Sunrays Power has made a commitment to providing only the most honest and truthful advice about the solar sales and installation process. To better increase transparency and help our clients make better solar purchase decisions, we have created this comprehensive list of dangers that may happen if you install a cheap solar PV system.
If you are currently in the process of comparing solar installation quotes, make sure you consider these reasons before you sign the contract.
- DISHONEST SOLAR SALES AND SOLAR COMPANIES.
When consumers decide to purchase a solar PV system, their primary goal is to save money. It is this exact thinking that cheaper solar companies exploit. Because of this goal to ‘save money’,first time solar purchasers almost always choose to install with the company that offers the cheapest quote.
These companies offer significantly less (sometimes Thousands of Dollars) than what other solar installers are offering. They are also wiling to further reduce installation costs by price beating other companies offering even lower prices.
Cheap solar has become such a huge problem in Australia, that every year we receive more news about how non-compliant and dangerous these cheap systems are.
In the industry, we call these sorts of companies Solar Cowboys. These companies employ pushy and questionable tacticsto secure a sale.Look out for solar sales representatives thatpersistently call, spontaneously doorknock, and insists that you sign the contract today to secure the lucrative discounted deal.
While it can be hard to tell a solar cowboy apart from more genuine companies (especially when you are gathering quotes online) there are two very clear indicators that you can use to identify which companies to go for.
- Firstly, a good rule of thumb to use (in QLD)is the price. If a 6.6kW system advertised at lucrative price in social media, TV or newspaper ad, steer clear!They are most likely to be underpaying their installers, use poorly constructed solar parts, cut installation and service corners, or do all three at the same time.
- Secondly, when companies are not upfront about the gritty details during the negotiation process. For example, if you ask a company about their different packages and warranties, and they talk about the 25 year performance warranty, but don’t let you know about the CEC mandatory whole of system five-year guarantee, or the potential difference in warranties between differing products, then maybe you may want to reconsider the company.
Remember, in this industry, the lowest price is not the standard benchmark.
- TOO CHEAP TO BE TRUE?
Budget systems are designed with care. These systems consider your budget, roof layout, and ensure your basic needs are met to ensure your future savings. Budget systems should (at the very least) last the warranty period of its components. These systems are not as cheap as ‘Cheap’ systems and will do a very good job at saving you a lot of money in the long run.
On the other hand, cheap systems are installed by cutting corners. Dodgy companies offer drastically cheaper rates for the same amount of kW by using poor quality parts and workmanship. While this may save some consumers money at the point of purchase, there is a much bigger and more sinister risk associated with these ‘cheap’ systems.
When companies cut corners to ensure upfront savings, these companies forgo YOUR safety, through the installation of solar PV systems which are non-compliant to Australian Electrical laws and Installation Standards.
If you pay peanuts, you will get monkeys.
Warning! If you purchase a cheap system with a price that is too good to be true, you may be buying old, second-hand, stolen, or poor-quality materials. Which once installed have a higher chance to break in the first year and damage your property.
Warning!Depending on how badly your system was installed, you may gain roof leakages or spontaneous electrical fires. A system should always be safe and installed with care. Rushed jobs and uncertified installers can cause irreparable damage to your home.
All of these factors combined produce a lower quality product and impacts the lifespan of the system. Don’t risk incurring hundreds of thousands of dollarsin damages and parts replacements just to save $500-$1000 in a solar bargain.
You know what is even worse? You will never know these systems are underperforming, if you have not done some informed research on how solar PV systemswork, or the solar company hasn’t mentioned what you should be expecting, these cheap systems will simply take up space on your roof and deliver you zero savings in the long run.
- POOR WORKMANSHIP, BAD INSTALLATION, AND QUESTIONABLE WARRANTIES
The cheaper the installation, the more corners are cut during the installation stage.
Here are some examples of poorly installed systems that are likely to happen if you hire a cheap company to install your system:
ROOF OVERHANG
Cheap companies hire inexperienced, uncertified and sometimes unsupervised installers. If an accredited solar electrician did not install your system, there are many things that can go wrong.
A recent Audit into the industry shows that 20% of all solar installations in Australia are sub-standard. All these issues can be avoided by hiring a company that only hires accredited installers.
These installers are certified, compliant and have internal checks and balances which ensure the installation is done correctly the first time. As a bonus, certified installers can speed up your approval process, as they streamline the time it takes for your system to connect to the grid. The faster you can use your solar PV system and export power, the more savings you can get!
Warning!If a company is selling extremely cheap solar PV system and is also offering you an unbelievably extended warranty, check out their warranty’s terms and conditions! If you explore it closely, you might come to discover that the warranty does not include workmanship/labour, OR transport. This is extremely dangerous! If the system breaks, the company that installed your system is not legally bound to come back and fix your system. Leaving you liable to pay more money to fix it.
Warning!If the installers install your panels or inverter in a way that does not comply to the manufacturer’s guidelines, and then the system breaks, the manufacturers may not take back the broken unit and provide a replacement under the product warranty. This also leaves the owner of the system liableto pay for any new components, just to replace someone’s negligent installation.
