Find Frequently Asked Questions about solar panel installation, benefits, costs, durability and more below.
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Why Go Solar?
It depends on if your utility offers such a program – this is something our energy consultants can research for you.
At a very high level, we can tell you that most of our customers tend to finance their investment and can do so with no money out of pocket and a payment that is often below their energy savings from day one. Our cash customers typically see a payback in 5-12 years, and an IRR that exceeds what the general stock market has historically returned over the last 70 years.
This depends on your utility company, local jurisdictions, your existing electrical service, and the type of panels you choose. Our energy consultants will create a custom proposal for you that includes system size, design, costs, benefits, financing options, and the available federal, state and local incentives such as tax credits and rebates. We will walk you through the proposal during your appointment, which will take place at your home, at our solar design center, or virtually over the phone and online.
They do not. Off-grid or battery backup solutions are available and your energy consultant will be happy to go over those with you.
Standing seam metal is probably the best roof material, but we frequently work with composition shingle and have a lot of experience with clay tile.
The only non-penetrating roof application is on a standing seam metal roof. On all others we use a very reliable roof flashing made especially for solar mounting systems.
In some cases, yes it does. This is simply based on what your available roof surfaces are.
Solar panels are most productive when South facing given our location North of the equator. However, anything from due East to just past due West is a productive solar window.
A solar panel efficiency rating gives you a measure of how much sunlight a solar panel can convert into electricity. Efficiency for different manufacturers and types of panels range from about 12% to over 20%. SunPower is recognized as making the highest efficiency solar panels in the industry, producing 44% more power per panel, and 75% more energy per square foot over 25 years.
Capturing sunlight and converting it to electricity is a clean, pollution-free, efficient, and affordable way to power your home or business. It can increase your home value and lower your electric bills. Best of all, going solar is more affordable than ever with tax credits, solar rebates, net metering programs, and flexible financing options.
Why Choose Freedom Solar?
Texas ownership, superior products, best warranty, outstanding customer service, and the most experience. But don’t take it from us – see what our customers have to say. We’re proud to be rated the #1 solar contractor in Texas.
There are a lot of options out there, and we have done a careful job to curate our solar panel offering. Our primary panel partner is SunPower, a US-based company with the most efficient solar panel in the world.
25 years bumper to bumper coverage includes power production, product coverage, and service/labor. If any issues, which are rare, arise with your array, Freedom Solar replaces the product on behalf of the manufacturer. Our Complete Freedom Warranty differentiates Freedom Solar from other companies. Additionally, Freedom Solar provides a lifetime transferable warranty on the solar panel installation.
SunPower solar panels convert more sunlight to electricity, producing 44% more power per panel, and 75% more energy per square foot over 25 years. They are the most efficient panels in the industry, and SunPower provides a 25-year complete coverage warranty on all their products.
Freedom Solar is locally owned and operated, founded in 2007 by brothers-in-law who were born and raised in Austin, Texas. After growing throughout the state of Texas, we expanded to Colorado, Florida, North Carolina and Virginia. We are a leading solar panel installer the largest SunPower residential dealer in the United States. We have completed projects for commercial clients including Whole Foods, the University of Texas, and The United States Air Force, along with thousands of residential solar panel projects. We take pride in providing quality parts and service throughout the turn-key installation process and most importantly, servicing your solar array after the installation is complete. We believe in going above and beyond to exceed the customer’s expectations and give the best possible customer service.
Solar Installations
The installation itself typically takes 1-3 days, but there are various steps and different parties involved that go into powering your home with solar. Rest assured, we work to make the process go as fast as possible. On average, customers can expect it to take a total of 3-6 months from signing the contract to the system powering their home. This timeline is typical for the solar industry due to increased demand for home solar. Along with a site assessment of your home to get a custom design, there are additional permitting and approval steps with the city and utility. Click here to learn more about the installation timeline.
Depending on the steps required by your utility and local jurisdiction, a site inspection may be required. After those bureaucratic hurdles are complete, we will provide instructions about how to energize your system.
The final step of the process is the Launch Meeting, which will be scheduled with our operations team. At your closeout meeting you’ll receive a final packet of materials for your installation. This packet contains your system’s design packet, product and warranty information, and service contacts.
Our team will be in touch with you about the remaining steps to get your system on. These steps vary depending on your utility and local jurisdiction. Upon passage of any necessary inspections we will provide instructions about how to energize your system. After the system is energized, you will be given access to your monitoring portal.
We can arrange for our crew lead to meet with you on site on the first day of the installation to go over proposed conduit runs and equipment locations.
Please ensure that your pets are secured for the duration of the work anytime our employees are onsite. If we arrive at your house and see that there is an unsecured animal in the work area, we will knock on the door and ask you to put your animal away. If you are not home and the pet is loose in the work area, we will attempt to contact you but will not enter. If we cannot complete our scheduled work due to a loose pet, you may be charged a $250.00 trip fee. Please respect this company policy to help us keep your pets and our employees safe!
We will let you know the estimated arrival time of the crew for your installation. If there are any locked gates that would restrict access to areas we need to work, we ask that these be left unlocked (if possible) if you will not be home. If there are any gate codes (to access your community, for instance) please share those with us before the installation start date.
If there is any conduit to be run inside your attic or garage, or other location where the conduit will be run. Likewise, if any equipment (such as the solar inverter(s) or a battery backup) are to be mounted inside (such as a garage), we will need access to that space. Otherwise, you are not required to be present during the installation.
For Customers
Your utility’s billing period may not start on the first day of the month, so be careful when looking at monthly production or consumption to ensure that you’re comparing the same time period.
