Will the installer project manage the whole job, or will you need to arrange and pay for other trades like electricians, scaffolders, plumbers or groundworkers?
What level of commissioning and handover is included? All certified installers must commission systems once fully installed to make sure they’re fit for purpose, so this should be included in the price, but different installers will offer different levels of support during the handover phase.
What payment options are available?
Your deposit shouldn’t be more than 25 per cent of the full cost. You should check that this will be protected with insurance.
What are the specifics of the system, including size, estimated electricity generation, efficiency values and maintenance cycles? You will need to do this to ensure the proposed system meets your requirements, but also to allow you to make comparisons between different installers’ quotes.
Note - 5. Is this a final and fixed price?
It’s essential the installer visits your property and carries out an inspection to understand your needs. Some installers may give an indicative quote before a site visit and then an amended and fixed price quote afterwards. Often an installer will quote based on certain assumptions, even after a site visit, and then charge extra for unforeseen complexities. The installer should be able to provide a list of circumstances where an additional charge may be added.
TrustMark is the only UK Government-Endorsed Quality Scheme for improvements carried out in and around a property. Since 2005, they have been working to help drive-up standards across the industry and improve the protection offered to customers when having work done. TrustMark help customers find tradespeople who are skilled, trained and competent to carry out the work needed.
Technologies: Solar PV, battery storage, solar thermal, heat pumps, heating controls, lighting, wall and roof insulation.
Locations covered: All of the UK.
MCS is a standards organisation, a mark of quality. They certify low-carbon products and installations used to produce electricity and heat from renewable sources. In addition, they create and maintain standards that allow for the certification of products, installers and their installations. Using an MCS-certified installer ensures that equipment meets good standards of performance and that installers are technically safe and competent. Certification is available for electrical systems up to 50kW and heating systems up to 45kW, but you could opt to use an MCS registered installer for installations larger than this.
Technologies covered: Solar PV, battery storage, solar thermal, heat pumps.
Locations covered: All of the UK.