Choose a solar installer by the evidence they hand over
Compare the design, registered electrical work, warranty responsibilities, approvals and fault process before comparing the sales pitch.
It starts with your home, not a sales catalogue
A reliable solar system is designed around how you use electricity. The installer should understand your monthly bills, the appliances you need during an outage, your roof, your distribution board and the local rules that apply to the property. Only then can the inverter, battery and panels be sized sensibly.
If you are comparing solar installation companies or looking for solar installers near you, ask whether the same team will handle design, installation, commissioning and after-care. The cheapest listing is not automatically the safest installation route.
A proper project normally includes a load assessment, system design, an equipment schedule, a clear quote, mounting and electrical work, commissioning, monitoring setup and the compliance documents you need to keep for your insurer and municipality. The cheapest quote is not necessarily the lowest-cost system if it leaves you with poor backup, weak warranties or an installer who disappears after payment.
Use this installer checklist
- Verify the electrical contractor and the person responsible for the CoC.
- Ask for the exact inverter, battery and panel models.
- Check what backup circuits the design actually supports.
- Confirm who handles workmanship and each product warranty claim.
- Ask who handles faults, monitoring and after-sales support.
- List the compliance, commissioning and approval documents due at handover.
- Compare total cost, escalation and ownership, not only month one.
The Department of Employment and Labour advises customers to use legally registered electrical contractors and requires a valid Certificate of Compliance for an electrical installation.
Compare the way you want to pay
SolarGuide can arrange a quote from Alumo, which currently advertises rent-to-own and subscription options. A quote still needs a proper assessment and final design. A monthly figure without the system size, term, escalation, ownership and included services is not enough to compare fairly.
Alumo
Compare rent-to-own over 3, 5 or 7 years with a flexible monthly subscription. Alumo supplies, installs and supports the system, subject to assessment and approval.
Compare the contract, not only the brand
Confirm the system size, term, escalation, maintenance, ownership, warranty and cancellation terms before you sign.
How a home solar panel installation works
Assessment and paperwork are part of the installation, even though they do not appear on the roof. This is the full route from the first load discussion to commissioning and handover.
Load assessment
The installer reads your bills and asks what must stay on during an outage, then sizes the inverter, battery and panel count from that, not from a catalogue.
How sizing worksRoof and board survey
Roof orientation, shade, structure and space decide the panel layout; the distribution board decides how backup circuits are split.
Roof space neededDesign and quote
A written quote lists every model, wattage and quantity, the backup circuits, the warranties and the payment route, so two quotes can be compared line by line.
Score your quotesInstallation day
The team installs the mounting, panels, inverter, battery, cabling, protection and board changes, then commissions the system and monitoring. The schedule depends on the site and scope.
Mistakes to avoidCompliance paperwork
You should receive an electrical Certificate of Compliance for the work, and the installer should tell you whether your municipality needs the system registered.
The COC explainedRegistration and after-care
Small-scale embedded generation registration, monitoring access and a named contact for faults are part of the job, not extras.
SSEG registrationKnow who answers when something fails
A panel, battery, inverter and installation can have different warranty providers and terms. The quote should identify the first contact, the evidence needed for a claim and whether labour or call-out costs are included.
Equipment record
Model numbers, serial numbers, datasheets and proof of purchase for each major component.
Electrical handover
Certificate of Compliance, test report, protection settings and an updated distribution-board schedule.
System settings
Commissioning report, backup reserve, operating modes and permission before settings are changed.
Warranty map
Product and workmanship terms, exclusions, claim route and the party paying for labour or transport.
Monitoring access
Your login, alert setup, normal performance range and the process for granting service access.
Approval record
Municipal or distributor application, professional sign-off and permission to switch on where required.
Installation across South Africa, with local rules explained
SolarGuide routes installation enquiries to Alumo. Confirm that the provider serves your address and identify the team responsible for the site. Municipal or distributor registration rules, tariffs and approval requirements can change by supply area.
For example, the City of Cape Town authorisation process requires applications for embedded generation in its electricity supply area and defines the documents needed before switch-on. Check the current rule with your own electricity distributor.
If you are comparing local installers instead, use the checklist above and ask each one for the same six items. A good installer near you will have them ready.
Local solar installation guides
Solar installation questions
- How long does a home solar panel installation take?
- The installation schedule depends on roof access, board work, equipment, system size and approval requirements. Ask the quote to separate assessment, approval, installation, commissioning and handover dates rather than promising one generic duration.
- How do I find solar installers near me?
- Start with the city guide for your area, then ask any installer for its registration details, exact equipment models, supported backup circuits, warranty responsibilities and handover documents. SolarGuide routes quote enquiries to Alumo; confirm service availability and the assigned installation team in the quote.
- What paperwork should a solar installation come with?
- Request the electrical Certificate of Compliance and test report, equipment schedule and serial numbers, warranty records, commissioning settings, monitoring access and any approval or SSEG documents required by the electricity distributor.
- Does SolarGuide install solar panels?
- No. SolarGuide is an independent referral partner. Alumo supplies, installs, finances and warrants the system; SolarGuide helps you compare the options and arranges a free, no-obligation quote.
Questions worth answering before you sign
How to choose an installer
Credentials, warranties, design quality and the questions that expose a weak quote.
Read the guideCompare quotes properly
Put equipment, output, backup, finance and warranties on the same page.
Read the guideAvoid installation mistakes
The shortcuts that create poor performance, compliance trouble or expensive rework.
Read the guideSolarGuide is an independent referral partner. Alumo provides its own quote, installation, warranty and finance agreement. We do not promise approval, savings or a particular system size.
Request an itemised installation quote
Share your home, essential loads and payment preference. Ask for the equipment schedule, installed scope, warranties and compliance responsibilities in writing.
Mon–Fri 8am–5pm · Sat 8am–1pm · Free quote across South Africa