What are the essential questions to ask a solar installation company in the UK to ensure you get the best value, service, and long-term performance from your solar energy system? Here we reveal all.
- What kind of warranty do you offer?
- Am I covered for maintenance?
- What types of equipment will you use?
- Can you give me a timeline on the installation?
- How can I maximise government incentives?
- What output can I expect from my solar panels?
- How much will my solar panels save me?
- How long will my solar panels last?
- What else should I know before choosing a solar installation company?
Thinking of installing solar panels? Well first off, good for you – solar panels are one of the best tools we have for shrinking energy bills and carbon emissions. You’ll be powering your home using only the power of the sun. Hell yeah.
If you’re gonna make the investment in solar though, you’re probably burning to learn what to ask a solar installation company. Or if you’re not, you probably should be, because it’s a sound idea to know what you’re getting into before you pay the upfront costs for a solar panel system.
We’re covering everything you’ll want to ask a solar installation company in the UK, so you can purchase a solar system with confidence.
Psst, we offer MCS-certified solar panel installations nationwide!
Key points:
Ask about any hidden costs so you know exactly what you should be paying.
Find out what warranties you’ll get with your installation.
It’s important to know how long the installation will take too.
Check the reputation and certifications of your installer (they should be MCS-certified as a minimum).
Get information on expected power output and energy bill savings.
Want to learn more about solar panels? We’ve got great guides on solar panel grants, payback periods, the mechanics of solar energy, determining the number of panels you need, and solar car charging solutions. Are there any hidden costs when you install solar panels?
Solar panels cost a decent chunk of money, to begin with, so the last thing you want is to be met with hidden costs.
This is why it’s really important to ask your installer for a detailed quote that covers everything you’re going to be paying for. Get them to include information on:
How much the solar panels themselves will cost
Any inverter costs (Tesla Powerwall 3 owners won’t need to buy a separate inverter!)
Cost of mounting system, brackets, and other hardware
Labour costs
Any electrical upgrades
Scaffolding or other specialist equipment
With a detailed quote, you won’t be left in the dark with any extra costs incurred during the installation process.
Also, don’t hold back on any questions about the quote — a good, reliable installer will be more than happy to answer and explain any queries you might have!
What kind of warranty do you offer?
You’ll want a solid warranty for your solar panels, as despite the fact they’re durable, long-lasting, and don’t require much maintenance, things can still go wrong. And you’re gonna want to be covered in case that happens.
As Ben Price, our co-founder, explains, “Warranties provide peace of mind, ensuring homeowners are covered if the panels or the installation have any defects or issues in the future.
“Ideally, you want the solar installer to offer a workmanship warranty too, this is separate to the solar panel manufacturer’s warranty and ensures the installer will fix or repair any issues that arise due to the installation itself. For example, Heatable offers a 24-month workmanship warranty for additional peace of mind.”
You should ask your installer about both the manufacturer’s warranty on the solar panels and inverter, and the installer’s warranty, which is necessary for the installation.
A manufacturer’s warranty covers defects and performance issues in the panels themselves, and typically lasts around 25 years.
An installer’s warranty, on the other hand, covers installation-related problems — things like construction mistakes, dodgy wiring, etc. This warranty is usually valid for 5–10 years.
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We’re proud to be MCS accredited and Which? Trusted solar installers with over 10,000 glowing reviews on Trustpilot. Discover why so many trust us for their solar panel installations—visit our Reviews and Testimonials page and watch Phil’s video testimonial below.
Am I covered for maintenance?
Check with your installer whether they include maintenance for your solar panels in the warranty. The likelihood is that they won’t, but you don’t need to worry much as honestly speaking, solar panels are designed to be very low maintenance.
In fact, what we mean by maintenance here is the general upkeep of your solar panels. That means:
Keeping them clean: Normally, solar panels' hydrophobic coating means water falls off, taking any dirt and debris with it. Sometimes though, leaves or snow can build up, or a period of dry weather leaves too much dust on your panels, and you’ll need to get them cleaned.
