Have you decided you want to have solar panels installed on your Rockland or Orange County home? Now that you’ve researched the viability of solar energy, it’s time to compare different solar companies in New York. This vital step ensures you have the best experience possible during the installation and a well-designed solar array to serve you for many years to come. Follow this advice so you know what to look for in New York solar companies.
Qualities to Look For
Competitive pricing
If you want the best deal possible on your new solar installation, you’re not alone. Everyone loves a great deal, but settling for a company that offers a significantly lower price than competitors is not a wise move.
You know the old adage, “You get what you pay for?” Well, it certainly applies in this situation. A few thousand dollars off the initial price could end up costing you in faulty equipment or solar panels that don’t meet your expectations.
Flexible financing options
Many people don’t have the savings necessary to purchase solar panels upfront. This is usually the case when buying a car as well, but that doesn’t stop you from finding the right financing.
You can also finance solar panels. Look for solar companies in New York that offer multiple options for making your dream of converting to solar energy a reality. Each option should be affordable in the long run, easy to understand and less expensive each month than your energy bills have been up to this point.
Good warranties
With all the excitement, it’s easy to forget about the importance of workmanship guarantees and product warranties. However, these safeguards ensure you won’t have to foot the bill on the off chance any of your solar equipment malfunctions before its time.
Care for the local community
A big national brand might not be the best choice if you want a personal touch from local solar companies in New York. Working with a local company doesn’t mean you sacrifice quality or experience. In fact, because they work in a niche market, solar companies in New York are often more knowledgeable about the current state of the electricity market and local incentives than a national brand. They also have a more intimate connection with the community.
Questions to Ask
How many years have you been a solar installer in New York?
No company can stay in business if they do shoddy work. That’s why this is such an important question. With several years of experience and hundreds or even thousands of solar installations in Rockland County, you can tell the solar company is doing something right.
What brand of solar panels do you install?
You wouldn’t buy an expensive car without knowing the make and model. The same goes for solar panels and other solar equipment. Ask what manufacturer the solar company uses and look them up. Make sure the brand isn’t sold at a basement bargain price and will truly stand the test of time.
SunPower is an American-made brand that employs the very best solar technologies to achieve the highest-efficiency panels on the market. They also have an attractive black profile with no grid lines. Not only does this add to the aesthetic appeal of the installation, but it helps the panels produce more energy with every square foot. Talk about getting a big bang for your buck!
Are your employees trained and licensed?
Find out what goes into the training process to make sure the technicians working on your roof are truly qualified for the job. You can ask for and double check the validity of license numbers. Training and licensing helps ensure the installer won’t cut corners when mounting the solar array on your roof.
Do you offer solar monitoring?
In terms of transparency, monitoring is the most important long-term aspect of your solar installation. It allows you to see in real time how much electricity each panel is producing. Not only does this give you a feeling of satisfaction, knowing that your investment is paying for itself, but it also helps you catch and correct problems immediately.
For instance, if one solar panel suddenly goes dark, the monitoring system alerts the solar company of the problem. As long as the warranty is still in place, you can expect a free repair.
Will you handle all the paperwork?
You don’t want to be responsible for applying for permits, providing plans for the HOA, checking eligibility for federal and state incentives and clearing the system with your utility provider. Only consider solar companies in New York who will handle all this paperwork on your behalf.
You should be excited to start down this path! With rising energy costs and improving solar technology, there’s never been a better time to switch to solar.
