Sunpower hooked on solar. Professionalism. Score: 5 out of 5

SunPower Texas Solar Panels — 3 Month Review

Below, I’ll review our SunPower solar panels that we have on our roof here in Texas, 3 months since they were first installed on Twosday. I’ll review the overall process time, quality of installation, financing, the app, and other factors. For each factor, I’ll give SunPower a score from 0 to 5, with 0 being the worst and 5 being best for each factor. Overall, I gave SunPower a score of 41.5 out of 45. There are a few areas where it can improve, which is true for all of us. My overall recommendation: I highly recommend the panels and the company.

Note: Ukraine is getting pounded into oblivion by Russian aggression. Anything we can do to reduce funding for that murderous regime is in the world’s best interest. Solar panels are great to avoid burning coal and natural gas, saving tons of CO2 every year and greatly reducing your annual electricity costs. I own nominal amounts of shares in Ford, SunPower, Sunrun, and Tesla.

Average Lead Time — 5 months. Score: 3 out 5

This was the lowest scoring area for SunPower. Because of some unforced errors, our average lead time (the time from starting the process to the end) took 5 months. The major factor here was homeowner association (HOA) approval, which took 3 months, from October to January. I gave SunPower the Power of Attorney to negotiate and submit the necessary documentation for our solar panels on our behalf. The first time they submitted the documents wrong and incompletely. By the time they figured out what was wrong with HOA guidance, two months had passed. If you are looking for solar panels and have an HOA, get the necessary documents the HOA requires and submit them yourself. Our Architectural Review Committee meets once a month. If something is wrong, we have to wait another month. Texas efficiency at its finest (sarcasm). Not everyone will be as patient as I was to get solar panels. A community neighbor got panels installed on their roof in 2 months, start to finish, by using Tesla.

Once we had HOA approval in hand, SunPower was able to schedule panel installation within 3 to 4 weeks. This seems reasonable, and it’s why I gave SunPower 5 out of 5.

Panel Installation Time — 3 hours. Score: 5 out of 5

22 solar panels were installed on my south-facing roof within 3 hours. This includes running the cabling through the attic, down my gutter, and next to the electrical box. Another person came in a few days, installed the SunPower monitoring box, hooked up the electrical wires, painted the cable next to my gutter, and did a preliminary inspection. The second person took 1 extra hour. States can do a lot better to make it easier to get solar approved. It shouldn’t take orders of magnitude more time to get approval than it does to do the installation.

It did take 1 month after the solar panels were installed to get my utility to install the bi-directional panel. SunPower said they would follow up, but there were no results after a month. I called the utility directly, they apologized and said they were backed up, and then they installed the bi-directional meter the next day. The power was out for 5 min and the new bi-directional meter was installed. This meter is what calculates how much power you get from the grid and how much you send back.

Note: Even if you don’t have the bi-directional meter set up, the panels are powering up your house. You just won’t get any credit for what you send back to the grid.

App Quality. Score: 4 out of 5

The app has some good features and has so much potential. If you have a battery, you can see the real time power flows between your home, battery, solar and the grid. I recommend SunPower do the same if you only have solar. Right now, I have to switch between my local utility app and the SunPower app to get all the home usage information. Our utility app is behind by one day. SunPower has a real opportunity to simplify the user experience.

Image from SunPower’s website, showing the real-time electricity flow in the app for users with batteries.

Features of the app I like: real-time power reading, energy production every 15 minutes, as well as energy and power produced in a day, month, year, lifetime, and custom. I really like seeing how much CO2 we have saved, the equivalent of trees planted, miles not driven, and gasoline saved. I would love to see how much water is saved from having solar panels.

The customer service phone number and email is easy to find. The app tells you the size of the system. This has not been working during my time with the app. I spoke with Sanah about the issue last week. Sanah is in SunPower’s public relations department. She said she would bring this up with their engineers and get it fixed.

