5 Best solar companies in Silver Spring, MD (2023 ranking)

How to pick the best solar installer

When you’ve already narrowed down your options to reputable installers and are trying to decide which quote to move forward with, here are three final considerations that distinguish the best from the rest:

Workmanship warranties

What is covered and for how long?

In the unlikely event there’s an issue with your solar panel system, it’s important to know who to call if something goes wrong. There are multiple warranties that come with your solar energy system, from manufacturer warranties for different components to workmanship warranties from your installer.

The workmanship warranty is specific to the work the installer performs, and is typically somewhere between one and 10 years. Be sure to check with your installer to see what’s included in the warranty, if there are any exclusions, and if there’s any cost to you in the event they have to come out and check on or replace some equipment.

The use of sub-contractors

Which crew will install your system?

In some instances, solar installers will rely on subcontractors to perform some, or all, of the work included during your solar installation. Don’t let this put you off: it’s entirely standard procedure in the industry. What is alarming, though, is a lack of transparency from installers about who will install your system and why they use subcontractors.

When you’ve narrowed down your list of potential solar installers, be sure to ask who will install the system–their own crew or subcontractors–and, if they use subs, ask why they do, what portion of the install the subcontractors will complete, and what oversight the company you purchase your system from has over the subcontractors. At the end of the day, the most important question is who will stand behind the quality of your installation.