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:
You will get efficient and thoughtful service from Jiwei.
Solar panel make/model, and number of panels to be installed
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.
With a solar energy system, you generate your own electricity at home, which means you don't need to buy as much--or possibly any--from your utility company.
Some utilities even compensate you for any excess electricity your system produces and sends to the grid through a policy called net metering (more on this below). And, depending on where you live, you may even have access to other solar incentives such as local rebates and tax credits. Your exact savings with solar will depend on a few factors, including how much you pay for electricity, but it’s usually a wise financial investment for most homeowners.
Many homeowners install solar panels for environmental and health benefits. Solar panels are a clean power source, meaning they don’t produce harmful greenhouse gas emissions like carbon dioxide or methane when generating electricity. Solar also results in fewer air pollutants (like sulfur dioxide and particulate matter), which can cause health problems. Reducing our reliance on fossil fuels keeps our air cleaner, slows the effects of climate change, and helps reduce disruption to wildlife habitats.
The easiest way to find out how much you pay for electricity (and how much electricity you use per month) is to take a look at your utility bill. (Review EnergySage's guide to reading your electric bill to find out exactly what to look for.) If your bill doesn’t show the rate, you can divide the total amount you owe by the total kilowatt-hour (kWh) of electricity you used to find your effective cost per kWh.
In most cases, adding solar panels increases your property value. Multiple studies have shown that homes with solar energy systems sell for more than homes without—it can add as much as $24,000 to the resale value! However, your property value will only increase if you own your solar panels, not if you’re leasing them. For details, check out our guide to selling your house with solar.
If you connect your solar panel system to the grid, you might be able to benefit from net metering—one of the best solar incentives for home solar. Your utility company essentially works like a bank account for all the energy your solar panels produce in a given month.
When the sun shines, your home first takes as much power as it needs from the solar panels. If the panels generate any excess energy, it gets sent back to the grid. In return, your utility gives you credits. When the sun isn’t shining and you need grid electricity to power your home, you won’t have to pay for it until those credits run out.
Most home appliances don't run on DC electricity, so devices called inverters convert it to alternating current (AC) electricity. Once converted, the electricity flows into your home, powering everything from your lights to your fridge to your cell charger. If your panels produce more electricity than you need, the excess goes to the grid (which is where net metering comes in) or a battery, if you have one installed.
It depends. Solar panels need sunlight to generate electricity. The more sunlight they get, the more power they generate. They’ll produce less energy when the sky is cloudy and won’t produce any energy after the sun sets. But with high electricity costs and financial incentives, solar is a smart choice even if you live in a cloudy state. For example, as of , the average solar homeowner in the State of Washington still saves more than $20,000 on electric bills over their system's 25-year lifespan.
Unless your solar energy system includes battery storage and you're fully off the grid, you'll still receive a bill from your utility. However, you can dramatically reduce your bill—or even cut it down to $0—with a solar panel system that matches your energy use.
Yes, it’s possible to go off the grid with a solar energy system that includes battery storage. But truthfully, it's costly and unnecessary for most homeowners, especially those who live in more urban areas.
The majority of homeowners who install solar panels on their property are still connected to the grid. This allows you to draw power from the grid when your system is not producing all the power you need and, if you have access to net metering, earn credits for the power you send to the grid when your panels are overproducing.
No. If your solar panel system is connected to the grid, it will shut off during a blackout to prevent emergency responders and electricity utility repair people from being injured by your panels sending power back to the grid. If you want to keep your lights on during power outages, you’ll need to pair your solar panel system with a solar battery.
Solar panel maintenance costs homeowners roughly $30 per kilowatt (kW) installed per year—about $330 per year for the average 11 kW system—according to a study by the National Renewable Energy Library (NREL). But, most solar panel owners will pay much less. This $30 per kW figure includes operations beyond routine maintenance, including insurance, asset management and security, and equipment replacement costs.
Truthfully, solar panel systems generally require little to no maintenance over their 25-to-35-year lifetime. Solar panels include durable tempered glass that can withstand most weather conditions and only require infrequent cleaning. If there’s a technical or mechanical issue, most equipment manufacturers include warranties that vary from 10 to 40 years, although terms depend on the company.