The measurements from your monitoring device may not record the exact same totals as the utility meter, as the devices use different methodologies to measure the current. It is normal for there to be a difference within a range of +2.5% to -2.5%, and the meter collects the more accurate reading.
Another important difference for both production and consumption is that the utility can only measure what passes through its meter. The utility will only credit you for excess generation that passes through its meter back to the grid.
Similarly, your utility will only report on energy delivered through its meter to your home. The utility will debit you for the energy you consume from the grid when your energy needs exceed your solar generation (or at night). If you have consumption monitoring installed, your consumption data will be higher than what the utility reports because your solar monitor is reporting all your consumption whether it came from the grid or from your solar array.
If the values are wildly different from each other and cannot be explained by the scenarios above, you may be experiencing one of the following issues:
- Incorrect configuration of the solar monitor
- Solar monitor calibration issue
- Utility meter calibration issue
If you have questions or are concerned about your monitoring, please contact our Service Department.
Our dedicated, in-house service department is here to keep your system running smoothly and to make your life easier. All of our Service Technicians are full-time, background-checked, fully insured employees – we do not use sub-contractors or temps. Contact us online or call 512-220-8219.
We will help you maximize the resale value that solar panels add to your home. Our certified solar appraisal documents with all the details buyers need on your system, performance, and warranty, which is fully transferable to the buyer. We can also consult with your realtor to help them explain the value of your solar installation.
Listen to our podcast with Marc Richmond of Texas Green Realty to learn more about appraising your solar system and how to maximize resale value.
We can de-install and re-install solar PV systems regardless of make, model, or previous install company. Our team of 100% full-time Freedom Solar employees will coordinate with your contractor. We offer free system diagnostic inspection during service and will return your system to equal or better performance. Contact us before work begins.
Customer Portal FAQs
Project Kickoff
The typical timeline for a solar panel installation project from contract signing to final permission to operate (PTO) is 3-4 months. This includes the time for contract signing, permitting, equipment delivery, installation, inspection and approval, and final PTO. Timelines can vary, and we’ll keep you updated on each stage of your journey in your project tracker.
If you have any questions, please contact our Customer Care team at:
email, number, hours
Our knowledgeable team is available to answer any questions you may have about your solar panel installation or ongoing system installation and operation. Please don’t hesitate to reach out!
You will be continuously updated on the progress of your solar installation through your project tracker, as well as via email or phone calls.
The Project Tracker provides real-time updates at each stage of the process so you can monitor the status of your installation. It will automatically update as our team completes each milestone from permitting to inspection to final PTO.
They can also answer any questions you have along the way, so don’t hesitate to reach out at <email> or <#> <working days, times>.
Typically, the only paperwork we require from you is your signed contract and a copy of your recent electricity bill showing your last 12 months of electricity bills, or as many as you have available if less than 12. This allows us to analyze your historical energy usage and properly size your solar system.
We may need additional documents based on your specific project, like a plat survey for ground mount systems. Our Customer Care team will let you know if there are any additional documents needed before we can begin designing your array.
We may need additional documents based on your specific project, like a plat survey for ground mount systems. Our Customer Care team will let you know if there’s any additional information needed from you before we can begin designing your system.
Site Assessment
For the site assessment, we only need access to the areas of your property that are relevant for the solar panel installation. This may include:
- Roof – We’ll need to access the roof sections where we plan to mount the solar panel system. This allows us to inspect the roof condition and take precise measurements. If there are multiple roof planes, we’ll need access to each area.
- Electrical panel – We’ll need to access your main electrical panel to evaluate your current setup and plan for interconnecting the solar system.
- Drone flight path – Our drone needs a small amount of airspace above the installation areas for assessment. We ensure the drone stays directly over your property.
- Solar site – If designing a ground mount solar system, we’d need access to the planned installation site to analyze sunlight, terrain, etc.
- Attic – We may need brief access to your attic in order to take photos of the rafters/trusses to complete a structural analysis. Our site assessor will let you know if attic access is required for your specific project.
When we come out to inspect your home, we’ll check if your electrical system needs any upgrades to handle the extra power from solar panels. We’ll also get up on the roof to evaluate its condition and ensure it will last through the panel lifetime. We’ll measure the roof space to design an optimal solar layout, and use a drone with specialized software to get accurate data. We’ll check for any nearby trees or buildings that could cause shading and reduce your solar production.
After the inspection, we’ll explain anything we found that could affect your solar system. We’ll update your production estimate based on the specifics of your home, and ensure you feel confident in your decision to join the solar revolution.
Yes, you are required to be home for the site assessment so you can grant us access to certain areas of your home. For example:
- We need access to your attic in order to take photos of the structural framing.
- We need to take pictures of any interior electrical subpanels.
- If mounting any equipment like Powerwalls in your garage, we need photos inside the garage space to plan the layout.
We appreciate you taking the time to be present for the site assessment. This allows for a smoother appointment and more comprehensive property analysis, so we help you be more powerful.
If you haven’t received the email with your solar site assessment time, here are some tips:
- Check your spam or junk mail folder. Sometimes appointment emails can get filtered there by accident.
- Reach out to our scheduling team at scheduling@freedmsolarpower.com. They can look up your appointment details and resend the confirmation.
- Call our customer care line at #. Our team can assist with getting your assessment time scheduled and confirmed.
To confirm the appointment, simply respond directly to the email you receive or give our Customer Care team a call at #.
If you need to reschedule the assessment for any reason, let us know at least 24 hours in advance. You can email scheduling@freedomsolarpower.com or call # to move your appointment to a more convenient time.