Solar Buying 101
Now that you are actively considering going solar, it is important to first understand that not all companies, products, warranties, and installations are the same. Unless you know the RIGHT questions to ask, you might not end up with the right solar energy solution. Do not be fooled by the companies that generalize “25 year warranty” and do not explain in detail how the warranties work and the exclusions manufacturer’s have for their products.
Home solar systems often come with a warranty for the roof penetrations, solar panels, inverter(s), racking hardware, and monitoring system. That is potentially 5 separate warranties if different products from different manufacturers are being used. If this sounds familiar (and a little confusing) you are not alone. Unfortunately, for several reasons, many consultants and sales representatives do not properly explain the ins and outs of the project or set the correct expectations. They know that homeowners often get fixated on price and assume solar is solar and they use that to their advantage. Therefore, it is crucial that you are informed and prepared before signing any contracts or agreements.
Personally, we feel this happens because converting to clean energy is still a relatively new concept and many homeowners have yet to learn all the pitfalls and shortcomings associated with adding a solar system to their home. Whether or not you choose to partner with us, we hope this information will help you get you off to a good start in your quest for energy independence. Here are some examples of the right questions to ask when considering adding a solar solution to your home.
Top 10 Questions to Protect Your Investment and Reduce Liabilities
At SYNRG, we use Sunpower products for the entire solar project. Sunpower is the ONLY company who
manufactures
every component from top to bottom. No mismatched panel, inverters, or mounting hardware. Do it once and do
it
right.
This information is crucial when it comes to designing a system and setting the correct expectations
for your systems performance and monthly/annual savings. We not only help customers obtain this information from the
utility company very easily, but, more importantly, we will analyze the information with you and explain how
it is used to intelligently design your system and ensure maximum savings. No cookie cutter or one size fits
all programs here. We want each customer to have the right system for their needs.
We can! We take pride in the products we sell and we want you to know what you are buying. Solar is not all
the same despite what some companies want you to believe. There are dozens of solar panel manufacturers and
each manufacturer offers several different options in terms of panel wattage, efficiency, and degradation
rate. We encourage all potential customers to get these answers from each company you request a quote from
to ensure you are buying the highest quality clean energy solution that fits your budget.
Yes, we do. We highly encourage all customers to discuss this potential issue ahead of time, especially if
your roof has not had new weatherproofing in 20+ years. Installing a solar system that is meant to last 25+
years on a roof that is already 20-30 years old is obviously not a smart idea. Removing a system, replacing
roofing material, and reinstalling the system can cost thousands and be very inconvenient. Avoid extra cost
and headaches by working with a company who has your best interest at heart and has the resources and
knowledge to complete your project correctly.
Our installers are manufacturer-trained and certified employees. Each crew member has had to undergo a
background check and extensive training to be an installer. We feel this is the best way to ensure your
system is installed correctly and performs as expected.
For us, we only use the manufacturer-certified technicians. These men and women are trained professionals and
experts at their craft. They are vital assets to ensuring your system is installed correctly and according
the the manufacturer’s specifications.
25-year product, performance and labor warranties apply to the solar panels, micro-inverters, and
racking/mounting hardware. 10-year warranties apply to the roof installation and monitoring system. All five
of these warranties are honored directly from the same manufacture who we use for the installation. While
other manufacturers offer what seem like similar warranties, the main difference is they are not the
installation company and will have several exclusions that can void those warranties if the installation is
not done correctly.
Yes! Improper installation and improper handling of the materials are the most common issues that void the
manufacturer’s warranties. This is important to mention because when warranty claims are filed with a
manufacturer, they will request the damaged product(s) back so they can diagnose why it malfunctioned. It is
at their discretion to make the final call on who will be responsible for the cost of replacement part(s),
shipping cost, and labor. To ensure our customers will never have to worry about this, we choose to use
manufacturer-trained and certified technicians.
Should SYNRG ever cease operations, our customers are 100% fully protected by their service warranty
agreement through the manufacturer. There is only one number to call and a dedicated customer service team
member will be there to help you diagnose the issue and file a claim if needed. All projects are uploaded
into their system after installation which makes for an extremely simple process should you ever encounter
any system related issues. No providing original paperwork, serial numbers, proof of purchase, and certainly
no finger pointing or blaming others.
This is probably the most crucial question to ask so we are going to take an extra minute to explain…
Given the extreme competitiveness within the industry, many companies are forced to come up with creative ways to
differentiate themselves from the competition. One common tactic used by many sales companies is to offer
extended warranties or exaggerated performance guarantees that make-up for using lower quality equipment.
On the surface, this might not seem out of the ordinary as many companies do the same thing for all sorts of products.
However, it is important to remember that extended warranties and performance guarantees are NOT backed by the manufacture
and will be void should the solar company ever go out of business.
The inherent problem we are trying to make potential customers aware of is that; with lower quality products
and cost, comes lower quality performances and warranties. Don’t be fooled by marketing tactics and empty promises.
Make sure you request to see the manufacturer’s warranty guidelines and compare the details with what the sales
company is promising to ensure you are not being misled. Or do a simple google search and find the warranty
contracts for yourself. They are all readily available online.
