When we decided to buy our solar panels from Sunetrics, they told us we should actually get a little less than we need because what we don't use would only go to HECO (Hawaiian Electric Company). They reassured us that we could always get more later if our needs should rise.
We bought 16 panels and sure enough discovered after a couple of years that it would have been nice to have 2 or more panels. We called and e-mailed Sunetrics and they didn't get back to us for a long time. When we finally talked to our original salesperson, he said that it's true they only did large orders now and weren't doing small add-ons. He said that when their business slows down, perhaps they would consider doing small orders.
Unh hunh...
Meanwhile I'm talking to quite a few people who have put 20 or more panels up on their roofs. I wish we had too.
We were considering having another company put up a few more panels, but our electrician friend said we could be causing a problem because it might negate any warranty we have with Sunetrics. If something were to go wrong they would say that the last company we used caused the problem.
Sheesh!
So now I'm thinking we should perhaps install a solar water heater. I see a lot of neighbors with solar panels for their water heaters on the roofs.
The only problem is that you need a gigantic water heater which we don't have room for and Art is worried about leakage which my parents had at their old house.
What to do? What to do?
We bought 16 panels and sure enough discovered after a couple of years that it would have been nice to have 2 or more panels. We called and e-mailed Sunetrics and they didn't get back to us for a long time. When we finally talked to our original salesperson, he said that it's true they only did large orders now and weren't doing small add-ons. He said that when their business slows down, perhaps they would consider doing small orders.
Unh hunh...
Meanwhile I'm talking to quite a few people who have put 20 or more panels up on their roofs. I wish we had too.
We were considering having another company put up a few more panels, but our electrician friend said we could be causing a problem because it might negate any warranty we have with Sunetrics. If something were to go wrong they would say that the last company we used caused the problem.
Sheesh!
So now I'm thinking we should perhaps install a solar water heater. I see a lot of neighbors with solar panels for their water heaters on the roofs.
The only problem is that you need a gigantic water heater which we don't have room for and Art is worried about leakage which my parents had at their old house.
What to do? What to do?
If you produced too much and it went to the power company, would they pay you for it? They do that in Florida.
ReplyDeleteWhen I was a child in Key West 60 years ago, we had solar hot water. Now days they are going back to that system.
For the months where you didn't produce enough electricity, you would have to pay the electric company for power. Then when you produce more than you need, you'd be issued a credit and be refunded any overage that you had paid. The rest goes to Hawaiian Electric and they don't pay you for that.
DeleteHere in Israel 99% of homes have a solar hot water heater. (You can see my pictures of them under label "solar water heater.") In fact, it is required by law. It saves tons of money.
ReplyDeleteDidn't Hawaii become the first state to require new homes to have them? As said in http://www.metaefficient.com/news/solar-water-heaters-now-mandatory-in-hawaii.html
Here the system is to have the water tank on the roof. How does it work there? I don't see any tank in your photo.
Art says that's true for new homes. Art's uncle put his water heater on the roof too. It does look a little odd. Everybody else just has to have a larger capacity water heater tank to hold the water someplace in or out of the house.
DeleteFlip a coin.
ReplyDeleteI'd probably go with the water heater even if it would be hard to find room for. We have never had problems with ours.
ReplyDeleteThat's probably the route we'll take eventually.
DeleteIt's a good thing we don't water heated by solar rays here in the Pacific Northwest. We would NEVER have a hot shower! :-)
ReplyDeleteDecisions, decisions. Your original guy wasn't much of a salesman, was he? Usually they try to sell more, not less.
ReplyDeleteI don't have an answer for you, but I think it is really bad business that the original company you bought the panels from won't come back and take care of your current needs.
ReplyDeletelife is always full of challenges. Maybe you need to tell sunetics that you would like to be able to recommend them to others but are disappointed in their customer service?
ReplyDeleteFrankly they're doing so well with bigger business that I don't think they care.
DeleteDon't you just hate that kind of lack of integrity in a business? It just seems like Sunetics could manage to fit in a small order for an jestablished customer. I would write to the comapny president or somehow go over that sales rep's head.
ReplyDeleteI wish my water heater was solar. It's natural gas and costs a pretty penny
ReplyDeleteAre you thinking you need more panels because of all your recent rains? I'd chat with the head of Sunetics too and see if they'll add panels. Makes me wonder if they'd fix anything under the warranty. Any way to get him to sign a waiver that additional panels from elsewhere won't void his warranty on the original panels? Wonder if the Better Business Bureau can help. Oooo, does a local TV station have one of those "problem solver" episodes where this could be featured? Good Luck, DrumMajor
ReplyDeleteWe've already talked to them. Someone else called them for an estimate and their prices had also gone up SUBSTANTIALLY. I think we will probably try to go with a solar water heater somehow if power prices go up.