Note: From backup-of-the-envelope calculations, any decently sized solar panel system will save more CO2 for a lower out-of- cost than most mid-range and high-end EVs. The exceptions where an EV may make more sense to offset CO2 are if you drive a ton every year or your state’s grid heavily relies on coal for power (cough cough, Wyoming, West Virginia, and Kentucky). I’ve asked Sanah if SunPower can include the CO2 calculations in the app, for data geeks like me. Solar panels EVs for most of us, concerning CO2 savings. Special thanks to sri for the discussion.

Includes real-time electricity production, lifetime production, and CO2 savings.

The 5 Best Whole House Generators of 2023

Generac Guardian Wi-Fi Enabled Standby Generator

Our ratings take into consideration factors like pricing, warranty, noise level, remote monitoring, automatic transfer switch, load management, electric start, high temperature shutdown, heat control, overload protection and low oil protection. All ratings are determined solely by the editorial team.

Our ratings take into consideration factors like pricing, warranty, noise level, remote monitoring, automatic transfer switch, load management, electric start, high temperature shutdown, heat control, overload protection and low oil protection. All ratings are determined solely by the editorial team.

Generac Guardian Wi-Fi Enabled Standby Generator

As the leading home generator brand, Generac’s Guardian series generators, once again, set them apart from competition. This Wi-Fi-enabled Guardian generator allows you to monitor its status via phone or computer from anywhere in the world using the company’s MobileLink technology, all while providing 10,000 watts via liquid propane (LP) or 9,000 watts via natural gas (NG).

The generator is air-cooled, shuts down automatically in high temperatures and features an automatic transfer switch to take over powering your home the minute you lose grid-based power. Quickly and easily set up by professional installers, the Generac Guardian easily attaches to your existing LP or NG pipes and comes with a five-year limited warranty and 24/7/365 customer phone support.

• Great price compared to similar units
• Very quiet at only 63 dbA
• Automatic transfer switch with 16 circuits
• Automatic high temperature shutdown

The Generac Guardian Wi-Fi Enabled Standby Generator runs about 3,879 on average.

Briggs Stratton 12,000-Watt Automatic Air Cooled Standby Generator

Our ratings take into consideration factors like pricing, warranty, noise level, remote monitoring, automatic transfer switch, load management, electric start, high temperature shutdown, heat control, overload protection and low oil protection. All ratings are determined solely by the editorial team.

Our ratings take into consideration factors like pricing, warranty, noise level, remote monitoring, automatic transfer switch, load management, electric start, high temperature shutdown, heat control, overload protection and low oil protection. All ratings are determined solely by the editorial team.

Briggs Stratton 12,000-Watt Automatic Air Cooled Standby Generator

The Briggs Stratton 12,000 Watt Generator packs quite the punch for a narrow footprint unit and ships at a solid price. Though one of the smallest generators on our best-of list, this product delivers a solid 12,000 watts and comes in as one of the best ranked generators by customer reviews.

With an automatic voltage regulator, efficient alternator and smartphone app control over Wi-Fi, you never have to worry about damaging sensitive electronics with surges nor under-powering your high-voltage appliances. The generator can also be run on a low-speed mode to reduce noise, save fuel and tighten your control.

• Smartphone control and monitoring
• Narrow footprint makes for easy placement
• Durable, American-made engine

The Briggs Stratton 12,000-Watt Automatic Air Cooled Standby Generator runs about 4,299 on average.

Champion 14-kW aXis Home Standby Generator with 200-Amp Whole House Switch

Our ratings take into consideration factors like pricing, warranty, noise level, remote monitoring, automatic transfer switch, load management, electric start, high temperature shutdown, heat control, overload protection and low oil protection. All ratings are determined solely by the editorial team.

Our ratings take into consideration factors like pricing, warranty, noise level, remote monitoring, automatic transfer switch, load management, electric start, high temperature shutdown, heat control, overload protection and low oil protection. All ratings are determined solely by the editorial team.

Champion 14-kW aXis Home Standby Generator with 200-Amp Whole House Switch

While the Champion 14-kW aXis generator is one of the most expensive whole house generators on our list, it includes excellent features to help it stand apart from its competition. Offering a best-in-class 14,000 watts, the Champion aXis goes unmatched on this list for the amount of power it outputs to your home. This generator is also the quietest of our top five with noise measured at only 62 dbA.

