3 panel quality checks every solar provider should do
Solar panels are designed for one purpose—to generate clean electricity—but they aren’t all created equally. Buying the most expensive panels in the market doesn’t mean you’ll secure better solar production any more than choosing budget-friendly solar panels (although it often does play out that way). Truth is, solar panels vary widely in efficiency, durability, and panel type, regardless of the price tag. So how can you make sure your solar panels are built for top efficiency? Talk with your solar provider and make sure they are a stickler about their panel quality. While many solar providers don’t, every solar provider should take the following measures:
1. Find trustworthy suppliers.
As a solar provider, the last thing we want is to install a low-quality energy system on your home. We feel a deep responsibility to build a strong relationship with each of our suppliers so that we can make sure we’re receiving and delivering the best products possible. That’s why we only work with suppliers who understand the industry and have been manufacturing solar products for at least five years.
2. Perform factory audits to ensure suppliers meet the highest standards.
Because we provide a 25-year linear performance warranty on our energy system, we need to make sure the longevity of our products supports that. This is why we perform a multi-point inspection in the factory to ensure they are capable of manufacturing products that meet our requirements.
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3. Test and inspect each panel before shipment.
If your solar provider does the initial inspection on your solar panels when they’re already on your roof, it’s too late. A true panel audit should have started back when those panels were still in the factory. We test our solar panels before they ship using 3rd party independent testing. We also perform a thorough inspection for any product defects. The finished products are then graded on a scale of A through D. While many other companies accept all products from A through D, we only accept grade A products.
Carrying out regular audits can be expensive and time-consuming, which is why many solar providers don’t bother to do it regularly. We’re happy to say that we’re among the small handful of industry leaders who protect solar panel quality at all costs.
Getting ready to go solar? Don’t forget to ask your sales representative about their panel manufacturing process before you make a decision. You’ll be glad you did.