Many people always say how great solar panels are, but what are the downsides to getting solar? What should you look out for even if you’ve already installed solar?

This blog will upset many people in the industry and maybe even deter others from going solar. But since 2013, we’ve seen some blood-boiling things that you should be aware of if you have solar or are thinking about getting it. As fiduciaries, we at DroneQuote want to give you honest reviews in our industry. That’s why we have come up with a list of the ugly truths about solar. 

7 ugly truths about solar

1. Most solar production guarantees don’t mean much

Many companies offer a guarantee for some money-back coverage if the system doesn’t produce what it should. The problem is that the production guarantee rarely meets the customer’s expectations.

This is because installers offering a production guarantee provide a comfortable buffer between the estimated production and what they’ll cover. In some cases, it is as high as 15%. This means if you’re estimated to produce 10,000kWh, the installer may not start counting the loss of output until you hit 8,500 kWh – at which point they’ll start counting the loss from there. This means that if you only produce 8,300 kWh, you will only be covered for the 200kWh difference – even though you were expecting 10,000 kWh. There is a logic for this, given that an installer cannot predict weather patterns directly impacting the solar panel’s production. But here’s the problem: even when you’re in the coverage zone, it’s like pulling teeth to get the installer to do their part.

So what can you do about it? Most homeowners inquire about the production guarantee when blindsided by a utility in the thousands of dollars. The solution to this is relatively simple. Keep an eye on your monitoring and periodically check the system’s functionality. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

2. Service for solar panels can be hard to come by

The problem is that some installers are more concerned with the subsequent sale than your panel’s issues and will explain why they won’t service the system. They’ll point to the production guarantee if all else fails.  

So what can you do about it? If you’re looking for the lowest solar installation price, you’re setting yourself up for a letdown in the future when you need any service. To get a clear understanding of who you call for service in the event of needing it, ask for that information upfront. And here’s the trick: communicate with DroneQuote before you sign the contract.  Because during the sales process, some salespeople will tell you everything you want to hear during the sales process.  

3. Monitoring services offered by the installer are worth their weight in Enron stock

Many installers offer active monitoring for a multi-year period. Unfortunately, too often, it’s the homeowner who finds out there’s an issue. More often than not, the homeowner finds out because they got a fat bill from the utility.

So what can you do about it? Keep a sharp eye on your monitoring and implement automation where you can. If you already have solar installed, call the installer’s service line and ask that your email address be added as an automatic recipient of fault notifications. 

4. Most roof penetration warranties may be as useful as a square wheel

Remember that the devil is in the details. The solar contract will stipulate the details of roof warranties. But the roof covering is usually limited to a small radius around the roof penetrations.

Furthermore, the warranty is only as good as the company backing it, so if your installer of choice is no longer in business, you’ve got a useless warranty.

So what can you do about it? Smoking this one out may be more challenging, but it is doable. Keeping a close eye on the underside of your roof where panels were installed is about as good as you’ll get.  Unless you look in your attic space after a rainy day. If you spot leaks, they will look like stains on the wood.

Roof leaks

5. Solar sales are unregulated

While many great organizations out there want to be of service and help you, there are just as many, if not more, that operate a cash-grab organization.

This is especially sickening because there are others in the industry who brag about their lavish commissions from average-sized systems. Or explain that they’re in it simply for the money. We understand we need to put something on the table, but do you want to do business with someone whose primary objective is to serve themselves? 

So what can you do about it? This ugly truth about solar is more difficult to mitigate because no self-serving salesperson will come out and tell you they’re just trying to get paid. Unfortunately, this one is harder to deal with and relies more on your intuition and the reputation of the company you’re working with. 

6. Everybody offers the same or very similar components

It is not uncommon to hear a company touting “the best solar panel.” But the fact is that almost everybody out there is offering a different version of the same thing. While the components themselves will have some varying degrees of difference, most solar components are within a very short range of one another when it comes to comparison. There is a ‘best panel’ when measured according to technical specs, but what’s the ‘best panel’ for one property may not be the best for another.

Where you find the most significant difference that matters most is in who your installer happens to be. The install quality and company backing it is what you’ll care about should there be issues in the future. Most people want a fully functional system followed by a company that will be there when you need them. 

So what can you do about it? You can install with a company that hears your needs rather than trying to sell you on the best panel. If your needs determine that a different panel is better for you, then the tech specs may be irrelevant. Another thing you can do is talk to companies that offer more than one product. This is important because it shows transparency to the consumer. It helps mitigate having one kind of panel forced on you as ‘the best’ simply because that’s the only product the installer offers.

7. You get what you pay for

Companies and sales organizations out there will do what they can to line their pockets – so not everything that shines is gold. However, when you actively look for the lowest price you can find – you may pay less to acquire the system, only to set yourself up for failure and higher costs down the road.

DroneQuote has had ‘lower-priced companies in the mix with other higher-priced options offering the same panels. We’ve seen the lower-price option sell more frequently as a result. Fast forward a few years to when issues arise, and guess who was left holding the bag? That’s right, the homeowner who opted for the lower-cost system to save themselves a forgotten amount now that there’s an issue. 

So what can you do about it? If you want service to be there for you when you need it, either you will have to pay for it at the time of acquisition by opting for a good company that may cost a bit more but also has a higher chance of being there when you need them. Or, you’ll pay for it in the future in an unknown amount by the hassle of getting ignored by the company or having to hire someone else because the installer doesn’t care to help you or is out of business. Which do you prefer? 

DroneQuote as your solar partner

Buying solar panels is more challenging than picking out a product on Amazon after a few minutes of research and reading reviews. Once the system is in place, you can’t ‘return it’ like other purchases. Making the right decision on solar panels takes a little more effort. But it’s definitely worth the time because you’re partnering with your installer and expecting them to serve you as long as their warranties are listed.

The experience of getting solar can be what you make of it. For the last five and a half years at DroneQuote, we’ve made it our mission to serve clientele as fiduciaries. While all of the ugly truths about solar are part of our reality, we’ve made a strong name for ourselves in the industry as a company that homeowners can turn to when looking for a trusted partner to help them make sound buying decisions. 

To learn more about how we work and how we can serve YOU navigating the waters of buying solar, please visit us at DroneQuote.net.

If we don’t happen to serve your area, that doesn’t mean we can’t still be of service to you. Download the consumer protection guide we’ve put together to help you ask the right questions to contractors you may be interviewing.