What Is a Whole House Generator?

A whole house generator is the most powerful type of home generator available. It’s wired to your electric panel and turns on automatically when you lose power, so your entire home stays online if you have the right size. In contrast to a standby or portable generator, a whole house generator will power many more appliances for as long as you can provide it with fuel.

You should expect to pay between 450,500 and 7,500 for a whole house generator, including installation. The average cost sits around 4,500. The exact price will come down to what features you’re looking for and the cost of installation labor in your area.

THIS IS AN ADVERTISEMENT AND NOT EDITORIAL CONTENT. Please note that we do receive compensation for any products you buy or sign up to via this advertisement, and that compensation impacts the ranking and placement of any offers listed herein. We do not present information about every offer available. The information and savings numbers depicted above are for demonstration purposes only, and your results may vary.

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How to Determine Which Whole House Generator Is Best for You

Consider four primary elements when choosing a whole house generator: power requirements, cooling systems, fuel types and noise levels.

Power Requirements

To determine how much power you’ll need for your generator, you can either use an online wattage calculator, the wattage information on your appliances or your electrical bill. We recommend multiplying the total wattage of your appliances by 1.5 to give yourself a safe margin of error. A small to medium-size house in the U.S. typically uses a minimum of 5,000 to 7,000 watts, so you should expect most generators to have a minimum of 8,500 to 10,000 watt outputs.

Cooling Mechanisms

When you’ve determined what power level you need from your whole house generator, you should consider whether you want an air-cooled or liquid-cooled system. An air-cooled generator either passively uses the surrounding air to cool the engine or relies on a fan to maintain temperature.

Liquid-cooled generators pump coolant through the engine block. This coolant absorbs heat from the engine, then is cycled through to the radiator, where it cools off, then moves back to the engine to maintain an appropriate temperature.

Air-cooled generators are usually less efficient, and they tend to have shorter shelf lives when used in whole-house contexts. They often overheat and then automatically shut down. Liquid-cooled generators tend to work best, particularly if you live in an area that often reaches temperatures of over 100 degrees, because they are much less likely to overheat.

Fuel Types

Whole house generators either use liquid propane from a tank or natural gas from a utility line (or custom tank). Propane is cheaper and less contaminating, but using natural gas means you won’t have to refill a tank (although this isn’t an option if you’re looking to go off the grid).

Be sure to purchase the right type of generator for the fuel you’re looking to use, or check to see if it can be easily converted from one fuel source to the other (most can be).

Noise Level

Whole house generators can run quite loudly (65 decibels on the low end to 69 on the high end), so it’s important to take that range into consideration when purchasing and placing your generator.

SunPower

Our promise. We provide a buying advantage with verified reviews and unbiased editorial research.

SunPower provides green energy solutions for homeowners. It offers complete solar energy systems and battery storage options, and its comprehensive SunPower home solar warranty includes all components of the system — not just the solar panels — for added peace of mind. The company ensures only SunPower-certified installers handle installation jobs.

Pros

• Comprehensive transferable warranty
• Variety of finance options
• Broad international dealer network

Cons

• Dealers may provide different levels of service
• “Master dealers” aren’t available nationwide

Bottom Line

SunPower designs and installs all the components you need to switch to solar energy. It has lease and loan options to help make solar more affordable, and its Maxeon panels feature powerful cell technology, making the company popular with homeowners.

Featured Reviews

“The guy that came out from SunPower was great. The installation team got there when they said they would. They did the installation in the timeframe that they said After the.

“I was provided excellent service with all the information I needed! Gie was wonderful and I was very impressed with her professionalism, knowledge and ability to answer all my qu.

SunPower panels and equipment

In 2020, SunPower announced a spinoff of its manufacturing department into a separate company named Maxeon Solar Technologies. This company manufactures the equipment SunPower designs and installs, so you’ll need to work with another company if you prefer a different brand.