At SYNRG Solar, our transparency is a key aspect that differentiates us. We pride ourselves in offering the most
advanced, efficient, and COMPLETE solar system in the industry. Our factory-direct partnership with Sunpower allows
us to offer what other companies cannot; fundamentally better systems that are more complete in every way! And
of course, the industry’s most complete warranty that is fully backed by the manufacturer without any of the standard
exclusions you see with all other brands.
At SYNRG, we use Sunpower products for the entire solar project. Sunpower is the ONLY company who manufactures every component from top to bottom. No mismatched panel, inverters, or mounting hardware. Do it once and do it right.
This information is crucial when it comes to designing a system and setting the correct expectations for your systems performance and monthly/annual savings. We not only help customers obtain this information from the utility company very easily, but, more importantly, we will analyze the information with you and explain how it is used to intelligently design your system and ensure maximum savings. No cookie cutter or one size fits all programs here. We want each customer to have the right system for their needs.
We can! We take pride in the products we sell and we want you to know what you are buying. Solar is not all the same despite what some companies want you to believe. There are dozens of solar panel manufacturers and each manufacturer offers several different options in terms of panel wattage, efficiency, and degradation rate. We encourage all potential customers to get these answers from each company you request a quote from to ensure you are buying the highest quality clean energy solution that fits your budget.
Yes, we do. We highly encourage all customers to discuss this potential issue ahead of time, especially if your roof has not had new weatherproofing in 20+ years. Installing a solar system that is meant to last 25+ years on a roof that is already 20-30 years old is obviously not a smart idea. Removing a system, replacing roofing material, and reinstalling the system can cost thousands and be very inconvenient. Avoid extra cost and headaches by working with a company who has your best interest at heart and has the resources and knowledge to complete your project correctly.
Our installers are manufacturer-trained and certified employees. Each crew member has had to undergo a background check and extensive training to be an installer. We feel this is the best way to ensure your system is installed correctly and performs as expected.
For us, we only use the manufacturer-certified technicians. These men and women are trained professionals and experts at their craft. They are vital assets to ensuring your system is installed correctly and according the the manufacturer’s specifications.
25-year product, performance and labor warranties apply to the solar panels, micro-inverters, and racking/mounting hardware. 10-year warranties apply to the roof installation and monitoring system. All five of these warranties are honored directly from the same manufacture who we use for the installation. While other manufacturers offer what seem like similar warranties, the main difference is they are not the installation company and will have several exclusions that can void those warranties if the installation is not done correctly.
Yes! Improper installation and improper handling of the materials are the most common issues that void the manufacturer’s warranties. This is important to mention because when warranty claims are filed with a manufacturer, they will request the damaged product(s) back so they can diagnose why it malfunctioned. It is at their discretion to make the final call on who will be responsible for the cost of replacement part(s), shipping cost, and labor. To ensure our customers will never have to worry about this, we choose to use manufacturer-trained and certified technicians.
Should SYNRG ever cease operations, our customers are 100% fully protected by their service warranty agreement through the manufacturer. There is only one number to call and a dedicated customer service team member will be there to help you diagnose the issue and file a claim if needed. All projects are uploaded into their system after installation which makes for an extremely simple process should you ever encounter any system related issues. No providing original paperwork, serial numbers, proof of purchase, and certainly no finger pointing or blaming others.
This is probably the most crucial question to ask so we are going to take an extra minute to explain…
Given the extreme competitiveness within the industry, many companies are forced to come up with creative ways to differentiate themselves from the competition. One common tactic used by many sales companies is to offer extended warranties or exaggerated performance guarantees that make-up for using lower quality equipment. On the surface, this might not seem out of the ordinary as many companies do the same thing for all sorts of products. However, it is important to remember that extended warranties and performance guarantees are NOT backed by the manufacture and will be void should the solar company ever go out of business.
The inherent problem we are trying to make potential customers aware of is that; with lower quality products and cost, comes lower quality performances and warranties. Don’t be fooled by marketing tactics and empty promises. Make sure you request to see the manufacturer’s warranty guidelines and compare the details with what the sales company is promising to ensure you are not being misled. Or do a simple google search and find the warranty contracts for yourself. They are all readily available online.
At SYNRG Solar, our transparency is a key aspect that differentiates us. We pride ourselves in offering the most advanced, efficient, and COMPLETE solar system in the industry. Our factory-direct partnership with Sunpower allows us to offer what other companies cannot; fundamentally better systems that are more complete in every way! And of course, the industry’s most complete warranty that is fully backed by the manufacturer without any of the standard exclusions you see with all other brands.
Solar Panel Technology
Watch these videos to learn more about the proprietary technology used to create the most advanced, efficient, and durable solar panels in the world.
Solar Installation
Proper installation is the backbone of your system's performance. Sunpower’s exclusive InvisiMount racking system was designed to create flawless installations in record time while providing exceptional aesthetics. We go to great lengths to ensure your system will perform beyond your expectations and be one of the BEST looking systems in the neighborhood!
Solar System Warranty
The most comprehensive and COMPLETE warranty in the industry is here! 25-year coverage on the physical components of the solar system, its performance, and most importantly, labor. All backed by manufacturer-trained and certified technicians. We are proud to offer the Sunpower complete confidence warranty!
Sunpower Monitoring App
Watch this short demo of the mySunPower™ app in action and learn how to monitor your home solar, storage and electricity use from anywhere!