Solar panels usually still generate some electricity on snowy days. If there's snow sitting on your solar panels, it will significantly reduce their production. But, since most panels are tilted at an angle, snow tends to slide right off (and as a bonus, cleans your panels in the process), meaning the accumulation rarely lasts. Snow generally isn't heavy enough to cause structural issues with your panels. Still, you might want to consider snow guards to prevent sliding snow from potentially injuring you or your family members.
The cost of installing solar panels is about $30,000 before any incentives or rebates, but most homeowners pay less. The average U.S. solar shopper needs about 11 kilowatts (kW) of home solar to cover their electricity usage. Based on thousands of quotes in the EnergySage Marketplace, you'll pay about $20,948 to install a system around that size in after federal tax credits.
Solar rebates and incentives vary depending on where you live, who your utility provider is, and other criteria unique to your situation. The most significant solar incentive is available to homeowners nationwide—it’s the 30% federal investment tax credit (ITC), which allows you to deduct 30% of the cost of your solar energy system from your taxes. Some states offer additional tax credits, and certain municipalities and utilities offer other incentives, like cash rebates.
It depends on your reason for going solar. If you're interested in maximizing the financial returns of your solar energy system, buying your solar panel system is the best choice, either with cash or a loan. If you prioritize a low upfront-cost, maintenance-free way to reduce your energy bills and help the environment, you may want to consider a PPA.
We typically don’t recommend solar leases because they often lead to the lowest savings. And, with either a lease or a PPA, you won't be able to take advantage of financial incentives. But truly, it’s a personal choice that depends on your specific circumstances. If you're considering a solar lease or a PPA, do your research and read the agreement carefully before signing.
The main difference between secured and unsecured solar loans is that secured solar loans require that you promise an asset, usually your home, as collateral for the money you borrow. Unsecured solar loans don't require an asset, but their interest rates are generally higher to make up for the increased risk taken on by the lender. To understand which financing option is best, you can evaluate offers for secured and unsecured loans on EnergySage.
A lot of different institutions offer solar loans, including local and national banks, specialty financing companies, manufacturers, and credit unions. To choose the best solar loan, we recommend comparing options from a few financing providers. Look for ones with low upfront fees, even if that means higher interest rates—it will lead to better long-term savings, especially if you end up paying off your loan early (which most homeowners do).
If you can afford to pay your electric bill, you can afford to go solar. There are $0-down solar financing options, including both solar loans and solar leases/PPAs, that make it easy for homeowners to start saving on their electricity bills right from the start. Some financing options require certain credit scores, but shopping around will help you find one that works for you.
The ideal size of your solar energy system depends on your electricity usage and how much sun your roof gets, among other things. Look at your past electric bills and compare offers from licensed, pre-screened solar installers to determine the best system size for your needs. And, if you're considering future electrical upgrades, like heat pumps, an induction cooktop, or an EV charger, make sure to tell your installer so they can size your system to meet your future needs.
For maximum output, you'll want a roof that's roughly south-facing, has minimal shading, and is tilted between 15 and 40 degrees. But even if your roof doesn't have an ideal layout, solar is often still worth it. East or west-facing systems will produce plenty of power. And, you can always add racking equipment to change the angle of your solar panels relative to your roof.
It depends. Solar energy systems can last for 25 to 35 years. If you need to replace your roof within that time frame, removing and reinstalling your solar panels won't be cheap. So if you know your roof needs maintenance soon, we recommend getting it done before going solar.
Solar panel systems are built to last. Typically, they'll generate electricity for 25 to 35 years. Various components will need to be replaced at different times; for example, inverters generally last between 10 and 25 years. The solar panels themselves are very durable, capable of withstanding snow, wind, and hail, and are usually protected under warranties between 10 and 40 years.
If you own your solar energy system, your house will likely sell at a premium, possibly as much as $24,000 more. But if you lease solar panels and want to sell your home, it's a different story: You'll either need to buy out your lease before you put your house on the market, or work with your leasing company to transfer it to the new homeowner. For more information, check out this guide: Five questions to ask your real estate agent before selling your home with solar panels.
There are a few things to consider when choosing a solar installer. First, confirm that they are certified, licensed, insured, have relevant experience, and can provide references. All EnergySage-approved installers are pre-screened to ensure that they meet these high-quality standards.
