Methodology for solar installation company reviews

Solar panel installation is a hefty investment, so you’ll want to ensure that you hire a quality and trusted solar installation company for the job. 

We research, review and rate professional solar installation companies to help you find a reputable and reliable installer when you decide to go solar.

Research

Our research practices include understanding the solar industry and customer needs as well as learning about and interacting with each company we rate. We’ve researched what makes a residential solar panel system a quality investment for homeowners, interviewed solar energy experts and surveyed customers.

We read and interact with each installer’s website, communicate with representatives by phone and email, and analyze product offerings against industry standards. We also review third-party ratings, such as those by the Better Business Bureau (BBB), and read hundreds of customer reviews per company to understand the average homeowner’s experience.

We aim to analyze and summarize the key information you need to choose the right solar installation company for your home.

Review and rate

Based on our extensive industry research, we have crafted detailed review standards to rank each solar installer. This score is translated into the 5-star rating we include in our reviews and recommendations.

We vet each company before we rank it to ensure it is a legitimate solar installation company. One step includes checking whether the company holds a certification from the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP). Although not every solar installer features this certification, we use it as a starting point, and we verify that the company provides a legitimate portfolio of previous installations. 

We score providers against applicable factors that we organized into three primary categories:

• Reputation and reviews 
• Service options
• Payment, financing and warranty

Reputation and reviews (20 points)

For reliability and trustworthiness, we look to the NABCEP for regulatory compliance and quality standards, the BBB for complaints, and thousands of customer reviews across sites such as Trustpilot and Google Reviews for customer sentiment. Additionally, we analyze the installer’s response rate and outreach regarding customer complaints. 

Service options (53 points)

Solar installers can offer various services. We weigh these the heaviest to ensure homeowners receive as comprehensive a solar installation service as possible. We assess and score installers based on the breadth of their services. Basic options include solar panel and solar battery backup installation, active monitoring and smartphone app integration. 

We also give points to standout additional services, such as solar roof installation, electric vehicle (EV) charger installation and other services surrounding solar panels, such as roofing services or ongoing panel maintenance plans.

We analyze each installer’s service area and consultation process. Installers who use drone technology and provide in-home consultations score higher than installers who rely on virtual consultations only. We also check the user experience on each company’s website to see whether it offers educational materials, an easy-to-access online portal and ample customer support tools. 

If the company discloses the solar panel manufacturer it partners with or primarily uses, we analyze the product specifications against the industry standards for monocrystalline panels that perform at 15% to 20% efficiency. 

Payment, financing and warranty (27 points)

Payment and financing are a significant part of going solar. We check that all installers we recommend offer cash payment and solar loans, which are the most cost-effective payment options. If the company provides its own in-house financing, it scores higher due to the increased security and lack of hassle for homeowners. Companies offering solar leasing and power purchase agreements (PPAs) also score higher since they increase the opportunity to go solar for homeowners with different financial goals. 

We also closely analyze each company’s warranty coverage. We reward providers that match the industry standard of a 20-plus year manufacturer’s or product warranty paired with a labor warranty. Companies that include power production guarantees and roof-leak coverage score higher because they commit to their work.