In just a couple of years, roughly 2.5% of houses across the country will have solar panels affixed to their roofs. While that number might not seem impressive, momentum is building which is good news for people that believe solar technology represents the future of energy.
If you’re among those that advocate for solar tech, you may be considering installing panels on your roof. But which residential solar contractors in your area are worth hiring? After all, there are tons of options out there, particularly in larger cities.
To help you filter through your many options, below, our team outlines helpful factors to keep in mind. Keep reading to learn more!
1. Reviews
Online reviews may be the closest thing to a one-stop-shop when it comes to filtering residential solar contractors They’re a great way to immediately discover whether or not customers have enjoyed or have despised their experience.
As soon as you have the name of a contractor you’re considering, head over to Yelp or Google and pull up their page. Optimally, you should be looking for contractors that have online customer reviews that average 4 stars or better. Having 10 or more reviews is also important as it gives you a sense of how many jobs a team has done.
2. Years in Business
The longer a solar company has been in business, the more likely they’re good at what they do. If a team was bad at solar installs, it would be a struggle to get enough customers to sustain themselves over time.
Solar installations are a relatively new line of business so you’re not going to find people that have been doing this kind of work for 50+ years. If you find a contractor that’s been working with solar for a decade or more, you’ve found someone with outstanding experience.
3. Prices
While price shouldn’t be the only thing you think about when buying solar, it certainly matters. Be sure to ask about it when you first contact a contractor so you don’t waste time with help you can’t afford.
Also, be aware of too good to be true pricing. There are a lot of contractor scams that exist around solar and dirt cheap pricing is a tell-tale sign of them.
4. Warranties
As you sort through options for contractors, don’t forget to look into service warranties. Having a service warranty written into your agreement can safeguard you against poor work.
Contractor service warranties vary and are not the same as manufacturer warranties so compare offers carefully.
5. Timeline
While it can be fun to estimate your savings when you switch to solar, you don’t get to realize those savings until your install is done. Because of that, it’s in your interest that your install gets knotted off as soon as possible.
Some solar contractors will be able to accommodate a quick turnaround for you while others will be booked for weeks. Factor that into your final contractor pick.
Residential Solar Contractors Are Standing by to Help You
The benefits of solar energy are plentiful and realizing them is as easy as calling in residential solar contractors to get panels installed. We hope our tips help you to that end!
Curious to learn more about the solar installation experience? If you are, browse additional green energy posts on our blog!