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How Do I Choose The Best Solar Panel Company?
If you are reading this article you may have already made one of the best decisions you can make as a homeowner. The decision to install solar panels is one your wallet will never let you regret. If you have decided to harness the power of solar energy you may be wondering if you will install them yourself or have the job done by a professional company. Regardless of your decision, deciding which contractor or which manufacturer to choose from will decide the success or failure of your project. Knowing which manufacturers product to purchase or which installer to hire can be a difficult decision; however, below there are some tips to make this process easier.
Experience counts. ?If you are fortunate enough to live in an area where solar panel installation has been ongoing, you may be able to locate a company which has been in business for two or three decades. ?If so, they should be able to provide plenty of references for you to call. ?It will also be easy to check with the local Better Business Bureau to see if they have a clean record.
Once you have a list of service providers and manufacturers contact them and ask about the equipment they use or recommend. You may also want to browse the Internet to look at manufacturer and product reviews. Ask about what warranties are offered, not only on materials but on labor and workmanship as well. You can expect to have a 10-year warranty on solar panels and 3 to 10-year warranties on pumps, inverters and controls. ?If you are using a contractor to install the panels you should also ask about receiving a 1 year warranty on workmanship.
If you still want to stay connected to your electrical company you want to make sure that the installer you hire has experience working with both off-grid and grid systems. The two systems are definitely different and you want to make sure that whomever you hire has experience working with the one that you determine meets your needs the best. Off-grid systems are more complex than grid tied systems. An off grid installer will most likely be quite capable of connecting your system to the local power company, especially since he or she will be monitored by the local building inspectors.
Membership in a professional organization for alternative energy vendors is another indicator that you might want to check on. However, don't base your decision solely on this factor until you check out what the requirements are to become a member. There are organizations which are voluntary while others require a membership fee. Other organizations, such as the Solar Energies Industries Association require continuing education and field experience in order to qualify for membership.
Word of mouth from a friend or family member who has had similar work done is always the best recommendation. If you personally know someone who has had solar panels installed you should ask them about their experience and see if they would recommend the company they used.
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