"I HIGHLY recommend PEEPLES PLUMBING & GAS. It is a family-owned business with skilled technicians. Curtis and Bobby came same morning and at exact time they said they would be there!! They resolved my flooding washing machine and overflowing kitchen sinks in 45 min. They were very professional and efficient. I am very confident in the work that they did. I have honestly never left a review for anything but this company deserves one. Use them!!!"
"Rep. checked entire system. He found several wires not connected properly and fixed this. He also made recommendations regarding the attachment of the panels to the rood that would provide more stability and leakproofing. The representative appeared to know what he was doing - much better than others, including the representative who was engaged by the roofer (who replaced our rood due to hail damage) to disconnect/connect the panels."
"Short version: Great initial experience with great prices, but a general lack of proactive communication plagued the process. Renu seems to be a little short staffed. Some major problems (roof leak and Duke rebate problems) were able to be worked out satisfactorily. Early production results seem promising. Long version: Sales team was great, and willing to work with me on pricing. I had quotes from five companies, and I chose Renu for price, positive reviews, length of experience, panel quality, and production guarantee. Mark has been great about being involved throughout the process and clearly communicating. My biggest scare was the Duke rebate. At the time I was signing the contract, I was assured that there was virtually a 100% chance I would receive it, and that they would take care of submitting the necessary papers the day it opened in a timely manner. Due to technical issues (not Renuâ s fault), I almost missed the rebate, but due to Renuâ s diligence in bookkeeping, I was able to receive it. While I am happy with the end result, and Renu did do the proper things to ensure that we got the rebate, the process could have been less stressful had Renu been more proactive about communicating what was going on. I also want to note that Reun submitted my application at about 9:19 AM, with a cutoff for receiving the rebate (this year) ended up being at about 9:20 AM. Bottom line, I would be wary of counting on the rebate in making your purchasing decision. My second biggest problem that I had was a roof leak caused by solar panel installation. This is something that according to pretty much any source online should be very, very rare, as long as the installers are good and your roof is in good condition (ours is brand new and hadnâ t had any problems). Now, to give Renu credit, they sent someone out quickly to take a look, and didnâ t try to pretend that they didnâ t cause the problem, and got it fixed within the week. Getting it fixed in that time frame did require me to push back on their original plans, which were to fix it about a week later, after some major rain storms were set to pass through. We were lucky that the water dripped onto a place where it was visible to us, otherwise we could have had major water damage done before noticing that there was a problem. A recurring problem after signing until completion was communication. I was given only one day of notice before installation, and wasnâ t told that it would be an all day affair. A bigger deal was working with Evan to get the inspection done. Evan was a nice guy, and I suspect at least part of the problem might be that he is too busy, but he required constant prodding to let us know what was going on, and often did not show up when he told us he would. The first time the inspector came by, he was supposed to stop by a couple hours earlier to drop off needed paperwork, but he never showed up, which meant we failed the inspection. Furthermore, he never called to explain what happened, meaning that a few days later I had to call to find out what was going on. The cycle of needing me to call to find out needed information or needing him to push him to reschedule, etc., occured several times. Again, nice guy who is probably just too busy, but definitely not too reliable or good at letting you know what was going on. Since my panels have been on (only a couple of weeks), I have seen production numbers that are about what I expected, and should be higher than the guarantee by a comfortable margin. Right off the bat, one of my optimizers didnâ t work. Renu automatically generated a work ticket for it, which is nice. After a couple weeks of not hearing from Renu, I reached out to find out when they would be coming. Joel let me know that since one panel not working is a small problem, it might take a couple more weeks to even get a date scheduled for when they will come. Once again, Renu seems sh..."
"Jon Mason with South Carolina Solar Project did an amazing job start to finish. From the initial consultation and review of solar energy to the installation, topnotch professionalism. Jon's technical expertise, financial knowledge and passion for solar energy is evident and assured me that I was making the right choice to go Solar. I would, and have, highly recommend South Carolina Solar Project to anyone looking to go Solar!"
"Very well. They checked over all the solar panel backup system to make sure there was not any damage and then restarted the system. Thanks to SC Solar Energy that had installed the solar battery backup system a couple years ago, it has been so nice that I have negative Dominion electric bills each month!"
Everyone I worked with was very knowledgeable and willingly shared information with me. The engineer, Andrew, responded to my calls and questions quickly and kept me informed of what to expect along the way. Permits and coordination with the electric company were all handled by Sustainable Energy Solutions - I didn't have to worry about a thing. The installation crew, Adam, Eric, and Greg, were on time each day, professional, and very courteous and friendly. When they encountered a problem identifying the location of the patio roof trusses, they presented it to me with a solution. Dan the electrician patiently explained how the meters and my tie-in with the electric company worked. It was such a thrill to flip the switch on my beautiful new solar system and start producing my own clean energy!
"They made the process very simple and detailed. Were quick to have the system installed, and they look fantastic. Very good attention to details. No ugly metal pipes on the roof is what makes it look better than any other system in my neighborhood"
No, you cannot turn on a new solar system before inspection. The inspector checks that the system is correctly connected to the grid and that safety components and features are in place. This process prevents problems on the electrical grid and offers protection against fire in your home.
Your local utility company may also require inspection documentation before you can connect to the grid. An inspection can ensure solar power efficiency and determine how you might increase it.
Removing solar panels can be straightforward, but it’s not necessarily a simple process. Your contractor needs to prevent damage—not only to your panels but also to your roof and electrical system. Many systems are wired into the main electrical grid, and you’ll need to hire a licensed electrician to disconnect it.
The best solar panels to withstand hail are those rated UL 61730. These solar panels are certified to withstand hailstones up to 3 inches in diameter and travel at speeds up to 88 mph. IP68 solar panels are the next most resilient solar panel. Solar panels without these ratings can handle hail up to 1 inch in diameter that travels up to 50 miles per hour. If you live in an area with frequent or severe hailstorms, purchasing UL 61730 solar panels is often worth the investment.
The best solar-panel mounting system will depend on your property layout, but you’ll typically want to try for south-facing panels to get the most sun. Roof mounting and wall mounting are both popular, but if your well setup is far away from buildings and other structures you can also set up a freestanding aluminum frame to mount your panels.
You can install solar panels on a flat or pitched roof, but keep in mind that they will need to rest at a 30- to 50-degree tilt for optimal sun absorption. It costs more to install solar panels on a flat roof because you will need to install a framing system and likely hire a structural engineer. If your roof has a pitch of more than 40 degrees, it may not be a good candidate for solar panels.
The Round O, SC homeowners’ guide to solar panel services
From average costs to expert advice, get all the answers you need to get your job done.
There are a few factors to consider when it comes to solar panel repair costs. This guide breaks down the prices of solar panel removal, repair, and replacement.
Find out how much it costs to remove solar panels, including average prices, key cost factors, and tips to save money on your solar panel removal project.
Residential solar panel dimensions can vary slightly from brand to brand, but this guide can help you understand the basics and choose the best option.
Solar panels are low-maintenance but occasionally require some elbow grease. This guide will help you learn how often solar panel maintenance is required.