SunPower’s solar portfolio includes M-Series, X-Series and U-Series panels. Its Equinox line, manufactured by Maxeon, features highly efficient solar panels (compared with conventional panels). The same is true of its Helix line, which is available for commercial customers.

SunVault storage system

SunPower’s SunVault storage system helps you keep your lights on even when the power is out. You can set storage system preferences through the mySunPower app to decrease grid electricity use at peak times or serve as backup during a power outage.

Depending on your system size and design, SunVault can help keep essential appliances running (like your refrigerator or HVAC) and power things like electric vehicles or clothes washers and dryers during times without power.

SunPower panel installation

SunPower partners with dealers and installers nationwide to complete the design and installation process. These partners have all completed training and are SunPower-certified. The company incorporates a sleek, minimalistic rooftop design by using a low-profile mounting system called InvisiMount. This system uses durable metal wire clips to keep cables out of sight.

SunPower services

When you purchase a solar system from SunPower, you connect with a SunPower partner to handle the design and installation. The partner will help you prepare documents for homeowners association review and obtain all the necessary permits.

After installing the system, the partner arranges for inspections and helps you obtain “permission to operate” orders from your utility.

Once your system is up and running, the SunPower Monitoring System (EnergyLink) gathers data to help you monitor everything and track your estimated bill savings. If you need help with anything, you can contact SunPower customer support Monday through Saturday.

How much does SunPower cost?

The cost of a SunPower solar system depends on several different factors, including your:

• Energy needs
• Local weather
• Roof layout
• Roof shading
• Size of your system

Since costs can vary so much, the best way to get an accurate quote is to contact a SunPower dealer. However, after reviewing price quotes from around the country, SunPower found that a 5-kilowatt solar system typically costs between 11,150 and 46,100, which breaks down to 5000.23 to 9.22 per watt. This price is before any tax credits or incentives.

While SunPower may cost a little more than other solar energy companies, its high-efficiency panels and transferable warranty may make it worth the cost.

Financing options

With SunPower, you can purchase a residential system outright, pay with a loan or lease a system. The company offers solar financing options with

SunPower video review

Rick: Hi, my name is Rick, and I live in Ponte Vedra, Florida. And what got me into solar power was two things. One was financial. Wanting to not have to pay an electric company for my electric bill. And the other was being a responsible caretaker of the Earth, I suppose. To be green. So we didn’t really choose a lot of alternatives. I did my studying on the internet very thoroughly, and quickly came across SunPower. And through peer-reviewed information and studying, I found that they were the best product on the market. That’s why we went with them, and, quite frankly we’re very happy with the product because it is a wrap-around product. They have everything from the connectors to the electrical. If there’s ever an issue with it, I can just go to SunPower. I don’t have to rely on a third party contractor for anything as far as a systems concern. So we’re very happy with our purchase. So the purchase process for these solar panels is very simple and very easy. The representative came to our house and explained the options we had available to us. We chose to go with a loan to finance the panels over 25 years, and it was very simple, very straightforward and direct. We’ll be using the tax credit to pay off a portion of the loan this year, and after that, it’s a 25 year loan. And I pay extra on it, and we’re very happy with it. No problems, no issues. It was clean and easy. So the people that we used to install the solar panels were very courteous, very attentive, very knowledgeable. They came to the house and explained things to us. They even came when I asked them to come and it wasn’t scheduled for them to visit, and they would explain and answer questions for me, point things out, and I felt like I was in very good hands, very knowledgeable, and they were very honest and transparent up front. If there was gonna be an issue, they would call me up ahead of time and let me know that there were a delay, or if something were to happen. So I felt very comfortable in this process, like I was in good hands. Purchasing solar panels for our home and our family was completely worth it for two reasons. One, financially. We don’t really have an electric bill anymore. The panels have done so well that I’m net zero, and actually negative. The electric company owes me money at this point. My last bill was negative 17, and that’s a great place to be. Also I’m a great steward of our planet, making sure I’m keeping my carbon footprint and my family’s carbon footprint as small as possible. So we’re very happy and very impressed with the product and our decision.

down for eligible homeowners.

