5 questions you should ask your Solar installer

Our team has seen it all and have been asked all the questions!  With over 1,000 installations we have become pretty good at doing this. Our work quality is very important to us!

How long is the warranty on the panels?

Typically there is a 25 year performance warranty on the panels.  Visually it is hard to know if a panel is ‘broken’. Since a monitoring system is installed on your system you can understand if the panels are under performing, if you have panel level monitoring.  In those cases it is important to get the system fixed in order to ensure you are producing energy efficiently.

Great my panel is broken, what do I do now?

It is important to understand what commitment your installer will make to you.  Some may be just for installation, some may protect you for 2 years free of charge, and some may offer a longer term commitment.  When an installer is offering a longer term commitment it is important to think about the size of the company providing the commitment and their track record.  A long term warranty is only valuable if the company is still in business.

What about animals messing with my system?

After years of battling different types of animals most installers will now add in a ‘critter guard’ to your installation.  This is basically a protective skirt going all the way around the system and attached to the roof. This prevents anything from getting in and nesting or damaging the wires.  We will actually not install a rooftop system without critter guards now due to the number of issues we have seen. We recommend that if this is optional with the installer you choose ,that you most definitely should add critter guard to your contract.

Will it damage my roof?

We have to put holes in your roof.  It is the only way to attach the racking that will hold up the panels on your roof safely.  But it is important to remember that we weatherproof these holes to ensure no leakage. We use high quality aluminium flashing with redundant seals to make sure water and ice won’t be an issue.  Ask your installer about what flashing they use and check reviews online. If your installer doesn’t use flashing and says that they use caulking, run far and run fast!

Do you have experience with the local utilities and provincial programs?

The installer should be able to help you with all applications and permits with regards to the solar systems. This applies to solar panels PEI and all over Canada. Many things should be taken care of prior to installation. Post installation, there are also final inspections and connections to be made to make sure you are going to start saving!

The 1 important question your installer should ask you

When do you intend to replace your roof?

Depending on the condition of your roof it may be better for you to replace it before getting solar.  The panels are going to be up there for 25-35 years producing energy for you.

If your roof is in fairly good condition and you don’t plan on replacing a roof anytime soon then that is great.  But when you do go to replace the roof you will have to take down the solar system and put it back up after. Installations do not take more than a day but this is a factor to consider if your installer will still be around when that time comes.  

If you have any questions, visit our contact page, we would be happy to assist you!