In the pursuit of sustainable energy solutions, an increasing number of homeowners have turned to solar panel installations as a means to reduce their carbon footprint and lower their utility bills. However, beneath the promise of clean, renewable energy lies a darker side of the solar industry, one riddled with tales of misfortune and deception.
From encounters with relentless door-to-door salesmen pushing questionable contracts to tales of shadowy dealings and unethical practices during the sales and financing process, the solar installation industry has, for some, transformed into a realm of uncertainty. Mishaps and oversights during the installation, ranging from shoddy workmanship to outright incompetence, have left homeowners grappling with unforeseen challenges. Perhaps even more unsettling are the stories of post-installation ghosting, where customers find themselves abandoned and unsupported once their solar panels are in place.
In this article, we delve into several solar horror stories that have unfolded in the lives of unsuspecting homeowners. We shed light on the shadows lurking beneath the way some solar companies operate, and illustrate how Green Ridge Solar was able to assist those left abandoned by their original solar company.
Note: Names have been changed, but their stories are unfortunately real.
In This Article:
- Karla’s House Could Have Burned to the Ground!
- Chuck’s Inverter & Battery Nearly Melted!
- Leonard’s Solar Company Failed & Ghosted Him!
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KARLA’S HOUSE COULD HAVE BURNED TO THE GROUND!
Karla was excited when her new solar panels were installed and ready to go! She was eager to flip the switch and start seeing her solar savings add up. Unfortunately, her excitement soon turned to dread as issues began to pop up with her solar panel system.
Karla installed solar panels with the solar company Freedom Forever, and soon after the installation was complete, issues began to appear. Her solar panels were not producing power and the communication systems were nonfunctional. She could not see her solar panel production on the app, and her energy bills were still high.
When Karla tried to call Freedom Forever, she was met with silence. The solar company would not return her phone calls or emails. This is a solar homeowner’s worst nightmare: having a faulty solar panel system and no one to help fix the problem!
Thankfully, Karla called Green Ridge Solar. With a dedicated solar service department, Green Ridge Solar is ready to solve issues with solar panels, inverters, battery backup, and more. And we don’t just service our own installs. We also service solar panel and battery backup systems installed by other companies.
Our electrician Pat quickly drove to Karla’s home and got to work. What he found was not only scary, but also dangerous. The solar panel system was not installed properly and had the potential to cause harm. There were numerous electrical code violations, including wiring that was too small to handle the electricity. These issues could have escalated quickly and put Karla and her home at risk of fire.
We informed Karla about all our concerns and provided solutions to her problems. Karla was grateful for Green Ridge’s assistance, saying “I appreciate everything you and Pat have done to help us. I fear we will get no where with Freedom Forever, and at this point I don’t trust them to correct the work they have done… I am glad I have found your company and you seem to have good responsible people working for you.”
“I appreciate everything you and Pat have done to help us. I fear we will get no where with Freedom Forever, and at this point I don’t trust them to correct the work they have done… I am glad I have found your company and you seem to have good responsible people working for you.”
– Karla, solar homeowner
Unfortunately, Karla’s issue doesn’t seem uncommon with Freedom Forever. Freedom Forever has a 1.8-star rating out of 5 stars on the Better Business Bureau (BBB) website with 485 total reviews.
As stated on the BBB website, “[Freedom Forever] customer complaints allege that the solar panels are not fully installed or are installed and not working…They are having battery and inverter problems and a delay in getting replacements or getting the issue fixed while continuing to make the monthly payments for a non-working system.”
Karla’s solar horror story is concerning, but not totally uncommon. It’s always best to research a solar company thoroughly to ensure they can get the job done right. And even more importantly, it’s vital the solar company will service any issues that arise.
Green Ridge Solar sees these situations all to often, and we are here to help. Our dedicated solar service department can help with a wide range of issues related to solar panel, inverter, battery backup, and more.
Want to see how much you could save with solar? Use our nifty Solar Calculator! In just 30 seconds, you can see your estimated savings and get a 3D rendering of solar panels on your roof.
CHUCK’S INVERTER & BATTERY NEARLY MELTED!
Chuck called us with major concerns about his solar inverter and battery backup. Both systems weren’t working properly, and the whole system seemed screwed up.
Chuck originally worked with another solar company, but he was not getting the post-install service he deserved. So our master electrician Pat went out to take a look. What he found was concerning.
It turns out the original solar company (or their subcontractor) wired the inverter and battery incorrectly. This resulted in the inverter burning up and the battery shorting out! Both of these situations could have caused major damage and hazards for Chuck and his home!
What’s worse, the solar company he originally worked with didn’t even try to help replace the inverter and battery. They were notified of the concerning and potentially dangerous situation, but they did not try to fix it.
Thankfully, we were able to help fix Chuck’s burnt-up inverter and provide a new replacement battery. And this time, we ensured it was wired correctly! Now Chuck can sleep well knowing his battery backup system is safe and ready to protect him in case of power outages.
Are you having trouble with your solar company? Are they not answering their phone or emails? Are they giving you the runaround? Call Green Ridge Solar today.
Our solar and electrical experts have a wide range of experience. We have worked with a variety of equipment, brands, and have solved all kinds of situations.
LEONARD’S SOLAR COMPANY FAILED & GHOSTED HIM
Leonard’s solar installation didn’t make it past inspection! TWICE!
Leonard had Freedom Forever Solar install his system, or at least attempt to. If you read Karla’s story above, you know where this is going…
After Leonard’s solar was installed, the inspector failed it because the solar inverter was too close to the meter. For electrical code and safety reasons, the solar inverter needs to be a certain distance from the meter.
How did Freedom Forever address the issue? They moved the inverter 2 feet from the floor… This is not only a ridiculous and inconvenient place to put an inverter, it is also not safe either!
Again, the inverter failed inspection. But Leonard’s multiple attempts to contact the company and get the issue fixed went unanswered. Freedom Forever was ghosting Leonard.
Desperate, Leonard contacted Green Ridge Solar. We provided him with support and details about how to get Freedom Forever to resolve the issue. We set him up with net metering and are working with him to ensure the situation is resolved. If his original solar company won’t be there for him, we will help however we can!
Unfortunately, solar companies ghosting their customers is not an uncommon occurrence. Too many solar companies don’t have the knowledge, experience, or ethics to install quality work and to stand behind their product and workmanship. Thankfully, Green Ridge Solar is a solar company you can trust.
Our solar experts are here to help. We have the knowledge, experience, and ethics to stand behind our work and to install top-quality solar panels, battery backup, EV chargers, and to provide solar service you deserve.
Want to see how much you could save with solar? Use our nifty Solar Calculator! In just 30 seconds, you can see your estimated savings and get a 3D rendering of solar panels on your roof.
DON’T LET SOLAR HORROR STORIES SCARE YOU
Installing solar panels can be intimidating and scary at times. That’s especially true once you hear solar horror stories like those above. But don’t let those solar horror stories scare you away from installing solar panels.
Remember, there are many local, reliable, and trusted solar companies out there. It takes a bit of research and asking around, but it is well worth the effort. Many households and businesses can save a lot of money with solar, they just need the confidence and resources to make the right choice.
If you need help researching what solar company you should choose, check out the Top 6 Questions to Ask your Solar Consultant. It provides a guide to help determine which solar company is shady and which is trustworthy.
To learn more about solar and how much you could save with solar, contact Green Ridge Solar today.
Also, try out our Solar Calculator to estimate how much you could save with solar panels.
Estimate your total savings, payments, and total energy usage with our FREE solar calculator.