While leasing a system lets you take advantage of solar energy without a long-term commitment, you’ll need to purchase the system to take advantage of any tax credits and other incentives.

SunPower warranty

The SunPower Complete Confidence Warranty covers any repairs or replacements to the components on your roof for 25 years. This includes the microinverters, racking and panels.

All components not on your roof have a 10-year warranty. This includes your storage and monitoring systems. The warranty covers shipping and labor with no additional out-of- costs. However, the smartphone and computer you use to monitor your panel production aren’t covered.

SunPower also guarantees your panels won’t lose more than 10% of their original power output in that 25-year period, which ensures your solar energy system stays efficient and produces the power your home needs.

The warranty does have some exclusions, including:

• Damage from natural forces, such as a tornado or earthquake
• Defects of the home’s existing electrical components at the installation site
• Damage caused by animals
• Damaged caused by third-party products
• Storage systems kept in temperatures outside the specified range

These exclusions are fairly standard across the industry.

SunPower Reviews

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Going through SunPower, I haven’t had any issues or needed to call customer service. The person who was in charge was great. She took care of everything, and I didn’t need to do too much with anything. I’m happy about going solar. I’m producing more electricity than I’m using. So it’s working out well. I even got an electric bill for this month. I have been recommending SunPower to just about anybody I talk to.

Christopher, it is wonderful to read that you have had an exceptional experience going solar. Congratulations on your solar savings. Thank you for helping us change the way our world is powered!

SunPower Reviews, Panels, and Installation

Affiliate Disclaimer: All products and services featured are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

With more than 30 years of experience in solar technology. SunPower has established itself as one of the leading companies in the industry. It has developed some of the most powerful and energy- efficient solar panels on the residential market, offering a fully customized solar system with in-house components. The result is a highly efficient system designed to operate at optimal production for decades. But does that mean SunPower is the best solar company for you?

To help you with your decision-making process, we’ve conducted in-depth research on the company’s benefits, drawbacks, services, customer reviews, and more.

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Available in 50 states Has been in the industry since 1985 Provides its own monocrystalline solar panels

Available in 23 states 25-year warranties for the product, labor, and inverter Power protection guarantee

25-year workmanship and product warranty Perks for new construction homeowners Available in 20 states

Benefits and Drawbacks of SunPower

Our analysis of SunPower customer reviews reveals that homeowners like the company’s high-quality equipment and excellent system output. Customers also think the sales representatives are helpful and knowledgeable. However, many people have faced issues with the customer service team. They mention communication issues, citing a lack of callbacks and follow-ups. We typically analyze Google Reviews for each company, but due to a limited number of reviews for SunPower. we analyzed reviews on Best Company instead. Read a sampling of what customers had to say below.

“Their representative was the most knowledgeable of all of the people that I talked to and had come by and visited and he answered all of my questions, and I appreciated that. Also … it was all integrated, so if I have a problem with one thing, the same company would be able to take care of every aspect of it. I did have a problem with it: When it first came online, it was not reading right and in one phone call it was taken care of. They seem to have the best equipment out there—definitely not the cheapest but the best. The financing part went really smoothly.” —Terrance via Best Company

“The panels that I got are absolutely fantastic. I’m producing more power than I consume right now, and it will help so much having these credits for when the summer really starts to crank up. The installers that came out were professional and courteous. The sales team was knowledgeable and professional as well. Every concern that I have had so far has been addressed quickly, except for one: The app doesn’t work properly. I have emailed about it and thus far only been given lip service as to it being fixed.” — Michael W. via Best Company

“This company is horrible and not responsive. Spent 55,000 on solar panels, they hooked them up wrong, and I’m not getting an advantage in having solar. Called and got nothing from them. Got an email that didn’t answer the issues with my system. DO NOT BUY.” —Brian P. via Best Company

“We have been reaching out to SunPower every single day to get the system fixed. All they say is the scheduler will reach out to you, and that has never happened. We didn’t get notified of the system being down, and once we found out, we were assigned a person who never showed up. Very poor communication from them, and we are very frustrated.” —Devavrath via Best Company