Servicing: We recommend getting your solar panels serviced every year, so you can avoid getting any nasty surprises further down the line. Having your solar panels serviced also makes sure your system continues to generate enough power.
You’ll also want to get the various components (such as the fuse board and AC isolators) serviced every 10 years or so. This’ll make sure everything is still working as safely and efficiently as it should be.
Heatable actually specialises in installing AC systems that boast lower maintenance requirements. Learn more about how these systems can benefit you and get a tailored online quote.
What types of equipment will you use?
This is a pretty important question to ask, as you’ll want to make sure your installer is using only the highest-quality equipment in your installation.
For example, your solar panels should be categorised as Tier 1, which means the manufacturer of the panels is considered high quality and reliable. Check what make and model of panels your installer plans to use, so you can research the company and the specific panel’s performance and reliability.
You’ll also want to ensure the inverter comes from a recognised company and a solid, 10-year warranty. Inverters are very important in the majority of solar panel setups, as they convert direct current (DC) electricity, which your solar panels generate, to alternating current (AC) electricity, which the grid uses.
Can you give me a timeline on the installation?
Double check how long you’ll wait before the panels get installed, and the expected length of the installation itself. This way you can avoid waiting months and months for your solar panels to be installed.
Get an estimated timeframe from your installer from when you agree to a quote, to when the panels are going up on your roof. The timeline can be affected by the installer's schedule, whether you need planning permission (unlikely, but worth checking), and how long it’ll take to get the panels and any other materials needed.
The actual installation process is what’ll take the least amount of time! Once the installers are there, panels in hand, it’ll only take a day or two (potentially longer if your roof is difficult to access). You’ll need a little more time for scaffolding — usually a week or so either side for putting it up and taking it down.
How can I maximise government incentives?
You should speak to your installer about something called the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG), which is a government incentive set up to help solar panel owners make a profit from selling excess generated electricity.
What they’ll likely tell you is that yes, it’s a good way to make some extra money, especially if you’re not at home all day (as you won’t be using much of the electricity your panels are generating).
What they’ll also likely say is that it’s not worth spending more on an oversized solar panel system for the SEG alone. Even with the best SEG rates, you won’t make a huge amount each year (roughly £350 with Intelligent Octopus Flux and a 4.4 kilowatt peak system).
Where it is worth getting an oversized solar system, is if you want to future-proof your home for any expected increase in energy consumption.
Say you want to get a heat pump and want to power it with renewable energy, a typical 4 kWp solar panel system won’t quite be enough. This is where getting an oversized solar system is a good idea.
What output can I expect from my solar panels?
Your solar panels will come with a peak output, which is a measure of how much energy it can produce under standard test conditions (STC). Basically, it’s what your panels are capable of under ideal conditions.
The reality is that here in the UK, the weather is very unlikely to always meet this STC — in fact, on average the UK has conditions that are around 85% as good as STC.
So when installing solar panels you should talk to your installer about what output you can realistically expect from your system. Importantly, you’ll want to know whether this realistic output will meet your home’s energy requirements.
As an example, a 4 kWp will generate 4,000 kilowatt hours (kWh) a year under STC, but in real-life conditions, a 4 kWp solar system will generate 3,400 kWh annually (roughly what the average UK home consumes in electricity each year).
Once you know the estimated output of your panels, you’ll be able to get a better idea of what you might save on your energy bills per year.
How much will my solar panels save me?
It’s a good idea to ask your installer about potential savings on your energy bills. They can work this out (roughly) by looking at your current energy consumption, the size of your solar panel system, and the local sunlight conditions.
As an example, with a 4 kWp solar panel system, you’ll generate 3,400 kWh a year. Based on the latest price per kWh of electricity (£0.24 as of October 2024), you’ll save roughly £833. Combined with battery storage, you’ll save even more per year as you won't be as reliant on the grid for electricity during the evening.
Naturally, how much you save will vary, especially when you factor in weather conditions. The UK isn’t exactly known as an island of eternal sunshine after all, so take the estimated savings with a pinch of salt.
