20 Questions to Ask a Solar Installer Before Signing
The exact questions to ask a solar installer — pricing, equipment, warranty, permits, timeline, and financing — so you never get surprised after signing.
Pricing and equipment questions
What is the exact $/W? Which panel and inverter brands/models? What degradation rate? What production estimate and assumptions? These four answers let you compare quotes apples-to-apples.
Warranty and service questions
How long is the workmanship warranty? Is it transferable? Who covers inverter replacement and for how long? What is the repair response time? A 10-year vs 25-year workmanship warranty is a real cost difference.
Process and financing questions
Who handles permits, inspection, and interconnection? What is the timeline to PTO? What happens if the utility delays or changes net metering? For loans, what APR and total interest? For leases, what escalation rate and buyout terms?
FAQ
What should I ask a solar installer?
Exact $/W, equipment brands and degradation, workmanship warranty length and transferability, timeline, and who handles permits/interconnection.
What questions reveal a bad solar installer?
Vague answers on warranty, refusing to disclose equipment brands, high-pressure "today only" pricing, and no clear permit/interconnection plan.
Should I ask about solar financing terms?
Yes — APR and total interest for loans, escalation rate and buyout for leases. These hidden numbers can cost thousands.
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Sources
- U.S. EIA — electricity rates by state, eia.gov/electricity/monthly
- NREL PVWatts v8 — solar production by location, pvwatts.nrel.gov
- DSIRE — state incentives and net metering, dsireusa.org
- See how every figure on this page is calculated — PVFig methodology.
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