Solar Contractor: Experience and Credibility

If you're looking for a solar contractor, you're already making one of the wisest home improvement decisions you could possibly make. More and more people are either switching entirely to panels to run their household electricity systems, or, more commonly, using it as a way to augment their normal electricity. Either way, using power from the sun is a great way to save money and contribute something positive to the environment. Of course, when choosing someone to put it together, you'll want to be cautious. If you want something that is going to work and is going to last for a long time, you'll want to look for experience and credibility.

Because the concept is so foreign to many, it's easy to forget that using the sun for an alternative source of power really isn't a new concept. While it is only now becoming something widely implemented, it has been around in some form or another for more than thirty years. Jimmy Carter actually had panels installed in the White House. Of course, the technology allowing us to use these panels to their greatest advantage has only recently begun to blossom. Even still, a solar contractor shouldn't be someone who only recently hopped on the bandwagon.

When looking at experience, you want someone who is not only a well versed solar contractor, but an expert electrician who has a history in all forms of electrical and power work. There's hardly any way to separate the fields. This is especially true if you will do what many are doing—splitting your electricity between your panels and the grid. You need someone who can set that up seamlessly, causing you as little inconvenience as possible. While saving money and making a statement against global warming are things to feel good about, many homeowners simply won't take those steps if it means a great deal of trouble. This is why you want someone experienced.

What does credibility mean when talking about a solar contractor? Well, it can mean a few things. Above all, it probably means being able to shake hands on a deal and knowing there won't be any shenanigans down the line. Not that you should hire anyone on a handshake, but a man's (or company's) word should be good. How do you know whether it will be? Check with the Better Business Bureau in your area, ask around, and see what their reputation is. If they have a history of being up front, honest, and fair with their customers, you'll find out.