How To Choose the Right Solar Company for Your Project

If you’re interested in finding a new way to reduce your carbon footprint and improve your energy efficiency, there’s a great opportunity in solar power. Installing solar panels at your residence or business is an excellent step in the right direction; however, choosing the right company isn’t as easy as finding the one closest to you. Rather, you should take your time choosing a business that suits your needs and expectations. Follow along to learn how to choose the right solar company for your project.

Different Types of Solar Companies

One of the first steps in choosing the best solar company for your project is to understand the different types of solar companies and services that exist. That said, here are a few of the most common types of solar businesses that can help you along this new journey toward living a greener life.

Solar Panel Installation Companies

A solar panel installation company is the one that you’ll have the most contact with if you decide to install panels at your home or business. Most solar power service companies specialize in putting up the panels and ensuring they function properly. Additionally, your chosen company will typically come out to the site first to evaluate your roof and determine the best positioning for your solar panel system. If your home or business requires any special considerations when it comes to installation, the company will provide advice regarding what you should do.

Solar Panel Equipment Manufacturers

Solar panel equipment manufacturers are the businesses that produce the equipment necessary for solar panel installation. These companies make the physical photovoltaic panels and other equipment needed for a complete solar panel system. They usually sell their products directly to installation companies, so you may not deal with the manufacturer directly.

Solar Financing Companies

Solar financing companies are just that—they deal with financing plans when it comes to paying for solar power systems. If you don’t want to pay out of pocket for your panels and installation, you may have to work with a financing company to determine the finer details of your agreement and payment plan.

Full-Service Solar Providers

Full-service solar providers are excellent companies, as they take care of everything throughout the installation process, aside from producing the panels. These companies usually buy the panels directly from a manufacturer or dealer, conduct the installations, deal with financing, and maintain the solar panel systems. Full-service providers are great to work with whenever possible, as you won’t have to worry about communicating with multiple different companies for the same project.

Questions To Ask Potential Companies

It’s crucial to ask questions of each company you are considering because getting transparent answers is the most effective way to narrow down your options for hiring. Discover some potential questions to ask and why you should ask them.

What Are Your Credentials?

Credentials are vital when it comes to a solar installation project—you’ll be spending a lot of money, so you want the work to be up to applicable legal policies and standards. With that in mind, be sure to ask about each company’s certification through organizations like the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP) to ensure they’re licensed and insured to install solar panels in your area. Additionally, if your preferred business will be subcontracting for the project, ask about the subcontractors’ credentials as well.

Do You Have Any Testimonials?

Reading testimonials and reviews from previous customers is another effective way to ensure you get the best service possible for your project. If a company is proud of their reputation and what their customers think and say about them, they’ll have no problem pointing you toward various reviews on their website or in pamphlets. Once you know the company has exceptional reviews, you can be sure they’ll get the job done well.

What Does Your Pricing Look Like?

Pricing is arguably the most important factor to consider when talking to potential installation companies. It’s no secret that every company has its own pricing and standards; therefore, you should take your time comparing quotes. Generally, each company you’re considering comes out to your property to evaluate the area before giving you a quote for your solar power system. This way, you’ll have a good idea of what you will end up paying for the project.

What About Warranties and Maintenance?

Some companies offer warranties in case something goes wrong with the system or you experience issues. Also, full-service providers usually provide maintenance services—be sure to ask what that covers and what they charge for their follow-up visits.

Company Characteristics To Look For

Now that you know the questions to ask potential companies, you should also know some of the characteristics to look for in their answers.

Transparency

Transparency is key when it comes to choosing a solar power company. If you ask questions and they don’t seem to be forthcoming with their answers, you will know it’s to move on to another business. However, if a particular company is completely transparent with you in their responses, they’re usually going to be trustworthy throughout their services.

Thoroughness

Thoroughness is crucial for a project of this degree. You don’t want to risk your system malfunctioning or other issues arising because the company didn’t perform proper evaluations and installation. That said, if the business conducts a thorough examination of your property before even quoting a price for materials and installation, they’re most likely great at what they do.

Experience

Experience is vital for any business, especially solar power. Even though a company might only have a few years of experience, their reviews and testimonials can speak volumes. If they have various customer reviews stating how great their work is and how experienced their employees are, you can usually trust that the company will do everything necessary for the job.

Now that you know how to choose the right solar company for your project, you can rest assured that the business you choose to work with will do the job well. Solar panels are a great addition to your home or business, and hiring the best company for the job is the key to a successful installation.

Click here to learn more about what to consider while searching for the right solar company for your project!