Also, think about what you could save through incentives such as the Smart Export Guarantee (see above about government incentives), where certain energy suppliers will pay you to export excess electricity your solar panels generate back to the grid.
Explore a Solar Case Study: Check out an insightful Q&A session featured in one of our detailed case studies on domestic solar panels. Hear directly from a Heatable customer in the UK and gain valuable perspectives on their experience here.
The image above shows a 23-panel solar installation, carried out by the MCS-certified solar team at Heatable, featuring the REA Fusion2 solar panels.
How long will my solar panels last?
Ask your installer how long your solar panels will last, because it’s worth hearing from them how long they think your system will keep running optimally. They’ll be able to give you an educated guess based on your setup — will your panels be regularly exposed to extreme weather conditions, for example?
If so, they’ll have a shorter-than-average lifespan (potentially less than 25 years).
What type of solar panels you install will impact your system’s lifespan too. If you opt for the cheaper polycrystalline crystalline panels, you can expect 25–30 years maximum.
Spending a little extra on more efficient monocrystalline panels means getting up to 40 years from your solar system (potentially up to 50 in best-case scenarios).
Have you assessed shading?
Solar panels work best in direct sunlight, and even if they can work in cloudy weather, it’s best to make sure they’re not under shading. So you won’t want a tree or shadows from a nearby building blocking you solar panels and stopping them generating as much electricity.
It’s therefore important to know whether the site your solar panels will go on will be shaded throughout the year, and to what extent, before you go ahead and get a system installed.
Ask your installer if they’ve properly assessed the site for shading, which they can do using various tools (including computer modelling), or even a quick look at something as simple as Google Maps.
If there is a risk of shading, your installer should plan on how to mitigate this. Consider asking your installer about:
Bypass diodes: These are integrated into solar panels to allow the current to pass around a shaded cell (and for weak or damaged cells). Basically, when part of a solar panel is shaded, the shaded cells can block the entire panel from generating electricity. Bypass diodes help stop this from happening.
Micro-inverters: Having solar panels with in-built micro-inverters makes them more effective when shading is a possibility.
What else should I know before choosing a solar installation company?
Before going ahead with an installer, there’s a few other tips to keep in mind. Firstly, check the reputation of the installer, which you can do by checking reviews on something like Trustpilot. While it’s not like us to brag, we’re pretty happy with our own Trustpilot rating — 4.8 out of 5 as of October 2024.
Secondly, certification is particularly important, because without the right certification, you run the risk of having a solar system that doesn’t work properly and isn’t eligible for receiving payments from the Smart Export Guarantee.
You’ll want an installer certified under the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS), which is a government-backed initiative that certifies solar panel installers. To qualify, installers must meet strict requirements on installation standards, customer protection, and the accuracy of system design and projected savings.
It’s also best practice to secure multiple quotes — this way you’ll be able to compare prices and choose the best value for your budget.
And lastly, enquire about post-installation support. At Heatble, we offer an exclusive 12-month workmanship warranty, so if anything goes wrong with your solar system during this time, we’ll fix it.
Next Steps For Your Solar Journey:
When planning to install solar panels for your home, there are several important factors to consider. Make sure to refer to the following guides to help you make informed decisions:
To dive deeper into these topics, head over to our advice section, check out our YouTube channel for informative videos, or read a customer case study to see how others have benefited from their solar installation.
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Without boasting you should get your solar installed with us, here's why:
Thousands of Happy Customers: We boast an average score of 4.9 on Trustpilot, outperforming the market leader.
Which? Trusted Trader: Heatable is proudly recognised as a Which? Trusted Trader.
MCS Accredited: Our accreditation by the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) ensures high-quality standards.
Exclusive Panels: We offer REA Fusion solar panels, available only through Heatable.
Consumer Protection: As members of the HIES consumer code, we provide 2-year deposit protection.
Flexible Payment Options: Choose from multiple payment methods, including finance options.
Fixed Price Guarantee: Enjoy transparency with no hidden costs.
Save Your Quote: You can save your quote and decide later.
Bespoke Design Tool: Draw your own conclusion (literally) on whether solar is worth it for you, here.
