Get the most out of your solar panels by choosing a top-rated solar installer that will do the job right. We reviewed Irvine, CA solar companies on the EnergySage Marketplace to help you find the best one to install your system.
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The data on this page comes from real solar quotes to real solar shoppers on the EnergySage Marketplace. We give you access to transparent information so you can confidently make informed energy decisions. Learn more about how our Marketplace works and how we make money.
Any major home improvement project requires a skilled contractor. Solar's no different. In fact, choosing a high-quality solar installer is crucial to getting a system that actually performs well and saves you money.
But Irvine, CA has 16 solar companies available on the EnergySage Marketplace alone––so how do you choose the best one?
Ranking solar companies is our bread and butter. We screen every solar company before allowing them to join our platform to ensure they'll deliver top-notch installations. With that in mind, here's our ranking of the top five solar companies in Irvine, CA based on ratings, reviews, and more.
The best Irvine, CA solar companies in 2024
Elite+ InstallerScreened & Verified5.0 /5.047 Reviews
Elite+ InstallerScreened & Verified5.0 /5.0800 Reviews
Elite+ InstallerScreened & Verified5.0 /5.0695 Reviews
Elite+ InstallerScreened & Verified5.0 /5.094 Reviews
Elite+ InstallerScreened & Verified5.0 /5.0339 Reviews
How we rank solar companies
Our Marketplace has provided hundreds of thousands of quotes to homeowners from solar installers across the country—so we have the data to help you find the best one for you in Irvine, CA.
Based on this information, we created a tiered ranking system to evaluate solar companies. It focuses on three key areas:
Results, based on success with real customers–from quotes to installation.
Reputation, based on ratings and reviews.
Responsiveness, based on how quickly they respond to questions and requests.
The ranking system includes four tiers of installers: Approved, Advanced, Elite, and Elite+. If a solar company doesn't meet the Approved criteria, they aren't allowed to join our Marketplace.
Elite+ installers are the most experienced, chosen, and celebrated companies on the Marketplace, having provided exceptional service to a high volume of shoppers for at least a year.
Elite installers earn top ratings from customers, endorsements from vendors, and win customers more frequently than their peers.
Advanced installers are among the top half of companies on the Marketplace for responsiveness, reputation, results.
Approved installers passed our rigorous screening criteria for experience, licensing, and positive reviews.
We also recognize installers annually for standout customer service through the EnergySage Installer of the Year awards.
How to pick the best solar installer
There are plenty of reputable solar installers out there. How can you distinguish the best from the rest? We consider the following questions before allowing installers to join the EnergySage Marketplace.
Do they quote high-quality equipment?
High-quality installers care about their reputation. They want to install equipment that performs well and will last a long time. If you get quotes with equipment that you can't find much information about, that's a red flag.
To get a sense of whether the equipment is trustworthy, first make sure it's included in EnergySage's solar panel, inverter, or battery equipment guide–and then see how we rate it relative to other equipment.
You can also check to see if the installer has any manufacturer endorsements, which attest to their expertise installing that brand's products. Most manufacturers require installers to go through a vetting process to ensure they're appropriately licensed and qualified before handing them an endorsement. The endorsements often come with perks that are passed onto customers, like preferred pricing or extended warranties.
How does their warranty compare to other installers?
In the unlikely event there’s an issue with your solar panel system, it’s important to know who to call. Multiple warranties come with your solar panel system, including manufacturer warranties for the various equipment and your installer's workmanship warranty.
The workmanship warranty covers all the labor your installer performs. It's typically somewhere between one and 10 years. But make sure to read the fine print because sometimes there are exclusions: You don't want to be stuck with a hefty bill if your installer needs to come out to check on or replace some equipment.
How many years of experience do they have?
Solar is a growing industry that attracts contractors from many backgrounds—sometimes only loosely related to solar. But to feel confident in your solar panels, you'll want to work with an installer that has plenty of experience in custom designing systems.
At EnergySage, we verify that all installers have at least two to three years of legitimate experience designing and installing solar panel systems before we let them join our Marketplace. We also confirm they have multiple successful installations under their belt.
Are they licensed, insured, and certified?
Having the proper licenses and insurance policies is the bare minimum requirement for solar installers. But different states require different policies for solar installers. Sometimes even local jurisdictions have their own requirements. It can be difficult to keep track on your own, which is why we ensure our installers meet all qualifications in the areas they serve.
Certifications aren't necessarily required, but are a great way to weed out lower quality installers. The North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP) offers an industry-leading certification program, while the PV Installation Professional (PVIP) Board Certification is the gold standard for solar installers.
Certification isn't a firm requirement for EnergySage installers, but it's highly recommended. If the installer started working in the solar industry before NABCEP was formed in 2002 and has a long (and positive) track record, we may still allow them to join our Marketplace.
Do they use subcontractors?
Some solar companies rely on subcontractors to perform some–or all–the work during your solar installation. Don’t let this put you off: It’s entirely standard procedure in the industry.
What is alarming, though, is a lack of transparency from installers about who will install your system and why they use subcontractors.
When you’ve narrowed down your list of potential solar installers, be sure to ask who will install the system: their own crew, or subcontractors. If they use subs, ask why, what portion of the install the subcontractors will complete, and what oversight the company you purchase your system from has over the subcontractors.
At the end of the day, the most important question is who will stand behind the quality of your installation.
Do they have good user reviews?
The fastest way to evaluate an installer's reputation is to look through reviews from actual customers. How many five-star ratings do they have? Are there complaints about responsiveness? EnergySage, Google, Reviews.io, Reddit, and Yelp can all be good places to look for reviews.
Just keep in mind that reviews don't always paint the complete picture. They often focus on extreme ends of the customer experience, whether that's good or bad.
Check out some user reviews from verified EnergySage customers:
How much does solar cost in Irvine, CA?
Based on the latest data from the EnergySage Marketplace, the average Irvine, CA homeowner needs a 7.64 kW solar panel system to cover their electric bills. That'll set you back about $17,850 before incentives.
Need a bigger (or smaller) system to offset your electricity use? The average price per watt of solar power in Irvine, CA is $2.34/W.
These prices are before incentives. After the federal solar tax credit, the final cost will drop by 30%, down to $12,495 for a 7.64 kW system. Many states even offer local rebates and incentives that lower the price further––sometimes by thousands of dollars.
While solar is expensive, it often pays off. The average Irvine, CA homeowner will save $86,975 over 25 years (the warranty term of most solar panels) on electric bills by going solar. The best part is that your system will pay for itself in an average of just 5.87 years. Then, you'll produce free electricity for years to come.
To learn about Irvine, CA solar incentives or get a customized savings estimate using our Solar Calculator, check out our solar resources for Irvine, CA homeowners:
