Solar power is everyone’s mouth these days. New bills that are promoting Solar energy and renewable sources are unanimously voted for and we already know that solar power has a lot of advantages: it’s good for the environment and increasingly affordable. It’s our most unused natural resource.
But, the main question is how to choose the right company.
There are more than hundred companies in USA and dozens of them operating in Texas alone.

So, choosing the right one in an endless sea of advertisement might seem like an impossible task.
How to find the right company?
This is a legitimate concern.
In dozens of companies, it is difficult to find the right one. Who can fit into the glass slipper?
And no, we are not going to tell you – “It is us”. We are not like that.

Instead, in order to help you out, we have set up a list of questions that you might want to ask your potential Solar Installer and the answers that you will get can help you to make an educated decision.
The rest is, of course, up to you.

List of questions that you need to ask your installer in order to find the best company for you 

Pro Advice: Do your own research.

Ok, we know that this is not a question. But this is the first thing that you will need to do before making the calls.
Or did you plan to call every single company in Texas, with these questions? That would take ages!
So, the first step will require a bit of research on your side. And a bit of time and energy.

Also, this is the step that people usually fail to do, either out of laziness or lack of time.
But this is the worst mistake that you could make.

Solar panels when installed properly can give a significant boost to your savings, that is true. But in bad hands, they can bring a lot of trouble as well. So, it all boils down to choosing the right company.
Also, don’t let anyone else think for you. Going solar is a big decision that can affect the rest of your life ( both positively or negatively). And you would not buy a car or a house from an untrusted source.
So, why should solar panels be any different?

You will need to sit down and to analyze solar companies in your area one by one.
And with dozens of companies operating in Texas, it’s a big job we know.

But after all, that is a small price to pay and this research is something that you can do only once. And as they say – better to be safe than sorry.

Our next advice would be: Don’t stick with one or two companies that you know of, do your research properly. A badly done installation by the untrustworthy company will not only fail to save you money but it can actually make you spend even more on unnecessary repairments.
Some people even reported to us that they had a bad experience with some of the “famous” companies and that their utility bills actually increased because some part of their solar equipment was not functioning properly ( usually it’s the problem with solar inverter).

When you are analyzing companies you need to take everything into account. Check their reviews. Compare prices. Ask people in your community who already installed solar panels in their homes, are they satisfied or not? Who did their installation? If you are not shy, you can even drive around your area, and ask random people with solar on their rooftop are they happy or not. If this sounds like too much for you, phone and internet research should cover it.

So, without further delay, let’s go to the list!

What questions should you ask your solar installer ( and what they might ask you) before you decide to install solar panels:

1)How much will it cost me?

This is the first question on everyone’s mind. The money.
And probably the first thing that you are going to ask them.
After you have made the list ( of the companies who have good reviews) it is time to check their prices.
Call a few companies that made into the list and check what their quotes are. Almost all companies are giving free quotes these days. Do the math.

Also, in order to receive a proper estimate, you will be asked to provide certain information as well, so it would be better to have that prepared when you are making the calls.

2)How big is your electricity bill?

This is one of the first questions that you might get asked.
The solar installer that you are contacting will want to know how much energy are you consuming right now, so that they can calculate how much you will save.
Some of the companies are also offering testimonials and proof of savings, in form of utility bills of their customers before and after installation. So if you are already making the call, you should ask for that as well.
Also, a lot of it depends on your utility company, so you should definitely check providers who are available in your area to see if you can make a better deal.

3) Is your roof in right position for solar power?

This is also a question that you can ask your potential installer ( and a good way to test them ).
A solar company that is only aiming for profits and is looking only to push up numbers will want to get you listed at any cost.
You need to find a solar installer who will take both time and energy to treat your project as a top priority and to personally estimate your roof and property for solar potential.
Because let’s face it, just because you are in Texas this does not mean that your roof has enough sunlight. The largest surface of your roof could not be on the sunny side, or there could be a huge tree blocking the sunlight.
All these things need to be considered carefully before jumping into the installation.

You can measure the quality of your potential solar installer by the amount of attention that they give to all these details.
And, if your roof is not in the best place, you might consider ground mount solar, which is another solar solution that your installer might suggest you.

Also, if you are interested to do your own calculations you can always try Project Sunroof, a free tool made by Google to calculate solar potential of any rooftop anywhere in the world.
It can not give you an exact or precise estimation, but it is a good place to start.

4) What is the best size for my solar system?

This is a great question that you can ask a solar installer. A shady contractor will want nothing more than to bond you with as large a system as possible. To find a solar installer you can trust you will have not only to compare the prices, but you will also need to check the size of the system they are offering you as well.
Advising you about the size that is right for your roof and that satisfies your energy consumption needs without any excesses is yet another sign of a good installer.

After all, we still haven’t figured out how to store electric energy so producing more then you can spend is nothing but a big waste. This is another reason why you will need your utility bill close to you when you are making the calls.

5)Do they cover the paperwork?

There is nothing worse than paperwork. Any professional company that takes pride in its services should offer to take that load off you.
Ask your potential solar installer are they able to cover any permits that you might need before installation starts.

6) ROI Period

This is the second biggest concern of people who are considering solar: “How long will I have to wait before I see the return of my investment?”.
Well, in this particular case we can not speak for other companies, but in our case, the waiting period is usually 4 -5 years.

7) Customer service

Many people forget this part, but having a quality customer service is essential for your satisfaction. You will want to make a partnership with a company who will have your back in years to come, and not just ditch you right after the installation.
So, a good strategy would be to ask a solar installer a few details about customer service they provide and what type of support are they offering you after the installation is completed.
After all, solar panels are a long-term investment for you. And you should find a company who will support you in years to come.

So this is our list of the questions that you should ask your solar installer. If you think that we missed something or you have some questions that you would like to add, you can always let us know. And if you like this article and find it useful you can always contact us or share it with your friends. We would love to hear from you!

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