Going solar is one of the smartest decisions you can make for your home and your wallet. But choosing the right installer? That’s where things can get tricky.
Ireland’s solar industry has grown fast over the past few years and with that growth has come a mix of companies. Some with decades of experience, and others that popped up last Tuesday. The difference between a great installation and a nightmare often comes down to asking the right questions before you commit.
Here are five questions every homeowner should ask any solar installer. And because we believe in practising what we preach, we’ve shared exactly how Green Electric would answer each one.
1. “Are you SEAI registered, and will you handle my grant application?”
This should be your very first question, and the answer should be immediate and confident. If there’s any hesitation, that’s your cue to walk away.
To qualify for the SEAI solar PV grant of up to €1,800, your installer must be registered on the SEAI’s official list of Renewable Energy Installers. Without that registration, you won’t see a cent of your grant no matter how good the panels are.
But registration is really just the starting line. What you want to know is whether the installer will actually guide you through the grant paperwork, or leave you to figure it out on your own.
How we’d answer this: Green Electric has been an SEAI registered installer for almost 20 years. We’ve helped more than 3,000 homeowners process their grant applications successfully. Our team handles the paperwork from start to finish and we don’t hand you a form and wish you luck. If you’ve got questions about the grant process, that’s what we’re here for.
2. “What qualifications do your installers have and do you use subcontractors?”
This is a big one, and it’s the question that makes less reputable companies squirm.
Solar panel installation involves working on your roof and connecting to your home’s electrical system. You want to know that the people doing this work are qualified electricians with specific solar PV training and not general labourers learning on the job.
You should also ask whether the company uses its own team or subcontracts the work out. Subcontracting isn’t automatically a red flag, but it does mean less direct control over quality and accountability. If something goes wrong six months down the line, you want to know exactly who’s responsible.
How we’d answer this: We have over 40 fully trained engineers, technicians, and support staff and all part of the Green Electric team. Our installers are Safe Electric registered and hold the relevant qualifications for solar PV installation. We don’t outsource your installation to a crew we’ve never met. The people on your roof are our people, and we stand behind their work.
3. “Can I see examples of previous installations and real customer reviews?”
Any installer worth their salt should be happy to show you their track record. Photos of completed jobs, Google reviews, testimonials because these all tell a story about the quality of work you can expect.
If a company can’t point to a portfolio of real installations or has barely any online reviews, ask yourself why. A business that’s been around for years and does good work will have a trail of evidence to prove it.
How we’d answer this: Absolutely. We’ve completed thousands of installations across Dublin, Meath, Westmeath, Wicklow, and beyond. You can find photos of our work on our website and social media pages, and our Google reviews speak for themselves. With almost 20 years in the business and more than 35,000 installations behind us, we’ve built a reputation we’re proud of and one you can verify for yourself in about 30 seconds.
4. “Will my roof actually support solar panels?”
This is one of the most common concerns homeowners have, and it’s a perfectly reasonable one. Solar panels add weight to your roof, and not every roof is in the same condition. If your home is older, if you’ve noticed missing slates, sagging, or damp in the attic, you’ll want to know whether your roof is up to the job before anyone starts drilling into it.
The honest answer is that most Irish roofs can support solar panels without any issue. A standard solar panel weighs around 20kg, and modern mounting systems are designed to distribute that weight evenly. But “most” isn’t “all,” and the only way to know for certain is to have someone qualified take a proper look.
Be wary of any installer who’s happy to book you in for installation based on a phone call or a quick look at Google Maps. A serious company will want to inspect your roof in person to check its age, condition, orientation, pitch, and any shading from nearby trees or buildings. That survey is where you get real answers, not guesswork.
How we’d answer this: This is exactly why we offer a free, no-obligation home survey before anything else happens. One of our team will visit your property, assess your roof’s condition and suitability, check for shading, and advise you on the best system size and panel placement for your home. If there’s an issue with your roof, we’ll tell you straight. We’d rather be upfront than install a system that won’t perform as it should. The survey costs you nothing and there’s zero pressure to go ahead.
5. “What after-sales support do you offer, and what happens if something goes wrong?”
Solar panels are built to last 25 years or more, but that doesn’t mean you should be left without a lifeline once the installation van drives away. Equipment can develop faults, inverters can fail, and you might simply have questions about how to get the most out of your system.
Ask your installer: What warranty do you provide on the workmanship? What about the product warranty on the panels and inverter? Is there a phone number you can call if something isn’t right?
How we’d answer this: We’ve been in business for almost 20 years, and we’re not going anywhere. Green Electric provides a full workmanship warranty on every installation, backed by a 10-year manufacturer’s warranty on your solar panels and inverter. If something isn’t working as it should, you can contact us directly. We don’t disappear after installation day. Your relationship with us is just getting started.
Conclusion
Choosing a solar installer is a decision that affects your home, your energy bills, and your peace of mind for decades to come. The right company will welcome these questions. They’ll answer openly, back up their claims with evidence, and never pressure you into signing on the spot.
If an installer can’t or won’t give you straight answers to the five questions above, that tells you everything you need to know.
We’d love the chance to answer these questions for you in person. Book a FREE, No-obligation Survey with Green Electric today and see why over 3,000 Irish homeowners have trusted us with their solar installation.
