Is Power Home Solar Legit
From what we can tell, Powerhome Solar is a legitimate company that offers solar panel installation and roofing services. However, they have faced some complaints from customers alleging that their sales representatives made false claims about the solar power output of their panels. Overall, Powerhome Solar seems to be a reputable company, but we would recommend doing your own research before investing in their services.
Lets dig into it and see whats inside.
Save A Pretty Penny With Solar
Its a shame there are so many misconceptions around solar today, but thats part of the game when a new technology disrupts a centuries-old industry against the backdrop of politicized facts.
At the end of the day, the most important thing you should know is that solar is an amazing investment. Itll beat the stock market for 30+ years. See for yourself our calculator will analyze your exact roof and provide an instant estimate on your savings with solar.
Just another day at the Solar.com office busting myths in every comments section on the internet!
How To Avoid A Dodgy Install
Although there is growing pressure for the CEC to clean up these dodgy players in the solar industry, unfortunately for now it is buyer beware.
The good news is it has never been easier to find a reputable installer. Manufacturers are partnering with the industrys top installers as well as recognising the best of the best with awards.
Solaray Energy is one of a handful of installers that are Platinum Enphase Installers, for example, and we have also been recognised as the Enphase Installer Of The Year 5 Years in a row:
It takes a bit of time to research the top installers of the products you want on your roof, however conducting your due diligence can save you thousands of dollars, not to mention the time and stress of having to deal with an installer that wont help you if something goes wrong.
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Type Of Solar Equipment Used
One final way to determine if a solar panel installation company is the right fit for you is to see what kind of solar equipment it uses. Many companies offer a variety of equipment from numerous manufacturers. Some companies will mix and match panels, inverters and other equipment from different manufacturers to save you money or because company technicians are knowledgeable about the best combinations of different manufacturers equipment.
Companies also offer solar panels of different styles and designs including some that are lower profile or designed for more extreme weather. Some companies, like Tesla, also offer solar roofing tiles.
Do Solar Panels Increase Insurance Premiums
Will installing solar panels increase my insurance premium? More than likely, your homeowners insurance premium will go up as you add solar panels to your house and coverage. Primarily, this is because solar panels are still quite expensive, and adding the replacement cost is likely to increase your coverage limit.
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Rooftop Solar Leases Scaring Buyers When Homeowners Sell
A recent article lists experiences of homeowners who have had a solar lease and faced various challenges when attempting to sell a house. Thats because instead of owning them the leased the panels the the new owner of the house is required to assume a lease contract. Many sellers need to shave the asking price by the remaining cost of the lease , to draw in buyers unfamiliar with the financing arrangement. Read More in this article By Will Wade, Bloomberg.
Scams Do Exist In Solar
I hope this clears up the solar is a scam naysayers.
That said, consumers do need to be aware of the scams that do exist within the industry. Theres always a couple of bad apples.
Homeowners are at most risk of falling for a spam scheme where websites sell contact information to the highest bidder. Website privacy policies, terms, and conditions matter.
Solar spam scams our worst enemy.
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How To Avoid The Solar Panels For Your Home Scam:
When it comes to solar panel installation fraud, learn how to distinguish the real companies from the scammers. Think about it. How much do you pay for your energy per year? How about for 10 years?
If you are looking into the solar panel option, get bids from at least three-four companies and then check out their Better Business Bureau reviews. Needless to say, you should never pay the full price upfront or a deposit of more than four figures.
Alternative energy is a new industry. Thats why questionable individuals might take advantage of the novelty and try to sell concepts and products that might not be doable or legitimate. Maybe before asking yourself how much do solar panels cost? you should first look at the solar energy pros and cons and evaluate if its the right thing to consider for your house.
How Can I Power My House With Solar Panels
How Do Solar Panels Work on Your Home? Solar panels work on your home by converting photons from the sunlight into direct current, which then flows into your inverter. Afterward, your inverter translates the direct current into alternating current and sends the AC to your electric box to power your home.
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How To Avoid Being Surprised By Higher Total Costs After A Solar Installation
Buying solar panels is a huge decision that often costs tens of thousands of dollars. These days, most people buy solar by financing the purchase through a solar loan. Financing can be a great way to enjoy the benefits of solar energy while you use the savings to pay off the cost of the system. Unfortunately, it can come with a few surprises, as well.
Loan payments are the same every month, while the energy solar panels make varies with the seasons. That means you might be paying more for the loan in the winter than you save by using solar energy, but then see fairly substantial savings in the summer.
