The Risk of Choosing the Wrong Solar Installer

3 min read

Renewable energy is picking up in popularity, and solar power seems to shine at the centre of this trend. However, there are pitfalls on the way to a brighter more sustainable future. One such pitfall is the risk of choosing the wrong solar installer. This decision can make or break your solar experience, making it either a promising investment or a costly nightmare. In this article, we will list the risks of choosing the wrong solar supplier and advise you on how you can choose the right one.

Efficiency

When you choose a solar installer that provides sub-standard or solar equipment, for example solar panels, you risk the efficiency of your solar PV system. You may higher a solar installer because they are cheaper than the others or because they are a friend of a friend, but if they are the wrong solar installer then that saving may cost you even more in the future. The most efficient solar panels on the market right now are 22.8%, with the average sitting between 17% and 20%. Solar inverters have an efficiency rate in the high 90s. With the wrong solar installer, your solar PV system will have an efficiency rate lower than this or it will start off high enough and quickly begin to drop.

Quality

The wrong solar installer is usually judged not only by the quality of their products but also the quality of their service. Water damage, improper wiring, bad system design and layout, and poor quality components are just some of the signs of a solar installer that was the wrong choice. These solar PV systems usually don’t last long and end up having problems further down the line. People who receive bad quality installations often have to pay even more (double, sometimes even triple) to have a proper solar installer come and remove the poor installation and then reinstall a new system.

Hazardous

If the wrong solar installer completes a job that is not in line with the current safety standards, they could end up turning your home into a safety hazard. Solar panels that are improperly installed, live wires and badly soldered connections are all threats to your safety as they can cause fires, electrocution and other dangers. According to Regulation 7 of the Occupation Health and Safety Act of 1993, electrical installations should be completed with a CoC (Certificate of Compliance) along with a test report detailing every electrical installation in your home or building. Ensure that your solar installer follows the Electrical Installation Regulations of 2009 which can be found here.

Reliability

There are more than enough unreliable solar products going around the market and they are mostly being distributed or used by sub-standard solar installers. Solar panels typically have a 25 – 30 year performance warranty, batteries can have warranties of up to 10 years and inverters usually have warranties ranging from 3 to 10 years. Ensure that your solar installer provides products that adhere to these warranty periods. Also ensure that your solar installer provides products from a reputable manufacturer as some manufacturers may go bankrupt and thus nullifying the warranty of their products.

Leaving work incomplete

We have heard of multiple solar installation stories of how people have had solar installers come to their homes and install solar but then leave the job incomplete after running away with the client’s money. This is a risk as multiple individuals and entities seek to take advantage of the solar gold rush in South Africa. Please be aware of solar installers with little to no credibility, people to vouch for them or online presence. In times of doubt, rather go with a reputable solar installer than risk having to pay even more in the past.

There are many more risks that are taken when choosing the wrong solar installer but for the sake of keeping this article brief, we are going to leave them out. We are going to include real-life stories of real people who went with the wrong solar installer though.

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