DeleteSounds like your original company may not be there anyway if you should have problems in the future. It's such a pain to do business these days.
ReplyDeleteWe had a solar water heater installed last year for $5,000. Our heater is outside next to our laundry room. Call AFFORDABLE SOLAR and ask for Douglas White. 623-1115
ReplyDeleteIs that before or after the state and federal rebate?
DeleteHa ha. Gigi is so funny. I wonder if DW serves our area?
ReplyDeleteWhy do you need a large water heater, don't you have water saving devices installed on all your faucets? Dianne
You need larger storage for the hot water in the day time so that you can use it throughout the day and into the evening.
DeleteI would ask to speak to the sales manager. From our experience with Sunetrics, they do make exceptions to what a sales person may say. Especially since the sales person had already "promised" that additional panels could be added later "by their company".
ReplyDeleteIn 2011 (seems like a long time ago now), a Sunetrics sales person came to give an estimate but told us we couldn't charge the entire purchase on credit card. Their competitor not only beat their price estimate, but for a lower cost would install an additional panel and take credit card for the entire sale (tweaking miles and zero percent no fee balance transfer for a year). When Sunetrics manager heard about this, our sales person called back and offered to allow the sale on credit card.
After our first year, we "gave back" over $100 and earned about $50 credit that exactly zeroed out our annual usage so it is true that you can lose production with too many panels. I think Sunetrics gave that line because they are restricted to a set amount of panels based on your prior year's usage (my guess due to rebate guidelines). That's why they couldn't figure how their competitor could install an extra panel and beat their price. The Sunetrics sales gal said they are probably using cheaper quality panels. I doubt that because the company is just the installer and Sun Run owns the panels. The installer is under pressure to insure good production and profit for Sun Run over the next 20 years.
oops that was me, L...w
DeleteThinking about it further, I think it is not the number of panels that could be restricted by rebate guidelines, but the dollar amount, hence the sales gals' cheaper panel remark. I know it has something to do with prior year's electrical usage which they cannot deviate too much from. According to Revolusun's sales guy, he said he figured out how he could put an additional panel for us and get a larger rebate, hence the lower price for us. We went with the Sun Run plan, so paid net rebate.
It can be so darn confusing. I'm seeing a LOT of neighbors putting up solar panels now.
Deletehmmm...
ReplyDeleteThank you for your wish on International Women's Day:
ReplyDeleteI love your beautiful flower with raindrops glistening on it. I hope someday all women in every country can shine through even after been rained upon.
Definitely would go up the line with the company, at least to the sales manager. We recently had a similar unsatisfactory experience with an air conditioner supplier. I finally got to one of the owners of the local franchise, and things changed in our favor very quickly.
ReplyDeleteI even spoke to a Hawaiian Electric Company person once and he told us they'd heard that about Sunetrics too. Sunetrics actually is doing so well with corporate and state type projects that they don't need small jobs anymore.
DeleteGood old 20-20 hindsight strikes again!!! I wish I could save on my gas bills but my landlord doesn't care.
ReplyDeleteLike DJan, I have nothing to offer on the topic of solar heating. Although we did have some today. With the clear sky it got up to 55 degrees!
ReplyDeleteWe've been thinking about getting some solar panels. Many of our friends have them. Surprisingly we're told that there is enough sun in the UK to make it worth while!
ReplyDeleteI read all your back posts. I know about people taking your pictures on your blog – I have seen many of my pictures in various areas on the web, including someone selling kitchen faucets! Congratulations on all your walks – you are athletic. I thought your making only right turns while driving was funny – I had not seen the title “driving phobia” I thought you had turned super conservative…. I have to do all the driving now, because the doctors have forbidden my husband to drive because of his malady. Congratulations on five years of blogging and, my goodness, 1678 posts! I write about 50 posts a year – I’ll need to live well over 100 to catch up with you! I envy your having mango trees close by. We get many figs so I buy mangoes at the store and mixed them with the figs to make jam – it is delicious.
ReplyDeleteIn Georgia we get a lot of sun but I don’t see many solar panels on roofs. I think they are still quite expensive here. Have they helped your utility bill?
Wow! Thank you for reading all those posts! You are very kind and I am touched. Oh yes, the solar panels have really helped. We pay only about $300 a year for electricity now. It makes a huge difference.
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