If you live in a state with net metering, these savings tend to even out as you bank kWh credits during the sunny months and use them later in the year. Despite that, its likely that the savings you see will always vary from month to month.
Also, the loans themselves can be complicated. Many financing providers offer loans with no money down and long term lengths that lead to the homeowner seeing savings, by paying less per month for the combined loan payment and new electric bill, than they were paying before going solar.
However, there are often hidden fees associated with these kinds of loans and its important to know exactly what youre getting before you sign up.
What Tax Incentives And Rebates Are Available For Solar Panel Installation
The federal government provides a solar tax credit equal to 30% of your solar system installation costs. Additionally, there are qualifying rebates and incentives based on your state. To learn about solar policies and incentives in your state, visit the Database for State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency.
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Top 3 Solar Panel Systems Ranked By Quality And Safe Sellers
We collected a list of the most reliable solar system products that are on the market for sale. They all ranked between 4.5 5-stars on Amazon and have over 100 purchases. You can trust the sellers. Here they are click on their name to see the specs, uses, and various prices:
1. Gelssi 4×100 W Monoflexible Photovoltaic Solar Panel
This one is one of our favourites. It has low weight design, extra durable, no glass. Uses: Marine, Cars, Off Grid. EL tested solar modules no hot-spot heating guaranteed It comes with 25-year power output warranty 5-year material and workmanship warranty. Check it out HERE.
This is a HQST 400 Watt 12 Volt Polycrystalline solar panel kit with 40A MPPT charge controller. Designed specifically for customers new to solar. Easy and convenient to install with pre-drilled holes on panels and Z brackets for fast mounting and securing. Check it out HERE.
Better Business Bureau Rating And Accreditation
Make sure a solar installation company is well rated and accredited with the Better Business Bureau . Solar power is an incredibly fast growing industry and there are many companies trying to make a quick buck by scamming or doing a job only halfway. Almost all of the companies we reviewed are accredited and well rated on the BBB. If one isnt, the company is well established with demonstrated expertise.
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How To Avoid Getting Shoddy Work From A Solar Installer
None of us should ever expect bad work from a contractor. Period. With that said, there are ways to make sure you choose a company with employees who have the training and expertise to do a good job.
In the USA, solar installers, technical salespeople, and inspectors can and should get certified by the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners to prove they hold the technical knowledge and professional skills to do the best possible work.
Like all contractors, solar installers should be licensed, bonded, and insured to protect you against any damages they cause. In addition, you should look for solar installers who employ their own installation crews and clearly communicate about the installation process.
Finally, choose a solar installer that offers warranties to cover their workespecially roof penetrationsagainst defects in the products used or workmanship performed.
Cbs4 Reaches Out To Powerhome Solar Llc
The contact between anchor Angela Brauer and Powerhome Solar, LLC was unique. In the middle of this investigation, a woman named Cindy unexpectedly called Brauer and asked for our station to connect the company with frustrated customers. She said she had found out about the story on Facebook.
CBS4 ended up playing a bit of phone tag, but eventually heard back from a different person. On that voicemail, the woman offered to get us everything we would need for our story.
We called Cindy back directly and she informed us someone else had taken over, but that the individual in charge was prepared for our questions. After asking for more time to respond, CBS4 realized Powerhome had hired a PR firm to communicate. The representative asked whether we had vetted the customers we spoke with. The email read, ie: have you seen their contracts and can you confirm they are in fact Powerhome customers? Powerhome was not able to verify a number of the Facebook group participants as actual customers or even establish if they are real people and not fake accounts.
CBS4 assured Powerhome Solars PR group that we had vetted each customer by asking for a signed copy of their contract and any paperwork they had showing their business with PHS. Dozens of people had sent us their contract, asking for help or for CBS4 to do a story. Some forwarded CBS4 their emails to prove they had received a limited response, if anything at all.
A Powerhome Solar spokesperson also issued this statement:
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Final Thoughts On Powerhome Solar
Unfortunately, we cant verify all the details in the news reports, but there does seem to be an awful lot of complaints about Powerhome Solar installations from people all over the companys service territory.
Were concerned that people will see the news stories about bad experiences with solar and decide that its not a good idea to get solar panels for their own home. As we mentioned above, there are hundreds of solar companies in the U.S., and tens of thousands of happy solar owners.
Its important to take the decision to go solar very seriously, compare quotes from multiple companies, and read reviews from their customers before deciding.
Make sure to read the contract before you sign anything and consult legal, tax, and financial experts you trust if youre unsure of whats in it. Dont sign a contract with a binding arbitration clause unless youre comfortable with handling disputes that way.
