If you’re a homeowner in the Pittsburgh area, you’ve probably noticed plenty of solar installation companies around. Many of them promise a great experience and high-quality solar projects at competitive prices. To help you find the best company for your solar needs, here are some tips on getting quotes and choosing the right partner for your system.
Pennsylvania’s solar landscape and options
The basic solar installation process is the same no matter the company: Propose, permit, and build a system of solar panels that will the home’s dependence on grid electricity, and build it to last.
The environment that solar companies are operating in helps explain what separates certain installers from others. Pennsylvania ranks 21st in the nation for solar capacity already installed and features nearly 500 companies involved in solar in some way, so it’s becoming fairly competitive. There are companies that have been around for many years and have seen panel prices come down over the last two decades, and there are newcomers functioning on a business model driven by online ads and social media, some of which aren’t headquartered anywhere near here!
Our first tip to find an installer you can trust is to pay attention to how they talk about solar incentives! Bottom line: there’s a federal solar tax credit that’s currently available (it is set to remain at 30% through 2032). You want a company that carries this message in a forthright way. More aggressive wording, such as calling the tax credit program a well-kept secret, or pressuring customers to act before it ends soon (even though the incentive is not considered to be in funding jeopardy whatsoever) is a misrepresentation intended to get unsuspecting customers in the door with a sense of urgency. These tactics don’t set up customers in our region for a fair and honest relationship with their solar contractor. Find a contractor that moves at your pace and informs you about federal tax credits calmly and rationally.
Reputation: Reading user reviews critically
Finding a list of qualified solar installers can be easily done via Google search, NextDoor or other community-based apps, and even social media sites. Those solar installers can then be researched on platforms like the Better Business Bureau, Solar Reviews, EnergySage, and Google Reviews. These reviews will speak volumes about any current or historical struggles, or reveal they have hundreds of glowing happy clients. (Note that some of those sites listed earlier in this paragraph treat solar companies as their paid partners in referring customers, so if you want a direct relationship with your installer, you may prefer to contact them independently rather than through the comparison-shopping site.)
Fun fact: Companies can’t “have bad reviews taken down” so you are seeing the full gamut, and every customer review reflects an actual project, not bots or fakes to stuff their numbers! Patterns and recurring themes among the reviews, positive or negative, will shed more light on how customers are feeling on the whole.
Word of mouth
Chatting online or in person in a two-way dialog is even better, by asking neighbors you already know to put you in touch with the company that built their project, as long as they would recommend their installer.
Remember, don’t assume that your system will “look like” one that you’ve seen near you, though, even if you work with the same installer, without talking specifics with your solar consultant. It’s a misconception that solar arrays, or groups of panels, are developed in packages or standard sizes – actually, each is custom. Depending on the roof space in question, solar panels available, your energy consumption and your budget and goals, the right system that will work for you may look somewhat different, so try not to jump to conclusions! Get past the surface and ask your neighbor with solar these nitty-gritty questions:
- Was the timeframe for their project in line with expectations set at the beginning, and were any delays sufficiently explained?
- Were team members reasonably communicative with updates, and was the process clear enough for you to feel comfortable along the way?
- Does your system perform and produce at the levels proposed and modeled during the sales process? If it uses an energy storage system, has it handled an outage as intended and performed well?
-At the end of the process, did you confidently know, or know where to find, key information like warranties, and a service process in case any irregularity showed up in your utility bill or online solar monitoring platform?
If the companies you’re looking at pass these tests with their existing Pittsburgh-area customers, reach out them. Once you’re talking to your installer, a great firm will welcome all these questions and more and satisfy you with thorough answers.
Minimum Standards: Solar Certifications, Products, and Experienced Labor
The North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP) trains and tests solar industry professionals, and it’s good practice for one crew member in any solar organization to maintain certification at all times in order to maintain NABCEP certification. See if your installer has anyone on their team who is certified and when their current certificate expires. A high-quality installer will always have this information ready.
In terms of parts and workmanship, advanced technology and human skill both contribute to a successful solar project. Starting with materials, your top installer should be ready to balance your desired project costs with the performance and longevity of all your solar products.
A great installer will not only be able to discuss the different types of solar panels (a.k.a. “modules”) and inverters, but also racking systems, wiring, and other components involved in a quality solar system. They’ll also boil down technical jargon into the takeaways that matter when selecting all your components. Before signing a contract, you should understand how warranties on both workmanship and physical products cover your system, and feel confident that you’re getting a quality installation with quality components.
Hold up your end: be an educated customer
Thanks to this and other articles on our blog, we are happy to inform potential solar customers around the our region and beyond about the benefits of solar. We know in the grand scheme of things, this technology has only recently taken off locally, and a little background can go along a long to informing the masses, so we’ll leave you with just two more final tips!
First, when you are talking or emailing with your solar sales representatives, ask them a few easy but important questions: how many installations have they done locally? How many combined local years of experience do their team members have? These are some of your best indicators for whether your system is likely to get inspected and interconnected promptly or encounter permitting slowdowns.
Lastly, the solar process can be daunting for first-timers, but try not to get overwhelmed! Going solar is an excellent choice for any home with an electric bill and good solar potential. With a bit of effort, you can find a reputable installer to work with and educate you. And if you do decide to go solar, you’ll know that your investment will pay for itself and improve your energy-secure and pro-planet lifestyle for decades.
