Are you in the process of getting quotes to find the best solar system for your home or business? If you’re seeing a cheap solar quotes, be careful.
Getting multiple quotes is a good start to find the right system. But with such variation in quotes, you might have difficulty determining what you should pay for a high quality solar power system.
When it comes to reducing your energy bills, it is crucial to understand why quotes for solar power vary so much and what you are getting for the quoted price. To make the best decision for your home or business, there are a few things you should know.
Why Are Some Solar Quotes Much Cheaper Than Others?
The truth is, there are some solar companies out there sacrificing the quality of installation, the quality of the solar panels, inverters and battery storage and the level of customer service and warranties attached to your system.
Why? To make the system seem more appealing to you by cutting costs and reducing prices.
Do cheap solar systems perform the same?
A cheap solar system may initially seem to perform similarly. However the big difference is that a higher quality and therefore more expensive system will ensure a lower degradation rate of your solar panels and will be subject to system failure.
You will also receive better warranties, aftercare you can rely on and better quality components which will perform better with different levels of shading.
If lasting performance and reliable customer service are important to you, be wary of cheap solar quotes. Especially those you see advertised for under $5,000 on TV.
How do I choose the best solar system?
To compare prices try to compare residential solar power quotes for the same system size and the same quality solar panels and inverters. Shop around, read quality reviews and seek professional independent advice.
What to ask yourself before falling for a cheap solar quote
When receiving new quotes for your solar power system, be sure to ask yourself the following questions.
- Have they considered my energy bill, roof area and budget?
- Did they visit my home or business to discuss?
- What do online reviews say about the company?
- Do they have in-house Clean Energy Council Accredited Electricians?
- Did electricians design my solar system, or was it a salesperson?
- What level of after sales service do they provide?
- How long are the product and performance warranties?
- How many customers do they have? Can I be sure they’ll be around if something goes wrong?
You can feel more confident that the system has been designed for you when you’ve been asked the right questions.
If it’s a package being advertised with a standard size and price, BE WARY. Understand the quality of the system you are being quoted on before being tricked by the cheap quote.
What if I decide to go for the cheap quote?
Be prepared for the following issues.
- Contractors are often paid per job, not per hour. They may cut corners and rush complex or tricky jobs to maintain profitability.
- Poorly installed solar systems are unlikely to last long. You may be able to replace your panels or inverters under warranty but some manufacturers will try to get out of their responsibility, depending on the quality of the installation.
- You may find yourself fighting for your warranty or paying for a new inverter or panels, or a whole new system
- Check the T&Cs. Cheap installers may advertise top end components, but in the T&Cs they reserve the right to swap out the inverter and panels for equivalents.
Choose a quality solar system that is well designed for your roof and your daily power usage. Look at the panel warranties for both performance and product.
Go with a company that offers quality panels and inverters as well support. An experienced team of in-house electricians will help you with electrical faults or upgrades needed to ensure a high performing system.