At Solar.com, we have a lot of experience in the solar panel industry. Every day we help people to install panels on their homes, and we often get quite a bit of feedback from these customers. Sometimes they tell us about how awesome the installation process was, and other times they tell us about what went wrong. If you’re planning to install your own system, make sure to read this article first!
1. Hiring an Inexperienced Installer
While the price of solar panels has been dropping like a rock in the last ten years, the price of the installation itself has only seen a mild decrease. That’s because many of the costs associated with installation, like labor and non-solar materials, have not gone down in price. Because of this, some homeowners may be tempted to reach out and hire the cheapest solar panel installer that they can find. From what we’ve seen, this is often a poor choice
Solar panels are a major investment, and you don’t want to make the mistake of letting an amateur install them. There are simply too many things that can go wrong. For instance, before panels are installed a detailed analysis of your roof needs to be completed. That will tell the installer where the best spot is on your roof, what the best angle is, and if there are any obstructions like a tree or shadow from a barn that would prevent the panels from getting sunlight. If you hire someone who doesn’t know what they’re doing, you may end up losing more money from long term potential generation then you saved on the installation.
2. Buying the Most Expensive Panels Possible
Earlier, we talked about who the best manufacturers of solar panels are. First on our list was SunPower, which makes the most efficient silicon cell solar panel on the market. Many homeowners may be tempted to install this panel, as it would seem to offer their home the most benefit. However, in most situations, this may not actually be the best idea.
SunPower’s panels are very efficient, but they’re also the most expensive. If you have a normal sized roof and can generate enough energy from panels with average efficiency, in most cases this will be a better financial decision. The math simply doesn’t work out, when you compare the high cost of installing the most efficient solar panels, versus the potential savings that they’ll offer you. We usually advise customers that the only time it’s necessary to install the most efficient panels is if they have only limited roof space, or if money is no question and they simply want the greenest system possible.
3. Not Getting a Wide Range of Quotes
Solar power has taken off in popularity in the last ten years, and now 0.79% of the world’s energy is generated from the sun. It’s especially popular in places like California, which not only receives lots of Sunshine but also has lots of different financial incentives available for would be solar panel owners. With this growing popularity has come a large increase in the number of firms who are installing solar panels. Unfortunately, we see too many people fail to take advantage of this.
Homeowners may hear about a solar installer from their friend or neighbor and use him, without getting quotes from other firms. Or they may look online and choose the solar panel installer with the coolest website. While it’s probably safe to say that you’ll get your system installed, you may actually end up spending thousands more than you need to.
At Solar.com, we’re here to help you get the best possible quote on your solar system. On average, we save homeowners enough on their solar panel installation costs to buy a used car! Contact us and we’ll get you the best quote from a wide range of installers, ensuring that your system is installed on time and on budget. Don’t wait, go green today.
Solar.com is committed to providing our customers with the best customer service experience in the solar industry. In light of the ongoing developments around the...
U.S. Installed Solar Capacity: 2 Million Milestone
According to the most recent data released by Wood Mackenzie Power & Renewables and the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), the residential solar market in...
Solar Subcontractors: Should I use one to go solar?
So, you’re interested in starting a solar project and now you’re wondering, “who should be doing the installation work?” Well, more and more companies are...
5 Most Popular Solar Panels Chosen by Homeowners in 2018
Homeowners demand a lot from the solar panels they select for their rooftop system. These panels need to look good and perform well over multiple decades! Here are...
According to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India is on track to install 200 gigawatts of renewable capacity by 2020. The country is fully embracing...
If you live in an area that experiences extreme weather like hurricanes, hail, thunderstorms, blizzards, heavy winds and more, then you should take the time...
If you have ever driven through a residential neighborhood in states like California, Arizona, North Carolina, or any of the other top states for solar,...
Hyundai and Panasonic are trusted brands and they’ve both expanded into the solar panel industry. Offering quality products for two different price points, each brand...
Should I Get a Solar Thermal System Instead of a PV System?
When you hear about installing solar, you’re most likely hearing about PV (photovoltaic) solar cell panels. They’ve become standard in the industry. PV solar cell...
How Utility API Works With Your Utility and Solar Company
Utility API provides software to accelerate the clean energy movement. They do this, in part, by offering secure data on a homeowner’s energy usage to...
American Solar Panel Manufacturers - 2018 Complete List
There are many reasons why a consumer may want to purchase their solar panels from an American manufacturer or from American Solar brands. They want...
Household solar monitoring systems change the abstracts of power generation and consumption into graphics and numbers you can scroll through on an app. Hardware...
Solar panel mounts are a common component of almost every solar panel array. Although there are newer solar panel technologies coming out that do not...
Top 5 Solar Panels Selected Through Solar.com in 2017
Curious which solar panels are selected most on the Solar.com platform? As an online marketplace connecting quality solar companies to customers, we stay neutral toward...
SunPower Solar Panels vs. LG Solar Panels - 2018 Update
SunPower and LG are two of the top companies making solar panels. You’ve probably come across them in your research, and you’re wondering which will...
Solar panels and backup batteries get all the attention. But there’s another important piece of equipment to the home solar equation: mounting systems. These sturdy...
Solar technology has been in existence since 1876 when William Grylls Adams and his student researcher discovered that you can produce electricity by exposing selenium to...
Solar energy is taking shape across industries and geographies. Engineers at top solar panel companies are hard at work developing innovations making solar even more...
5 Reasons to Consider a Career in the Solar Industry
Solar energy, unfortunately, is still viewed as an alternate power source. However, in spite of this designation, it is quickly becoming the primary source of...
Amazon Has Finally Decided To Become A Leader in Renewable Energy
Back in 2015, Greenpeace did a sophisticated research project on the sustainability of the top tech giants in the United States. It covered many areas of sustainability,...
Most solar installation companies provide financial projections to homeowners estimating what their savings will be twenty or twenty-five years after the time of installation. But...
It’s International Women’s Day! Today we recognize and celebrate women all around the world. As a member of Solar.com’s female population, it’s necessary for me...
A Review of LG Solar Panels - When Brand Name Does Matter
LG is a brand you may already be familiar with. They are a South Korean multinational manufacturer that makes televisions, mobile devices, tablets, smartwatches and...
This paper highlights the importance of power tolerance when choosing solar panels. Power tolerance is a measure of how much electrical power a solar panel...
Gauging the Bankability of Small to Mid-Sized Solar Installers
The entire world is going green and moving toward cleaner sources of energy. California hosts a flourishing solar industry with a burgeoning number of solar...
At Solar.com, we believe in supplying quality equipment for our customers. In the last twenty years, solar technology has grown exponentially, costs have plummeted,...
Elon Musk's Gigafactory Should Be Dictating Your Solar Equipment
All solar installations today should be thinking ahead to the not-so-distant future. The main question to be asking is whether your solar system will seamlessly...
We all know why people go solar: investment purposes, immediate savings, environmental concerns, and grid independence. But who are these people? One of Malcom Gladwell’s...
The following letter is from a very reputable company in Solar.com’s installer network to a homeowner who was unfortunately taken advantage of by an installer...
Bankability: What it Means and Why it is Important for Your Solar...
Homeowners who are considering solar typically overlook the manufacturer of their solar panels, despite this being one of the most important factors for the longevity...
The U.S. Department of Energy invests in new technology to revolutionize the landscape of solar data. Reliable solar grid data, the true performance of solar...
