with warranty coverage, you should talk to your installer about the likelihood of system damage and what repair or maintenance procedures will be, even if solar panel maintenance is typically infrequent.
If you’re covered by a maintenance and monitoring plan, your installer will have a dedicated customer service team that can field your request and repair the part as soon as possible, ensuring your system will be back up and running without excessive time offline.
If you purchase an electric vehicle or grow your family, your electricity consumption will grow. If you anticipate you may want to expand your solar energy system in the future, talk to your installer about this possibility and what an upgrade may look like.
Depending on system setup and available space, it may be a better idea to oversize your solar system initially rather than add panels later. Or, your installer may make expanding easier by designing a microinverter-based solar system.
A company that sets an installation timeline (and has the past projects to prove it) is more likely to deliver a good end result. When talking to your solar installer, ask them about the anticipated installation schedule.
Although they may not be able to tell you a precise interconnection date during your initial conversation, reputable companies should be able to provide a breakdown of your solar installation timeline, including permitting, equipment delivery, and construction.
If your installer has a referral program, it’s a strong sign they are used to delivering good customer experiences. As the best advocates for any company are its customers, many solar companies will compensate those who refer new business in bill credits or cash.
If a solar contractor gives you a price and doesn’t explain how they arrived at that number, it’s a red flag you may not be getting the best deal possible. Although the average cost of solar panels varies across the country, the total price of any solar energy system can be broken down into hard and soft costs, including expenses associated with hardware, permitting, labor, and business overhead.
Inverters turn the electricity your solar panels generate into electricity you can use at home. String inverters and micro-inverters are the two main options. As every home solar project is different, choosing the right technology can maximize your system performance and return on investment.
If you purchase or finance your solar energy system with a reputable solar installer, they should be able to forecast an approximate break-even point at which your system will have paid for itself in savings.
In general, solar panel payback periods average somewhere between 7-10 years, depending on your location, the size of your system, and many other factors. A solar installer should be able to break down the expected performance of your system as it relates to the price of electricity in your area over time.
Today, most solar panels are installed with smart components that report system performance directly to a digital landing page. The Palmetto App, for example, allows you to track your solar panel performance alongside your electricity consumption (with a supported meter).
Even though it may be 20-30 years or more into the future, asking your installer about the end of your system's lifespan can help you avoid unwanted surprises later on.
Solar companies that plan to be around for decades are sure to have an answer for you when you ask about the decommissioning process. Critically, the end of your lease contract may give you options, like renewing your lease at a new rate, or buying out the system at the market value.
In recent years, some solar companies have gone out of business. Working with an established, experienced solar company could help you avoid picking a company that’s going to go out of business.
A company able to answer all your questions in a helpful way without putting pressure on you is a sign of a partner you’ll be able to work with and depend on for a long time.
Solar can supply you with the electricity you need to run your house, but reducing the amount of electricity you need can lead to savings, too. Getting an energy audit, upgrading your insulation, or electrifying your HVAC system or water heater may open the door to greater savings.
Your solar installer should be definitive about the state of your roof before installing solar panels. Your roof should be healthy at the time of installation, and replacing your roof and installing solar at the same time can save you time and money.
Going solar can be a great time to also electrify your home with a heat pump or other efficient, electric appliances, install an EV charger, add battery storage, or replace your roof. Combining projects could save you time and money, especially if you use the same company, and let you stretch your solar electricity farther.
When weighing your solar options, you should feel free to open up the discussion and allow installers to explain exactly why they deserve the job. A professional solar expert should want to give you all the info you need rather than stick to a sales pitch and make you feel forced into a decision.
In a high-pressure sales scenario, you may start to feel a solar installation company is pushing you to sign a contract right there, right now. If you feel rushed, asking for some time to make your decision will quickly show whether or not the company is acting in your best interest or is simply out to get your money.
Occasionally impending policy changes mean you need to rush, but even with those caveats, a reputable company should be happy to do follow-up calls and help you feel confident in your choice.
The right solar company should answer all your questions and concerns today and seem like a partner you’ll want to work with for 25 years or longer. Before, during, and after installation, is the solar installer listening to you and your needs? Or pressuring you into a specific plan, design, product, or deadline?
Your new home solar power system should deliver savings and reliable, clean, and renewable energy. It should be easy to understand and operate without extra work or stress.
Interested in seeing what it's like going solar with Palmetto? Or still have questions about solar in general? Get started today by using our solar savings calculator or contacting a Palmetto solar expert.
How do you prepare for a solar installation?
Before you go solar, get to know your energy usage and current utility bills. You can check your property’s suitability for solar, including your roof’s health and shading, and confirm that tax credits, net metering, and other incentives apply to you.
How do you find a good solar installer?
It’s ok to interview and ask many, and even tough, questions of a solar installer before committing to a major project, a substantial amount of money, and years of working together. You are looking for a person or company that’s knowledgeable, experienced, professional, and helpful.
Can solar panels really save you money?
Millions of homes in the US are saving money with home solar panels. While solar panels aren’t a fit for every home, they can lower energy bills and generate long-term savings. A reputable solar company will be able to explain the savings potential of solar at your home, including when it’s too small to be worth it.
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