Thinking About Solar? Start Here Before You Decide.

A proper solar review should use at least 12 months of utility history and focus on the amount of electricity used, measured in kilowatt-hours, not only the dollar amount of the bills.

A full year shows seasonal changes and helps reduce the risk of designing a system that is too large or too small. Major future changes, such as adding a pool, electric vehicle, or new HVAC system, should also be considered.

The equipment should be installed by a properly licensed and insured contractor.

Before signing, ask for the installation company’s legal name, license information, and confirmation of who will pull the permits and complete the work. Also ask whether any part of the installation will be subcontracted.

When homeowners move forward through Juan Cruz Consulting, the installation partner responsible for the project is identified before the agreement is finalized.

Solar systems may include separate warranties for the panels, inverter, battery, installation workmanship, roof penetrations, and system production.

Ask who provides each warranty, how long it lasts, what it excludes, and whether labor, shipping, and replacement costs are covered. You should also confirm whether the warranties transfer to a future homeowner.

A long equipment warranty does not automatically mean every repair cost is covered.

Solar panels normally need to be removed before the roof is replaced and reinstalled afterward.

The cost and responsibility for this work depend on your agreement, warranties, and service provider. Ask who is authorized to remove the panels, how much the work may cost, and whether using another contractor could affect your warranties.

Evaluating the roof before installing solar can help avoid an early removal and reinstallation expense.

Service may be handled by the original installer, equipment manufacturer, financing or third-party ownership provider, or a separate service company.

Before signing, ask who monitors the system, who handles warranty claims, and who you contact when the system is not producing properly. Get the service process and contact information in writing.

Do not assume the salesperson will remain your service contact after installation.

Savings projections should be based on your actual electricity usage, roof conditions, shade, system size, expected production, utility billing rules, and the complete cost of the agreement.

The calculation should also disclose assumptions about future utility rates, equipment performance, financing costs, annual payment increases, and remaining utility charges.

Savings are generally estimates unless a specific guarantee and remedy are clearly written into the contract.

There may be.

Solar loans can include interest and lender charges that increase the total amount paid over time. Homeowners should review the interest rate, monthly payment, loan term, and total repayment amount before signing.

Leases and power purchase agreements may include annual payment increases, commonly called escalators. Review how the payment may change each year and the total estimated cost over the full agreement, not only the starting monthly payment.

The answer depends on how the system was purchased.

An owned system may transfer with the home, but any remaining loan balance or lien must be addressed. A leased system or power purchase agreement may require the buyer to assume the agreement, receive provider approval, or complete a buyout.

Solar financing can also affect a refinance. Review the transfer and payoff terms before signing, not when you are already preparing to move.

Most solar proposals show projected production based on software, historical weather, roof conditions, shade, and system design.

A production guarantee only exists when it is clearly included in the written agreement. The contract should explain how production is measured, what conditions are excluded, and what the provider will do if the system produces less than the guaranteed amount.

A salesperson’s verbal promise is not the same as a contractual guarantee.

Keep copies of your contract, permits, equipment model numbers, serial numbers, monitoring information, and warranty documents.

Depending on the issue, you may need to contact the equipment manufacturer, lender, third-party ownership provider, monitoring company, or another licensed solar service contractor.

Manufacturer equipment warranties may remain valid, but an installer’s workmanship warranty can be difficult to enforce if the company closes. This is why the companies backing each part of the project should be identified before signing.