Most solar problems homeowners run into were decided before a single panel went on the roof. A quote that looks cheap, a design that ignores shade, or a permit step skipped to save a week all show up later as lower production or a system that stalls in inspection.
Undersized or mismatched equipment
An inverter sized to the cheapest quote rather than your actual roof and usage will clip production on sunny days for years. Ask for the inverter’s continuous rating against your array size in writing, not just the panel count.
Skipping a real shade study
A single chimney or tree shadow across one string can drag down an entire row of panels if the system was not designed with microinverters or optimizers to isolate the loss. Walk the roof with your installer at the time of day production matters most.
Weak roof and racking work
Panels usually outlast the roof under them. Confirm the installer is pulling permits, using flashed (not just sealant-sealed) mounting points, and can show you their standard racking spec before work starts.
The cheapest bid and the best-engineered system are rarely the same quote — ask what was cut to hit the price.
- Get the interconnection agreement filed before installation day, not after.
- Confirm monitoring is set up and you have login access before the crew leaves.
- Have the final inspection and utility permission-to-operate dates in writing.
None of this requires becoming an electrician. It requires asking each installer the same handful of questions and comparing the answers, not just the price on the final page.