Warning Signs You’re Working with a Sub-Par Solar Company (Part 2)

In part one of this blog post we covered three important signs that a solar company might not be the right fit:

• They are extremely aggressive with sales tactics
• They send a proposal and want you to sign a contract without ever meeting someone in person
• Their contract is confusing and filled with technical industry jargon they don’t explain

In this part we’ll cover three additional warning signs to look for before you sign a residential solar contract.

4: They push hard to get you into a solar lease.

Solar leases are okay for some consumers, but they are definitely not right for everyone. If your solar company is trying to push you into a lease without giving you other options, that’s a red flag. Leases can make it harder to sell your home in the future (because your buyer will have to assume the lease for the duration, which could be 20 years or more). They also don’t provide any tax incentives because you don’t own the solar array (the solar company gets all the incentives).

5: They don’t do their own installations.

Many solar companies choose to subcontract their installation work out to other contractors. Essentially these solar companies are just “marketing” companies—they probably have limited understanding of how solar arrays actually work, and just use talking points and sales tactics to land the sale. That can also lead to serious issues later if you need to put in a warranty claim, especially if the warranty issue is related to the installation itself and not the panels. A manufacturer’s warranty will cover issues with your panels, but not errors in the installation process. Stick with companies that provide their own installation and have a deep and thorough understand of how panels work, and can stand behind their installations.

6: They use poor quality equipment.

If there’s one company that quotes you a price for solar panels at your home that is far below the costs of other solar panels, beware. This can be a sign that they are using poor quality equipment. The type of equipment you choose for your solar panels matters a lot—lower quality panels will not generate as much energy as higher quality ones, which means you either get a system that doesn’t meet your energy needs (and still have to pay for some of your electricity) or you have to pay for more panels to achieve the same energy output. Your sales rep and/or technician should be able to clearly explain why they use a specific brand, and the pros and cons of choosing that over another one.

Choose the Right Solar Installation Company

In the end, the choice you make for a solar company is one you will probably have to live with for many years to come. The average lifespan of a residential solar array is about 25 to 30 years, so choose wisely. Talk to Intermountain Wind and Solar today to see why we’re the premier choice for solar installations in the Intermountain West and western states of Utah, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, and Wyoming, and get your solar quote.