Get References and Know Your Installer!

We were in a meeting recently with the local rural electric co-op discussing solar installations in their territory. The co-op has given approval for many installations over the past 10 years with the work being completed by various firms. The co-op cannot recommend certain vendors over others, but in recent years, they have encouraged people to come and talk with us before doing an installation or need repairs done. They know we are conscientious and do quality work. The same cannot be said for others and this can result in a sloppy or even dangerous installation!

Our service department has responded to some sites where sub-par work was done. Many unsafe scenarios have been found, as well as, situations where electrical code was simply ignored. In a couple of cases, this negligence resulted in fire.

The first picture above shows modules that were improperly mounted. The modules blew off the rails during a storm and damaged wiring, the result – fires inside the inverters tied to the system. The last picture above shows DC wiring from a roof-top solar array passing through the AC disconnect for the system – a code violation. Some installers are lazy and others are just not trained as they should be.

The code violation in the third picture was just one of many violations on that installation. The company who did the installation is now out of business and filed bankruptcy, so this customer has no recourse and is stuck with a loan payment on a system that was not completed or installed properly!

Long story short, whether you are spending $10,000 for a residential system or $1,000,000 for a commercial installation, please ask for references! At GAI we will provide at least two or three people who can vouch for our work and work ethic. We will even take potential clients to view our work at previous sites. There are too many contractors out there who just want to make a quick buck and move on. Please make sure you are doing your due diligence and thoroughly checking out the companies you might be talking to on a project. Anyone can create a great looking facade on Google, so look beyond a five star review.

Cindy Rohaly

VP & Director of Sales at Green Alternatives, Inc.

Cindy started as a consultant with Green Alternatives in 2009 and has moved into her current position within the last few years. She loves meeting with potential clients, answering their questions, and ultimately designing a PV solar system that meets their needs and goals.