FAQs

A: Yes you can borrow money from your bank or credit union or we offer a multitude of competitive and flexible finance programs. We can also assist you with our "in-house" finance program that gives you easy to obtain financing with competitive interest rates with a "1 year same as cash option!"

A: NO, Our specialty is "grid tied" systems where there is no storage of electricity therefore there is no need for batteries. Although "off-grid" or "hybrid" systems can be installed they arenot as economical as a grid tied system and often do not qualify for rebates and tax credits. With a grid tied system all of your day to day surplus power is simply sent back into the grid and you receive full credit for this surplus as long as you do not create a net surplus at the end of the monthly billing cycle.

A: Yes! The cost of batteries and the associated equipment often discourage the value minded shopper but we will be happy to price these options for you as well.

A: It's unlikely. All of our modules are UL tested which means they have passed a high impact test to simulate such things as severe hail. It takes extreme hail to actually break a quality solar pane. If you do encounter storm damage which includes broken solar panels it would be considered an insurance matter and not a warranty issue.

A: Not usually. The intention of a "grid tied" system is reduce your utility bill and not to create independence or make a profit. The rate of the "buy-back" of your surplus electricity will vary from one utility company to another however they are required to buy your over production of electricity back from you.

A: No, not with a "grid tied" system. Because there is no battery storage you will not have a place to draw power from and even if it's sunny out the system is designed to shut down automatically for safety reasons when the grid is down. The high cost of having power during a power outage typically outweighs the inconvenience of a temporary power outage. If this is a big concern for you we suggest you incorporate an emergency generator that will come on automatically when your power goes out. If you are interested in a backup generator please let us know, we can help you with that too.

A: We recommend once a year, typical rain and wind should keep them clean enough for good operation. If you notice they are unusually dirty then you can certainly spend the effort to clean them. Dirty panels or "soiling" is considered to reduce your systems output by only 3%-5%. Panels that are installed flat or with very little tilt will have more of a tendency to retain dirt or debris and may require periodic cleaning.

A: YES, any panel we carry is going to have a warranty on workmanship which is likely going to be 5 years. In addition all of the panels we carry will have what is called a "linear power warranty" which means they will warranty the long term performance of their module. Most solar module manufacturers will warranty the output of their panels at 90% for 10 years and 80% for 25 years.

A: YES, typically 10 to 15 years depending on the brand. Some inverters will offer an extended warranty at an additional cost but aside from industry standard warranties we only sell excellent quality inverters with reputations to back up what they have put in writing.

A: Yes, Advanced Solar and Electric llc warranties all their work for 5 years! We are very much attached to our clients and desire to monitor the physical state and output performance of your solar system so that we can continue to be the best solar contractor in the area.

A: Yes, although commercial insurance is a lot like auto insurance and there are good companies and not so good companies out there. Advanced Solar only works with premium insurance companies for their superior coverage and service so know that you are covered and we take matters of safety and your property very serious. In addition, Advanced Solar also carries a workman's comp policy which is not required by law in some state and therefore not carried by many contractors in Texas.

A: Yes, the utility cost is factored with a 3.5%-4% annual inflation rate which is historically normal to low. It is anticipated that we will see accelerated increases with all of the anticipated increases in fuel prices.

A:With the popularity of Solar Energy rapidly growing over the past few decades the technology, manufacturing and applications have dramatically improved. Most solar panels have a warranty that states they will produce at least 80% of their original power for 25 years. In addition the inverters will be warranted for 10-15 years depending on the brand. It is reasonable to assume that with minimal maintenance and possibly an inverter replacement along the way your system can still be viable 30 years from now or even longer.

A: With the popularity of Solar Energy rapidly growing over the past few decades the technology, manufacturing and applications have dramatically improved. Most solar panels have a warranty that states they will produce at least 80% of their original power for 25 years. In addition the inverters will be warranted for 10-15 years depending on the brand. It is reasonable to assume that with minimal maintenance and possibly an inverter replacement along the way your system can still be viable 30 years from now or even longer.

A: YES! Unlike our competition we do have a "power generation guaranty". Ask your sales rep for more information but this should be a critical component when considering who you buy your solar energy equipment from. We offer this guaranty because we know that you should be buying energy and not equipment, sadly this is not the case with most of our competitors and frankly we frequently see systems that will never produce what they should due to poor installation or design. We guaranty that the forecasted production data that we put on your application will be within 10% of the actual production of your equipment for the 1st three years of operation.

A:An Average residential installation may only take 2-3 days but the total time from start to finish may be between 6-8 weeks or more if there are circumstances beyond our control that may have caused a backlog. The typical process goes as follows:

A: General speaking not very often. We never sub work out because we simply can't keep up or want to avoid the responsibility of having the employees. In the exceptions where we do use sub-contractors it is because we a history with a particular team or individual that we know will delivery to the high standards that we expect. These individuals are sub-contractors by choice because it is a better arrangement for them and not because we don't want to have them on the team of employees. The large majority of our workforce is made up of W-2 employees.

This is another great reason to choose Advanced Solar as your contractor. Many companies sub out as much as they can including their licensing to outside electricians and NABCEP certified solar installers. We do not, all of the key people and license holders are dedicated to and exclusive to Advanced Solar and your projects!

As you can see there are several steps along the way to complete the project. Solar energy is serious business because you are generating electricity and regularly supplying electricity to the "grid" to help supplement the local needs for power. Many codes, regulations, policies and laws are applicable to this project so it's not as simple as a typical home improvement project. Also keep in mind that this equipment is designed to perform for several decades to come so solar installations should not be rushed.

The local utility companies do an exemplary job of processing these projects as soon as possible. Not only do we have some of the lowest rates in the nation but we live in communities where the city and utility provider share common goals to proficiently develop things like the solar energy program.

We know that a solar energy purchase is a big decision, we believe then when you do make the investment you will be glad you did. We want to be there every step of the way to make it as simple and comfortable as possible. Please don't hesitate to call, email or contact us through the web site for a free consultation or to ask any questions you may have.

Sincerely,
Don Dickey, Advanced Solar and Electric LLC
210-556-1399, don@advancedsolar.com
TECL #23728