Here are the biggest red flags consumers should watch out for when choosing a solar installer:

𝟭. 𝗛𝗶𝗴𝗵-𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗦𝗮𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗧𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝘀

If someone pushes you to “sign today” for a special deal, walk away. Quality installers give you time to compare options.

𝟮. 𝗨𝗻𝗰𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗼𝗿 𝗩𝗮𝗴𝘂𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝘀

If the contract doesn’t spell out costs, warranties, maintenance responsibilities, or performance guarantees in detail, that’s a problem.

𝟯. 𝗧𝗼𝗼-𝗚𝗼𝗼𝗱-𝗧𝗼-𝗕𝗲-𝗧𝗿𝘂𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴

Extremely low quotes often mean cheap hardware, inexperienced labor, or hidden fees down the road.

𝟰. 𝗡𝗼 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗼𝗳 𝗼𝗳 𝗟𝗶𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗿 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲

Any legitimate installer will provide proof of licenses, certifications, and liability insurance without hesitation.

𝟱. 𝗡𝗼 𝗟𝗼𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗥𝗲𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗿 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄𝘀

If the company can’t point you to happy customers nearby, or if online reviews look fake or filtered, take caution.

𝟲. 𝗨𝗻𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗺𝗶𝘀𝗲𝘀

Claims like “your system will eliminate 100% of your bill immediately” or “we guarantee zero maintenance forever” are red flags. Solar saves money, but results vary by roof, usage, and region.

𝟳. 𝗡𝗼 𝗣𝗼𝘀𝘁-𝗜𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁

If they don’t offer monitoring, service, or clear warranty handling, you may be stuck with problems later.

By seamlessly integrating with the grid and storing excess energy, you can achieve a perfect balance between sustainability and reliability.

It's wise to commit to a sustainable future.

Even if your solar system seems to be working perfectly, a small issue could be building behind the scenes — just like a car, it needs regular check-ups to stay efficient.

This quick check can prevent major breakdowns, loss of energy production, and expensive future repairs.

𝗔 𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗹𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝘄 = 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘀𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿.

When solar panels aren’t cleaned properly, dust builds up—especially near the bottom edges—creating hotspots that damage the cells over time. This panel shows exactly that. The buildup led to overheating, and now the entire panel needs to be replaced.

Tip: Regular cleaning = longer panel lifespan and better efficiency.

Why? Because we’re in the Southern Hemisphere, and the sun travels across the northern part of the sky throughout the year. This means north-facing panels get the most direct sunlight for the longest time each day, resulting in:

𝗛𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗴𝘆 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻

𝗕𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿-𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝗲𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆

𝗙𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗿𝗲𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝗻𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁

What about east- or west-facing roofs?

They can still work—especially if you want more morning or late-afternoon production—but they’ll usually generate 10–20% less than north-facing systems.

𝗣𝗿𝗼 𝗧𝗶𝗽: For maximum efficiency, your panels should also be tilted at an angle close to your location’s latitude (about 25–30° in many parts of SA).

If you're comparing solar quotes, you’ll notice big price differences — and it's tempting to pick the lowest one. But here's what I tell every customer:

Cheap solar can be very expensive in the long run.

Here’s why:

𝟭. 𝗟𝗼𝘄-𝗖𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗤𝘂𝗼𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝗢𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗖𝘂𝘁 𝗖𝗼𝗿𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀

Some companies save money by using lower-grade panels, unreliable inverters, or undertrained crews. These shortcuts can lead to:

Lower energy production

Higher maintenance costs

Shorter system lifespan

Voided warranties if not installed properly

𝟮. 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗤𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗜𝘀 𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴

Even the best panels won’t perform if the system isn’t installed correctly. We’ve seen rushed jobs with:

Poor roof mounting (leading to leaks)

Incorrect inverter settings

Unsafe wiring that violates local code

Our crews are licensed, trained, and held to the highest standard — because safety and performance matter.

𝟯. 𝗖𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗽 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗢𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗿

Some budget installers close up shop after a few years — leaving customers with no warranty support, no service, and no one to call. At Grey West projects:

- We’ve built a long-term business, not a quick sale

- We offer lifetime support

- You’ll always know who to call

𝟰. 𝗪𝗲 𝗕𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗲𝘃𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁, 𝗙𝗮𝗶𝗿 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴

Our quotes are designed to balance:

- Premium equipment with proven performance

- Professional installation

- Full permitting, inspection, and support

And yes — long-term peace of mind

You’re not just buying solar panels. You’re investing in energy independence, property value, and a cleaner future. We don’t sell based on price — we sell based on trust, quality, and real results.

𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗶𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗼𝗹𝗮𝗿, 𝗱𝗼 𝗶𝘁 𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗲, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗱𝗼 𝗶𝘁 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁.

When it comes to solar, a shiny price tag means nothing without solid backup. That’s why we always advise our clients to ask the right questions — and warranty should be at the top of that list.

25 -Year performance warranty on panels.

At least 10-year coverage on the inverter.

Reliable, local support when you need it most.

We believe in doing things right the first time. That’s why we only use trusted brands we’d install on our own homes — no cheap shortcuts, no regrets.

𝗕𝗶𝗴𝗴𝗲𝗿 𝗶𝘀𝗻’𝘁 𝗮𝗹𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿.

While it may sound like a good idea to go bigger “just in case,” it often leads to overspending on capacity you’ll never use.

𝗪𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗲𝘃𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝘀𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝘀𝗼𝗹𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀.

That means we take time to carefully assess your actual energy usage — not just today, but projected into the future — to make sure your system is designed for efficiency, not excess.

The right-sized system saves you money upfront and ensures better long-term performance.

1. Keep your panels clean.

Why? Dust, bird droppings, and leaves can block sunlight and reduce efficiency.

Tip: Rinse panels with water (no soap needed) every few months, or after a dust storm or dry season.

2. Inspect for shade

Why? Growing trees or new structures can cast shade on your panels, cutting output.

Tip: Check for shade once or twice a year — trim trees as needed.

3. Monitor your system’s performance

Why? A sudden drop in output could mean a fault.

Tip: Keep an eye on your inverter display or app. If production drops unexpectedly, contact your installer.

4. Check the inverter lights

Why? Your inverter is the heart of your system.

Tip: If the inverter light is red or flashing, that signals a problem — don’t ignore it!

5. Battery care (if you have storage)

Why? Batteries need a bit more attention.

Tip: Make sure batteries are in a ventilated, dry area. Don’t let pests or water damage them. Have a professional check them annually.

6. Watch the wiring

Why? Pests like rats can chew on cables, leading to faults or safety hazards.

Tip: Glance over exposed wiring (if safe to do so) and call for help if you see damage.

7. Get a professional inspection

Why? Even with DIY checks, it’s good to have an expert look over your system.

Tip: Book a full solar health check once a year — it can spot issues before they cost you money.

Expert Design: We assess your unique energy needs and roof conditions to design the perfect system.

Safe, Compliant Installation: Our certified team ensures everything meets SANS & municipal regulations.

Warranty & Support: Enjoy full manufacturer warranties and our workmanship guarantee.

Ongoing Savings: Professionally installed systems are optimized for maximum efficiency and lifespan.

𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗵𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗱𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝗮 𝘀𝗮𝗳𝗲, 𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝘀𝗼𝗹𝗮𝗿 𝘀𝗼𝗹𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻. 𝗗𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝗗𝗜𝗬 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗳𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 — 𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿 𝗶𝘁 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆!