You've had sufficient of over-priced utility bills and decided to take control of the own energy destiny by installing a solar electric system, so now comes the next big choice - picking the ideal solar installer. Get extra information and facts about solar installation
This could be an arduous, time-consuming process, but one that is very important if you are to reap the full benefits of the new system.
Following this 4 step process will hopefully make items go more smoothly for you.
1. Support Your Local Installer
One of the most important actions in picking the proper solar installer should be to conduct an interview with every potential candidate, preferably in person. An installer positioned nearby would usually be ideal. There are numerous reasons why this is so essential.
Very first of all, thanks to their relative proximity, a local installer needs to be able to visit your home or site to execute a site inspection and analysis in an effort to give a dependable estimate of precisely what equipment you are going to need to have and where that equipment need to be installed, especially the solar panels, considering the fact that these will must be placed exactly where they may receive the maximum isolation attainable.
Secondly, this will likely provide you with the best opportunity to conduct the all-important interview, exactly where it is possible to and must ask each and every conceivable question you could possibly have relating to not only the system you need (asking these questions along with the answers the candidate offers ought to provide you with a great really feel for irrespective of whether or not the individual knows his stuff) but additionally the sort of training and background the candidate has, their experience, how a lot of installations they've completed successfully, and so on.
Thirdly, you are going to get the opportunity to understand the particular person behind the company and no matter if or not you really feel comfy with them on a personal level. You may wonder why this really is important. Effectively, the reason is that, due to the fact you and your installer needs to be working with each other as a group to get your project completed, you will would like to feel that you happen to be in a position to communicate well and that the installer is open and honest in his dealings with you.
2. Verify The Credentials
A potential candidate might not carry any certification, given that that's not a requirement for any individual to become a certified installer, so this could possibly be a matter of checking much more intangible qualifications like what kind of training the installer's completed, as well as any courses they may have attended. Any installer worth their salt should be open and above board about their background and experience, and any reticence or uncertainty in this region around the candidate's behalf must be result in for concern. Following all, you don't choose to learn you're this installer's guinea pig, otherwise identified as their first installation!
It's not unusual for installers to possess had an electrical background, which most likely indicates they carry a NABCEP (North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners) certification. If they're also certified in solar energy, even superior.
Be sure to ask for and check references. You'll want to make a point to contact each and every reference and ask about their experience, good or bad, with the installer, and, if possible, ask permission to check out the site of your installation to determine the work completed firsthand.
You need to also be certain the candidate has liability insurance, uses top-quality products and can offer written guarantees, in conjunction with service contracts.
3. Find out Just how much The Labour Will Cost
What does a superb installer cost? Ah, yes, the $64,000 question. Properly, hopefully, not that significantly! Truly, this is difficult to quantify, for the reason that it all is dependent upon the size from the job, and most quotes offered cover the whole job with the price of installation becoming factored into the total cost.
But, as a rule of thumb, the amount that covers installation must be around 15% of the total price. But, because the installation could make the distinction between a PV system that performs in the peak of efficiency and one that causes you constant headaches, that is an item you should not skimp on, all other issues becoming equal.
4. Get Several Bids
If you've managed to locate several installers you believe could be suitable for your project, you ought to request bids from them, 3 or 4 at the very least would be superior. Take a look at the many bids and make certain that all the things you have requested and that the installer promised is integrated. Be sure to negotiate to obtain the best value feasible. There's a lot of competitors around these days, so do not be afraid to produce a counter-offer, offered that it is affordable, obviously.
Should you follow these methods, you must have performed your due diligence and be inside a position to produce a selection and pick out the correct solar installer for the system. But, if you are nonetheless not comfy with any with the candidates, there's positive to be one around which will fill your demands, so repeat these actions till you are productive.