How to Choose a Solar Company You Can Trust
One-star solar reviews are up over 1,000% since 2018. Here are the red flags — and how to vet any installer, including us.
The solar industry has a trust problem, and you are right to be cautious. One-star solar reviews have risen more than 1,000% since 2018, and roughly 40% of solar complaints involve deceptive or high-pressure sales tactics. The good news: the red flags are easy to spot once you know them.
Eight red flags to watch for
- "Sign tonight or lose the deal." Real pricing does not evaporate at midnight. Manufactured urgency is the number-one warning sign.
- Made-up deadlines. Be wary of invented "the incentive ends Friday" claims. We cite real policy and never invent a clock.
- No written, itemized quote. If you cannot keep a clear breakdown on paper, walk away.
- "Free solar" or "the government pays for it." There is no free solar. That language almost always means a lease or PPA.
- Promises to "eliminate" your bill. Solar offsets and stabilizes your bill; honest installers do not promise zero.
- Door-knockers who can’t answer technical questions. Subcontracted sales reps often read from a script.
- A lease dressed up as ownership. Ask directly: "Do I own this system?" Get the answer in writing.
- Pitches built on the expired federal tax credit. The 30% residential credit ended after December 31, 2025. Anyone still selling on it is not being straight with you.
Our anti-pressure promise
You get a written quote you keep. You meet the owner and the crew, not a rotating sales team. We size to your actual usage, show cash and financing side by side, and you decide on your own time. No countdowns, no games.
How to vet any installer (including us)
Confirm they are licensed, bonded, and insured in Washington. Ask how long they have been installing and who actually does the work. Check that your warranty is backed independently so it survives even if the company does not — ours is spelled out in writing with the actual manufacturer warranty terms. And get everything in writing.
Common questions
How do I know a solar company is legitimate?
Verify they are licensed, bonded, and insured in Washington, ask who performs the work, insist on a written itemized quote you keep, and confirm your warranty is independently backed. Avoid anyone using high-pressure or fake-deadline tactics.
Is “free solar” real?
No. “Free solar” almost always means a lease or power-purchase agreement where a third party owns the panels. You may save on power, but you do not own the system and it generally will not add to your home value.
Why are there so many solar complaints?
Much of the industry runs on subcontracted, commission-driven door-to-door sales with aggressive tactics. About 40% of complaints cite deceptive or high-pressure selling. Choosing a local, owner-led installer with written pricing avoids most of it.