Solar FAQ

Solar sales is a high-pressure industry, and a lot of what homeowners are told is either out of date or shaded in the seller's favor. The answers below stick to what can be sourced. Where the answer is genuinely local — permits, HOA rules, net metering, state incentives — we tell you where to look rather than guessing.

If you only do one thing before your first sales appointment, read the US Department of Energy's homeowner guidance. It is free, neutral, and will make you a much harder person to oversell.

How to choose

Verify anything a salesperson tells you about tax credits

Check the IRS guidance directly. Claims of a 30% federal credit on a purchased 2026 install are incorrect.

Ask for everything in writing

System size, $/W, equipment model numbers, all three warranties, and the full financing terms.

Never sign at the kitchen table

Same-day discounts are a sales technique. A genuine price is still there in a week.

Use a neutral source for incentives

DSIRE lists state, local and utility programs by zip code without trying to sell you anything.