You get what you pay for when you buy a cheap system! Instead of saving, you willpay double or triple the amount of what you originally paid for just to fix the system (or your home) once it breaks.
- LOW END COMPONENTS
If the system is priced too low, you are alsomore likely to run into problems that arise from the system’s components. Cheap systems insure you get one of four things:
- Unknown brands that make cheap panels or inverters.
- Brands that are inferior but are advertised with flashy brochures and advertisements.
- Even worse, old/second-hand panels or inverters.
- Questionable installation components.
Further costs can be cut through the sourcing of inferior materials used to install the panels. For example, if plastic glue is used during installation of the panels on your roof, OR, during the manufacturing of the panels, then the system’s overall quality is compromised. These panels will absorba lot of moisture and air, resulting in corrosion of the solar panel. This lowers efficiency and shortens the system’s life span.
Since these low-quality components degrade faster, you may need to replace them every year! This means that not only are you creating more waste, but you are also spending money, time, and effort to get it fixed again, and again, and again.
Warning!Not every panel brand sold within Australia is Tier 1!However, almost every panel brand is advertised as such. Make sure you do your research into each panel brand being offered to make the best-informed decision.
Warning!No matter what type of inverter you buy, the first component to break is almost always the inverter. While a good inverter will last you a minimum of 5-10 years, a bad inverter will break lot earlier.
Other issuesthat arise when you buya cheap solar inverterfrom an unknown manufacturing company lies in their overall safety, energy efficiency, noise production, heat dispersion and aftersales support.
When these inverters break, you may have a hard time trying to replace your inverter using your warranty. It might be because these manufacturing companies don’t have a local office or have very poor after-sales support. Which means that you will need to wait longer for a replacement. Sometimes, these companies simply go out of business.
At the end of the day, the longer you wait for a replacement of a broken component, the more money you will lose from export losses.
- AFTER SALES SERVICE
You want to buy from a company that will give you the best quality products within your budget. To compliment this, you should also find a company that has a great after-sales service policy.Cheap companies do not have this, as they simply may not have the budget to deliver any after-sales support. While they are excellent communicators prior to installation, as soon as the solar PV system is installed, you may never hear from them again.
After-sales service is extremely important. If you choose to buy from a cheap company with no after-sales service, you will run into further warranty issues, as these companies may not be very helpful in providing you support when a part or component breaks.
Warning!Many companies reset their business under a new business name from the same building by the same mobs. They wash their hands away from their previousliabilities and try to push similar inferior products to replace your old system.
Warning!You may also run into future paperwork problems. If paperwork is not submitted on time or kept in a secure fashion, you will have problems with your electricity provider (grid connection issues, export tariff issues). Remember, the longer you wait, the more you will lose.
At the end of the day, reliability of the retailer and manufacturer should be one of the top priorities when you are choosing between different brands and companies. This way, if you do run into a problem, or want a production update, you can easily contact them and ask for assistance.
FINAL CHECKLIST BEFORE YOU PURCHASE A SOLAR SYSTEM:
To ensure that you don’t buy a cheap system that will break in a year, make sure you look at:
- The company’s aftersales policy – this can be found on their webpage, contract, and sometimes public google reviews.
- Have a close look at their guarantees and warranties – Are they short? Long? Do they cover the parts, products, workmanship?
- Certification – Is the company and the installers CEC Approved Solar retailer? Does this company have a solar design license? Do you recognise their certifications? – Be wary, some companies may have fake certifications to make their business stand out. A quick google search of the certifications should be sufficient to make sure they are legitimate.
- Clean Energy Council Approved Solar Retailer – Make sure your company is a CEC approved solar retailer! These businesses have signed a voluntary agreement to uphold and uplift the service requirements of the Australian solar market.
- Do you recognise the brands of solar panel or inverters the company has endorsed, or are trying to sell to you? If you are not sure about a brand, make sure to look at the Clean Energy Council’s list of approved panels, batteries, and inverters. If the brand is not on their list, then the brand’s products do not meet quality standards and will not survive Australia’s harsh environment.
- The quoting processes – Does the company have follow-up or initial questions which try to gather information (such as energy expectance) with the intention to design a rough layout prior to sending a quote? Or does the company automatically send you a quote without asking any follow up questions?
- Finally, look at the system’s overall VALUE (not price)when comparing quotes.
Don’t be duped into buying the cheapest system. Make informed choices and save yourself future heartache.
Sunrays Power is an Australian owned and run business. We are certified solar designers and have installed residential and commercial systems Australia wide. As a Clean Energy Council Member, we are committed to upholding and increasing the service provision of our solar business.
We never want to compromise quality against the price. We do this by only using Clean Energy Council approved products and only installing our systems through Clean Energy Council Accredited Installers. We want you to rest assured that any system you get from us is compliant to Australian standards and your needs.
If you want to further explore your options, contact us on info@sunrayspower.com.au and let’s have an open and honest discussion.
