Solar Photovoltaic Installation: 5 Ideas On How To Find A Proper Installer
The solar photovoltaic installation market has a tremendous number of players; California alone has 80,000 solar installers. Are all solar installers created equal? Who is the most qualified candidate to do your rooftop photovoltaic installation? Price clearly is one of the most important factors, but, there are other significant factors, neglecting which can cost you significant money in the future. In this article we will discuss 5 of the most important questions you should consider while searching for an installer for your solar PV project.
Do they offer a wide range of a-la-carte services? A grid tie solar photovoltaic system may require a lot of project-related activities: proper sizing of the system, structural assessment of the roof, obtaining a municipal building permit, coordinating with local hydro, etc. Ideally, these features would be a-la-carte and your installer could offer them if they were required. However, in this case you will have the option to save money by doing some of these tasks yourself.
Do they have an arrangement with manufacturers to service their products? If so, it may significantly reduce the possible system downtime and costs related to maintenance and repair.
Do they offer warranty, extended warranty and/or a maintenance package? Even though solar PV systems are very reliable and require low maintenance, if you prefer to have extra peace of mind and lock your maintenance costs, you may consider purchasing extended warranty and/or a maintenance plan. Your ideal installer should offer you these options.
Do they offer roof warranty? Any kind of roof penetration (which is basically imminent for rooftop installation) almost definitely waives your roof warranty. Ideally, your solar PV installer has to provide you with this warranty. (Tip: if your roof is old enough, re-do your roof and install the PV system together. It may save you substantial money during installation and in the future).
How long have they been on the market? There is a possibility that the installer may go out of business and will not honor the warranty. With a huge number of players (80,000 installers in California alone) this is a quite possible scenario. To offset this threat, consider contractors which have been in solar or adjacent businesses (e.g. roofers, HVAC) for a long period of time. In this case, they