Residential Solar Power: what to look for with Installers

The company you choose to install a residential solar power system or a hot water service, be it a solar one or a regular one, is perhaps one of the the most important choices you will make in years.

It's worth spending a bit of extra effort at the early, pre-installation stage in order to make sure your installation is trouble free.


The company you select should be able to demonstrate the following:


1: they are qualified and licensed to perform the installation,

2: they have experience installing the system of your choice and can provide references from satisfied customers to verify this,

3: they will be able to help you calculate the savings you will make from installing the correct system for your home including being able to explain why they are recommending various products,

4: they are prepared to give you a free on-site no obligation quote that includes all parts and labour costs including, if applicable, GST or VAT.

5: they will take care of any necessary permits regarding the installations,

6: they are aware of any rebates that apply to your installation and can assist you in obtaining them, and

7: they provide a good length warranty on the PV system or water service. These vary from 3 to 10 years. A longer warranty period is obviously preferable. Also check if the warranty is transferable should you decide to sell your home in that period.


Generally, the larger and more established the company the better. While some states may allow you to install residential solar power or hot water systems yourself, it is highly unlikely that you will be covered by any warranty on the system. Your electricity and hot water must be reliable. I tend to err on the side of caution here; I’d rather pay to have the job done properly than be on the phone or crawling around under the roof while I could be enjoying a nice hot shower or watching the cricket on TV.