Then, research what the company has to offer—do they install high-quality equipment? How do their warranties compare to others? Do they perform their installations in-house or hire contractors? Finally, it’s a good idea to meet with your solar installer in person before signing an agreement to ensure you're comfortable working with them.
If you have multiple quotes from different solar installers, it can be hard to pick one. Not all solar installers use the same assumptions and metrics when providing homeowners with equipment and financing options. And the lowest quote isn’t always the best value.
We make it easy to compare quotes side-by-side so you understand the cost and benefits of each one. If you already have some quotes, upload them to EnergySage! You can compare them to quotes you receive in the Marketplace.
On a technical level, there are three main types of solar panels: monocrystalline (most efficient), polycrystalline (more budget-friendly), and thin-film (versatile, good for RVs or tiny homes). Within those three types, there are dozens of manufacturers. We rate the equipment that's quoted in our Marketplace (solar panels, inverters, and batteries) so you can easily compare it side-by-side. These are the top solar panel brands we recommend.
There are three types of inverters: string/central inverters, microinverters, and optimized inverters. Inverters convert your panels' electricity from direct current (DC) to alternating current (AC) electricity. In general, microinverters and optimized inverters are best for shady roofs but tend to cost more. If you have a pretty simple roof with minimal shading, you'll save a lot by choosing a string inverter. Here's our list of the best inverters.
After you compare quotes and find your desired solar installer on EnergySage, your installer will conduct a site visit to assess your property. Once you accept a quote on EnergySage, your installer will file the paperwork necessary to approve your system. The solar panel system installation usually only takes a few days to complete, but the entire installation process—from site assessment to commissioning—can take anywhere from two to six months due to scheduling constraints around permitting, installation, inspections, utility interconnection, and more.
If you want detailed information about how much energy your solar panel system produces, then yes, you should ask your installer about solar monitoring system options. In many cases, solar lease agreements will include free programs to track your system's performance. You may need to pay for one separately if you own your system.
No, as long as you're connected to the grid, your solar panel system doesn't necessarily need a battery. Your excess power will flow back to the grid, and you can draw from the grid if you need more electricity than your panels generate.
If you want backup power during outages, you will need a battery. And, if you don't have access to one-to-one net metering, batteries can significantly increase your savings with solar, making them very worthwhile.
When you subscribe to a community solar project, you receive a portion of the energy generated by a large solar panel system located in your area. Unlike a home solar panel system, a community solar project isn't installed on your roof. Community solar and rooftop solar both result in net savings on your electricity bill, but each offers distinct benefits. Compare rooftop vs. community solar to see which is right for you.
There are two models of community solar: ownership-based and subscription-based. Ownership allows you to make an up-front investment to save money in the future, while subscription-based programs offer savings over a set period. When comparing community solar offers, you’ll find different types of structures within these tiers—it all varies depending on where you live. Before selecting a project, consider its location and how soon it will begin delivering savings.
If you move within the same service area, you may be able to keep your share of the community solar project. If you move outside the service area, you could sell your share (if you own it), transfer your subscription to another account, or potentially pay an early cancellation fee (if you have a subscription-based model). Community solar cancellation terms vary by project and provider, so be sure to ask before you sign up.
When you purchase bill credits from your community solar provider, you get them at a 5-20% discount, depending on your initial contract. If your community solar subscription includes a 10% discount on bill credits, you'll receive $1 towards your utility bill charges for every 90 cents you pay your community solar provider, which means you pocket 10 cents of savings.
While 10 cents doesn't seem like much, over the hundreds or thousands you spend on electric bills each year, 90 cents for every dollar leads to decent savings. If you currently spend $200 every month on electricity, you could save $20 every bill, or $240 every year with community solar.
By signing up for a community solar project, you'll receive virtual net metering credits on your electric bill. Each credit is equal to one kilowatt-hour (kWh) of electricity. Let’s say, for example, you use 1,000 kWh at home in one month, and your community solar share produces 800 kWh. The 800 kWh in credits from your share are applied to your electric bill, so your utility bills you only for the remaining 200 kWh. You pay your community solar provider directly for the cost of your share or subscription.
Contact us to discuss your requirements of Solar Panels. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.