Choosing A Registered Installer

Follow Our Tips To Find The Right Company For You

Our installers will help you access incentives and provide you with comprehensive knowledge about the system you choose to install. The registered installer should provide all necessary operating information, explain maintenance requirements, warranty coverage, building and plumbing permit requirements and in the case of seasonal water heaters, the operating temperature limits.

To qualify for the SolarBC incentive you must select one of our registered installers.

All registered SolarBC installers have been pre-qualified by us to ensure their suitability for the program. Installers are assessed for technical capability, experience and proven track record, capacity (including other commitments), quality assurance (including risk management), health and safety, customer care and support, environmental policies and price. Each installer must have at least one installer on staff who is certified to install solar hot water by the Canadian Solar Industry Association.

All registered installer carry a minimum of $2m dollars general liability insurance, and provide standard industry warranties of 10 years for collectors, 5 years for solar hot water tanks and 1 year on labour, as a minimum. Our registered installers should also be familiar with the building and plumbing permit requirements for your area. They should apply for all relevant permits and leave copies with you on completion of the work.

Your decision to install solar hot water should include the same considerations as those involved in purchasing any new appliance or renovation, and you should make enquiries with at least 3 of our installers. You can also check our online rating system and case studies to find out if others have had a good experience. Your consultation with our registered installers should include a visit to your home so they can make an accurate estimate of the installation cost and help you make the final decision on where the collectors and the storage tank should be placed. You should also consider finding out more about the following:

• consider the registered installers reputation and experience;
• examine their warranty;ask for references, photos or to view completed
• installations;
inquire about follow-up service arrangements;
• make sure you complete our standard SolarBC Installation Agreement; and, obtain more than one written estimate

Questions to Ask Our Registered Installers

The following questions can be used to help evaluate your solar installer's suitability and match to your specific needs.

A. Specific to Your Installation:

1. How long will it take for the equipment to be ordered and delivered? How long will the installation process take?
2. When do you expect to begin and fully complete this project?
3. Who can I contact if I have any questions?
4. Who cleans up after the job is finished?
5. Will we need any building or plumbing permits for this project?
6. Will you provide written warrantees on materials and workmanship?
7. What happens if I change my mind? (What kind of deposit do you require and is any of it refundable)?
8. What is the exact schedule of payments to be made? Besides materials and labour, does your estimate include sales tax, permit fees, structural analysis fees, and shipping costs?
9. How soon can you respond to a service call if my solar system is not working properly?
10. How do I apply for my SolarBC grant and any other grants?

B. About the Installer's Company:

1. What is your street address and contact information?
2. How long have you been in business?
3. How many projects like mine have you completed in the past year? In the past three years?
4. May I have a list of references for those projects?
5. Have you or your employees been trained to install solar systems?
6. What percentage of your business is repeat or referral business?
7. Are you a member of a national trade association?

C. Summarizing Your Feelings About the Installer:

1. Does the installer appear to be knowledgeable?
2. Does the installer appear to be someone who hears what your needs and wants are?
3. Does the installer appear to have a genuine concern for your needs?
4. Can you communicate effectively with the installer?

After Your Installation:

• We will send you a customer satisfaction survey to help us learn about your experience.
• Your installation may be inspected to check for the standards of work carried out.
• Don’t forget to rate your installer on our website. Simply click on the Installer to get to their information page, where you can fill out the rating system at the bottom. See TerraTek as example.

(The material above has been adopted from:
"Solar Water Heating Systems: a Buyer’s Guide," published by Natural Resources Canada.)