Today there are more than 2.7 million residential solar systems in the US, as Americans across the country turn to home solar as an affordable alternative to ballooning utility bills. This rapid growth of the solar industry has led to countless new solar companies popping up across the country, though not all are reputable. The situation is the same in the Treasure State, leading to a glut of choices that can be difficult to choose between. If you’re looking for the best solar companies in Montana, here’s how to spot the crown joules.
Finding the Best Solar Companies in Montana
Whether you’re ready to talk to one of Montana’s solar companies now or entering the research phase for future investments, there are some qualities you should look for before you finalize your decision. By looking at the quality and consistency of a solar installation company’s service, you can identify whether they’re in the upper echelon. Here are some of the things to look out for as you make your decision:
Local Knowledge and Expertise
If you’re looking for a solar installer in Montana, the company you go with should know the lay of the land. Local solar companies will have a lot of reasons to provide you with the best possible service; they’ll understand the power of word-of-mouth reviews and avoid cutting corners to complete an installation. Additionally, they should have a firm grasp of Montana’s solar incentives, ensuring they can help you save as much money as possible on the system.
Our blog post “The State of Solar Energy in Montana” covers the ins and outs of solar installation across the state, down to the benefits of solar in individual cities.
Proximity to You
If your solar installer is local, they can easily visit your location for consultations, installations, maintenance, and repairs. They can also better understand the weather and environmental conditions in your area, which can affect the performance of your solar panels. Additionally, a local solar installer can offer more personalized attention and support, plus provide referrals and recommendations based on their knowledge of the local industry and community. These factors contribute to a better overall solar experience and ensure your system runs smoothly and efficiently.
Financing Options
While solar panels are an excellent option for saving money on monthly utility bills, they’re an investment that most homeowners will benefit from financing. Doing so will help you spread the cost of a home solar system installation over multiple years rather than in a single lump sum. The most common type of financing is a solar loan, which — as its name implies — is a loan for solar panel installation.
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What is a solar loan?: Banks or other lending institutions typically offer a solar loan, which works much like any other type of loan. However, the key difference with a solar loan is that the funds are earmarked explicitly for installing solar panels, and the loan terms often reflect the long-term energy savings that the homeowner will enjoy.
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Solar loans vary between installers, as each company has different financial partnerships. Because of this variety, it’s possible to find offers like $0 down financing programs, which can eliminate the barrier to entry for home solar installation. You can use Purelight’s qualification tool to determine eligibility for such a program.
Quality (and Quantity) of Reviews
One of the undeniable marks of a company’s quality is the number of 5-star reviews it has earned. However, those reviews should also be informative – a heap of 5-star reviews is good, but 5-star reviews that mention the specific benefits of working with a company are much better. You’ll better understand why a company is worth working with, which can help determine if it’s the right fit for your specific situation. If you have friends or family that have installed solar panels on their homes, ask them who they went with and what the experience was like.
Workmanship Guarantees
If a restaurant couldn’t guarantee the quality of your food, you probably wouldn’t eat there; the expectation is that mistakes will be made right if the order is wrong or the quality is poor. You should have the same expectation for your solar company, which needs a workmanship guarantee to ensure a quality installation. As you get quotes, ask about the workmanship guarantees the company offers and what the correction process is like should things go wrong.
Power Production Guarantees
Your solar system should produce as advertised. An underperforming system severely limits your return on investment, which is incredibly frustrating as electricity prices increase nationwide. Similar to the workmanship guarantee, ask any solar installer you receive a quote from for information on their power production guarantees.
Communication and Responsiveness
When you sign an agreement with them, you put a lot of trust into a solar company. They’ll likely attach solar panels to your roof, and the investment can be significant. Naturally, you may have questions about the process, scope of work, and other details, which your solar installer should be ready and willing to answer for you promptly. As you read reviews, look for mentions about communication and responsiveness to gauge whether an installer will be there for you when you need them.
At Purelight Power, we emphasize these qualities and take pride in our work. We offer performance and workmanship guarantees, so you can rest assured that you’ll have a clean install and a system that meets your expectations. Get a free design today if you want to see what we can do for your home.
