If you have already decided to switch to solar power but are unsure how to find the best solar panel installer in Melbourne, this article is for you. We agree that choosing the best solar panel installer can be the most challenging part of the solar buying process. So here we have compiled a list of factors to check before you make the big investment. When choosing the best solar panel installer, the important thing to remember is to have the right assurances in place.
How much do solar panels cost?
When looking for solar power for our homes, you need to ensure that you pay the right price for it. Like all things, an entire system of solar panels can be priced forbiddingly high (eg: some customers have been quoted $12,000 after STC Incentives for a 6kW solar panel system) or it can be extremely low where the cheapest parts and sub-contractors are involved (eg: $5,000 or less for a 6kW Solar System after STC Incentives).
What you need to know before opting for the lowest quote is that such ‘too-good-to-be-true prices’ are often derived after compromising on the quality of solar panels or solar inverters. And if the installers have used known brands that are visible to the layman’s eye for the Solar Panels and Inverters, then have no doubt that they have compromised on the quality of the install and the quality of all other components.
Sharing an example of a poorly installed solar panel system near Tarneit, Victoria, our team came across while installing a commercial Solar System for a customer in the adjoining plot. The DC Isolator had completely burnt off rendering half the system out of operation. We promptly walked over to the residence to find that the owners were blissfully unaware of it. A fire of that magnitude could have compromised their roof in dry weather, and it didn’t even report an error back to the user (See picture).
Our advice to you would be to focus on the value you are getting for the price quoted, rather than on how cheap the quote can be.What are the Most Reliable Solar Panel Warranties?
When selecting the best solar installers for the job, it is important to take note of the solar panel warranties that they offer. Most people consider solar systems as one product when in fact solar installers purchase various components from a variety of suppliers and assemble them to make the final product. Hence while selecting the best solar panel installers make sure to find out the individual warranties being covered for each of the components that make your solar system. Let’s take a look at some of the most important warranties you should ask your installers about.
Solar Workmanship Warranty: Today we find a lot of defunct installations where customers were made to believe that their solar systems had a 10-year warranty when in fact it was only a 10-year workmanship warranty – one that covers defects that arise from the workmanship of the installation and does not cover individual parts and products. In such cases, the owners were left with no choice but to demolish the defunct solar panel system to install a brand new one.
It is best to check the individual warranties on solar panels and solar inverters being offered by your solar installers. Do not let them convince you to install panels and inverters that are unheard of in the market and imported through third parties – who simply changed their mind about importing the same products the very next year. When the need arises, your solar panel installers may find themselves helpless – unable to get you the replacement part from the supplier or manufacturer who is no longer operational in Australia. Opting for such brands may leave you in the long run with a non-functional solar panel system that is unusable and can only be demolished for scraps.
Solar Performance Warranty: The most important solar warranties you need to look out for are the solar panel product warranty and the manufacturer warranty. The best combination that can assure you trusted and reliable after-sale support is selecting Tier-1 solar panel components with a 25-year performance warranty and a minimum 10-year product warranty. If your solar installer does not offer you these, it’s highly likely that they are solar cowboys or are pretty new to the field.
Solar Inverter Warranty: At the heart of the Solar System is the solar inverter. It would not be wrong to call it the most important component in the solar system that is directly related to the usability of the solar power generated. Therefore, you must attach the same importance to inverter warranties and quality as well. Ensure that your solar installers give you only the best choices in solar inverters in Melbourne.
We recommend selecting solar installers who only work with suppliers and manufacturers who are known to operate in the Victorian market and are well established locally. They might not give you the cheapest quote, but you can trust them to look after all your solar maintenance and warranties for the long term – like we do at Billabong Solar.
Check out our charts on solar panel brands and solar inverter brands listed according to their quality, local support and overall performance in our opinion.
Do I need to find an Installer with CEC Accreditation?
In one word – Yes!
The solar panel installer you choose must be accredited by the “Clean Energy Council” and a listed signatory of the CEC Retailer program.
The CEC Retailer program has been designed to ensure that all signatories follow strict protocols to deliver the right quality and support while installing solar systems.