It is so important that you choose a company with a reputation for good work and great customer service, with employees who are NABCEP-certified and have experience working with utilities, permitting offices, and inspectors in their local area.
If you feel dissatisfied with a company and cant come to a resolution with them directly, you can contact NABCEP, write reviews here and in other places , contact enforcement agencies like the Federal Trade Commission and state Attorney General, and discuss legal remedies with an attorney.
An Important Warning About The Solar Industry In 2022
The solar power industry is in a price war at the moment. Due to everything that is happening in the world, we are seeing a number of solar installers dropping their prices to win business.
You would think this would be a good thing, but its turning into an absolute disaster.
There are two main types of systems being discounted:
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Q: Are Solar Panels Really Free Or Is Free Solar A Scam
If youve been researching solar panel system, youve probably heard at least one company advertise free solar panels or seen ads that start with “U.S. Government Pays Middle Class Families to Go Solar” or “New Jersey will pay you to install solar” — These ads are typically lead capture scams to sell your information to solar leasing companies!
Here’s the deal: There is no such thing as a free lunch . Free solar panels are not actually free you will pay for the electricity that they produce, usually under a 20 to 25 year solar lease or power purchase agreement .
Free Consultations And Estimates
Another great reason to consider hiring a solar panel installation company is if it offers free consultations and estimates. While most companies will offer a free estimate, not so many will actually provide free consultations. Finding a solar panel installation company that will meet with you and talk you through all the options shows that it is prioritizing its customers, so youll know youre in good hands.
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How To Protect Yourself If Youre Interested In Solar For Your Home
Up until this point, weve talked about what homeowners are saying about their bad experiences with Powerhome Solar.
But there are hundreds of solar companies in the United States, as well as tens of thousands of satisfied solar customers whose systems were installed without issues and are producing what their owners expect them to. In addition, there are many solar system owners who have encountered issues, and found their installer up to the job of fixing those issues both quickly and satisfactorily.
So how can you make sure you end up a happy solar customer and not an angry one? Arming yourself with knowledge about how solar works and what you can expect is the best first line of defense. The second is choosing the right company for your specific needs.
Heres some knowledge and guidance about how to avoid the situations described in the complaints above.
Educate Yourself Before Solar Panel Installations: Save Money
However, before considering an alternative energy solar you should get educated about solar panel use. Also, get a good understanding of how the solar panel installation works. Here it is:
When sunlight hits the module on a solar photovoltaic installation, the modules convert the suns energy into electricity that can be used to power your home. Whether the electricity is being drawn from the PV installation or utility company, your homes power performance will stay the same.
The Direct Current that the installation produces is wired to an inverter. This inverter converts the DC power into an Alternating Current . The AC power is the standard electrical current use for powering most home appliances throughout the world.
The electrical current then flows from the inverter to the homes electrical service panel that feeds electricity into the household. You can also use a tracking meter, which can keep track of the homes electrical consumption, the total output of the solar installation, and more.
These tracking systems often have live display systems or online monitors, so you can track how much of your homes electricity needs are being met by your systems production and how well your system is performing at any point in time.
During the day, if the solar systems production exceeds the houses electrical needs, the excess electricity is fed back to the power grid. When this occurs, you can observe the electrical meter spin backward.
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Indiana Homeowners Plead For Help
Doug Johnson and his wife moved from California to Mooresville to be closer to family. In the fall, Johnson decided he wanted a backup plan for power outages. He had seen Powerhome Solars advertisements on TV and online, so he gave them a call. He pulled out a loan for $56,000 and signed the digital contract. Workers installed his panels in October 2021.
From there, all we saw was our electricity bill our electric bill from SMSC go up, he said. Electric bills were going up and we werent getting any activity from the solar panels. Very little, maybe 4kW a day.
Like many others, Johnson told CBS4 his salesperson had promised to get rid of his electric bill almost completely.
Except for our service fee, he said. That has not happened.
Johnson pulled up his app, which detailed how much power he was pulling from the grid and how much was being generated from his solar panels. It showed his house was using a little more than 2kW. He was pulling 1.75kW from the grid on a clear, sunny day.
We just feel like we have been ripped off, he said. Its not working like its supposed to. I feel like I have been cheated, I feel like I have been duped and kind of stupid for not doing more research on this whole thing.
Kevin and Amy Jarboe found Powerhome Solar, LLC online as well. Amy had always wanted solar panels and after meeting with their salesperson, figured a 25-year loan would pay off eventually.
