1. Do you have experience installing solar in my area?
Every community is different. The permits, building and fire codes are different from community to community, you want to make sure that your installer has the experience and knowledge about your area before installing. If your installation doesn’t meet the local building code you could be required to make modifications to your system that could become very costly.
2. Is my roof solar ready?
If you are planning on installing rooftop solar you will want to make sure you have at least 10 years of life left in it. Your solar company should do an inspection of your roof prior to installation, if they feel it doesn’t have enough life left in it you may be asked to replace it prior to installation.
3. How many systems has your company installed?
Since solar prices have dropped, installations have soared. You want to make sure that you are hiring a reputable dealer/installation team. Treat this the same way you would any other home improvement project in your home.
4. Is there a warranty?
Most solar panels on the market are high quality and guarantee an output of no less than 90% after 10 years and 80% after 25 years of use.
5. How many kilowatt hours should the system produce in the first year?
This is one of the more important questions you should be asking when comparing solar power systems. You want to know what you should expect from the panels. When you are comparing brands, look at the warranty’s first and the output next. The one with the best warranty and greatest output of energy is the one you want to go with.
6. Are their rebates or incentives in my area?
Ask about rebates or incentives that are offered by the utility company, see if it can help reduce the out of pocket costs for your solar system installation. Don’t forget to see if there are any tax breaks.