As a consumer, you’ve either done your homework on solar options, or you’re one to leave it to the experts. Whether you’re one of them or the latter, when it comes to solar panel installation, understanding how solar power works and how the process takes place is important. It helps to know the right questions to ask when you are shopping for whole home solar energy systems.

Before your appointment with an installer or consultant, pull out your electricity bill and know how much electricity you use on an average monthly basis.

Things to look for:

You should also know how much you pay for electricity. Don’t worry if you don’t understand your energy bills; most people don’t. The company you're getting a quote from should be able to help you analyze the bill, not only so they can properly size your system, but also so you can better understand how your energy usage behavior impacts your bills. Having bill readily available is important for an accurate solar design and it can  be downloaded from your utility’s website.

The goal is to find a reputable solar installation company that knows your community and will be able to provide timely, high-quality service  and workmanship you can trust. In addition to providing proof of their the right licenses, the company should be able to answer any questions about solar power as well as about the products and services. 

Look for a company, who handles the whole journey, from start to finish. Most companys who care about their customers, have in-house departments that include Marketing, Sales, Project Management, Service, and Support. This means that the company works hard to deliver on their promise versus a subcontractor or channel partner/lead generator who sells your business to an installer. You'll save a lot of money and time but going to an all-inclusive company that takes care of you.

Servicing Northern California, Westhaven is an ultra-reliable energy provider for residential and commercial, and we are fully licensed for all your needs. We know these times are challenging, so let us simplify it, and take it from here, so you can be on your way to free energy. But before we let you go, we want to arm you with 10 critical questions you must ask to help determine if an installer is right for you:

• Can you provide examples of local projects that you’ve built?
• What percentage of your business comes from referrals?
• Do you offer competitive finance options including loans and leases, as well as the ability for me to own the system outright?
• Have you performed a shade analysis at my site and incorporated that data into your performance projections?
• What is your workmanship warranty?
• What is your “handover” process? Do you train me on how to monitor and maintain the system? Do you offer a maintenance package?
• How long have you been in business?
• What key system products or manufacturers do you use and why do you select them? Are they the lowest price, best quality, or just something that’s easy to get?
• Are service contracts and warranties transferrable if I sell my home?
• Do you sub out any of the trades or will all of the installers at my home be your employees?