How to Avoid A Bad Solar Installation

How to Avoid A Bad Solar Installation



A successful solar power system installation is essential. Even with premium components perform badly or malfunction if an installer does a bad job. Reliability and performance aside, solar systems can involve high voltages, up to 600 volts. Installation quality is paramount for safety.

But how can you pick a good installer? These tips should help.

Reputation

When sourcing quotes for your solar installation, it's crucial to identify and avoid poor installers. Here's how:
  1. Consult Multiple Review Websites: Different review platforms have varying levels of reliability. By checking several, you get a broader and more accurate picture.
  2. Pay Attention to 1-Star Reviews: These reviews often reveal the true nature of a company's service and culture. While all companies may encounter occasional issues, a pattern of significant mistakes is a warning sign.
  3. Seek Consistency Across Ratings: Compare the company's ratings on various platforms like Facebook, Google, TrustPilot, ProductReview and SolarQuotes. A discrepancy of more than 0.2 stars in their average ratings could indicate manipulation of reviews on certain sites.
By following these steps, you can filter out substandard installers and increase the likelihood of a high-quality solar system installation.

Vetting your installer

If you want to minimise your chances of giving money to a dodgy installer, you can follow the same checklist that we use at Energy Freedom Homes when we vet out Trusted Tradie partners. You can access and use the checklist here.

Check installer system designs

Installers will demonstrate the standards of their work by the design they propose for your system. One easy thing to check is the way they plan to install the panels on your roof, which will be outlined in their proposal when you request a quote. Use the following pointers as a checklist for any quotes that you receive.

Panel Direction

Use the proposed panel orientations to check if the system will generate power at the times of day that you need it.
  1. East-Facing Panels: Best for morning power generation.
  2. West-Facing Panels: Ideal for late afternoon energy production.
  3. North-Facing Panels: Optimal for overall energy generation, but less efficient in the morning and late afternoon compared to east and west-facing panels. These panels produce about 15% more energy annually than east or west-facing ones.
  4. South-Facing Panels: They produce about 30% less energy than north-facing panels but can still offer good investment returns, potentially paying back in under 7 years.
  5. East and West-Facing Panels for Work Schedules: Beneficial for households active before and after school/work hours, as they provide more energy during these times. This can lead to faster system payback despite their lower annual energy generation compared to north-facing panels.
Misconceptions about East/West Roofs: Many homeowners mistakenly believe solar panels are not worthwhile unless north-facing. However, with the decrease in solar system costs, east, west, or a combination of north, east, and west-facing panels can be very effective.

Panel Angle

  1. Varies by Location: The perfect solar panel angle is location-specific. Angles are recommended as follows:
    1. Canberra 30°
    2. Hobart 37°
    3. Darwin 18°
    4. Adelaide 29°
    5. Perth 28°
    6. Brisbane 24°
    7. Melbourne 32°
    8. Sydney 31°
  2. Efficiency loss: Even non-ideal angles (like 15 degrees) can be quite efficient, only losing about 4% of annual energy yield.
  3. ​Flat Roofs: Panels can be installed flat, but this results in a 10% generation loss and requires frequent cleaning. Tilt frames are recommended to avoid these issues.
Using East/West tilts on flat roofs can allow for more panel installation and can be more cost-effective than north-facing tilts.
In general, the best angle is usually the one your roof is already at, except for flat roofs where tilt frames or frequent cleaning are necessary.

Panel Orientation

Most Australian solar panels are mounted in portrait orientation for speed and cost reasons. Landscape orientation can sometimes allow for more capacity (as you can fit more panels on the roof), but this will come at a higher installation cost.

In Summary

Navigating the solar installation process is critical, but it doesn't have to be overwhelming. By focusing on key areas—such as the reputation of your installer, conducting thorough vetting, and spotting red flags in proposed system designs like panel direction, angle, and orientation — you can significantly reduce the risk of a poor installation. 

If you want to get practical recommendations on choosing the right solar power system, have a look at our article, "How To Pick The Best Solar Power System"

If you're wondering about the cost/benefit of solar, check out the article, "How Much Will Solar Cost and How Much Will I Save?"

You'll need an up-to-date switchboard if you're getting solar installed. Find out if you need an upgrade with our article, "Will I need to upgrade my switchboard?"

Want to fast-track home electrification? Join an Energy Freedom Homes Masterclass and learn to identify your needs, gain expert installation advice, and meet trustworthy tradespeople. Check your Masterclass readiness now!