FAQ

The answer is likely yes! To find out, contact us and one of our assessors will provide you with a free consultation.

You’ll likely get a better price! Home solar installations increase the resale value of your home, and the micro-generation contract will seamlessly transfer to the new homeowners.

While actual output will vary by season and region, we take pride in designing systems that will meet or even exceed homeowners’ needs for the foreseeable future. Solvest always conducts a thorough feasibility assessment in order to give the most accurate possible estimate. This assessment includes checking your transformer capacity, shading analysis, custom system design, detailed financial paybacks, and timelines.

Absolutely! Solvest understands that working with these type of institutions there are often multiple decision makers that need to sign off on a project. We are more than happy to sit down with everyone and go over the details of your future system. Communication is key and allows for a smooth process from concept to construction.

You bet—in fact, this is our area of expertise. Solar power is often the most cost-effective for homes and businesses operating in remote settings. This is because customers in remote settings tend to pay more for their energy, which reduces their payback period. See our remote communities section for more details.

Our panels come from Tier 1 manufacturers and carry 25-year warranties. If you need to replace your shingles, we suggest doing this before putting solar on your roof. Other than that, minimal changes are required. The racking systems used to mount solar panels are designed to easily attach to your roof without damaging it and the inverter is smaller than your main panel and can be mounted on the outside of your home if there is no room available inside.

Solar Panels: Solar systems have a typical lifespan of 25 to 30 years, but with the correct upgrades projects can last much longer. It is industry standard for solar panels to have 25-year warranties and with proper care, the panels will generally far outlast their coverage. Some of the first panels developed back in the 1960’s are still plugging away!

Inverters: Standard manufacturers warranties for string inverters are 10 years. Inverters will need replacing after 20 years and in some cases sooner. Micro-inverters come standard with 25-year performance warranties, for a higher initial cost.

Racking: Warranties and coverage for racking products vary depending on the manufacturer. However 30-year warranties are pretty standard.

During days with poor weather conditions, the output is going to be decreased, but modern solar panels are still able to perform in such environments. Take for example Germany, they are the largest installer of solar power in the world despite having on average 20% less sunlight than most Canadian locations.

Prior to any project being installed, we will arrange for insurance coverage to cover the initial cost of capital in the event of an extreme weather storm. This insurance will ensure that you are able to replace any damaged hardware, though it will not compensate you for revenue lost while the system is being repaired. Standard racking is built to withstand wind speeds of up to 150 mph, and despite their appearance, solar panels are very durable—able to withstand hail and other small debris impacts.

Though solar panels are generally thought of as a warm weather technology, they actually perform better in the cold. Lower temperatures allow more current to flow provided the same amount of sunlight. Some inverters will be affected by extreme temperatures, and we take great care to properly insulate them. Lower performance outputs by solar systems in winter temperatures will still occur due to decreased sunlight during the winter months. As part of the design process, we will provide you with monthly power production modeling. This will allow you to see what your power production is forecasted to be for the total year.

No. As part of our initial assessment, Solvest will conduct a thorough structural assessment of your roof in order to ensure that it is structurally capable of housing a solar system. If you have shingles, tin flashing is placed under each shingle that we drill in to, preventing any potential water damage. If you have tin, we have racking systems that do not penetrate your roof surface or have rubber seals.

Solar arrays require very minimal maintenance. We recommend doing an annual cleaning to ensure all debris and leaves are not blocking any part of your system. Your monitoring system will be able to tell you if anything is wrong with your system, and we will be able to troubleshoot any issues you may have.

Not as long as you might think. Small installations under 50KW have an average construction time of just 1-4 days, and the entire process from initial assessment to installation will be less than two months. Larger installations vary depending on a number of factors including site location and manufacturing time.

Solar is a very clean technology, our installers are all qualified and efficient at what they do. Both roof and ground-mount installations tend to be minimally disruptive. Prior to installation, Solvest will ensure any specific safety or logistical requirements are met, to have as little an effect on your business or home life as possible.

For the initial assessment, you will work with our highly skilled assessors. They will answer any questions you have and be your main point of contact during the whole process.

We wouldn’t step foot on your property if we weren’t! All of our employees and contractors have current WCB/WSIB coverage as well as a current Commercial General Liability policy in place. Solvest also prides itself on being COR certified and are always looking to improve safety in our office and in the field.

All of our panels are covered for a minimum of 25 years, and failures are exceedingly rare. In the unlikely event you need to activate a warranty on any components of your system, we include a Home Solar Package which includes all parts, serial numbers, and manufacturer information with every installation. We also retain a copy of everything in our database should you ever lose it and would be happy to help you free of charge when the time comes.

Our co-founder and President worked as a paramedic and a health and safety consultant before starting Solvest Inc. During his career, he has worked to help reduce workplace accidents and eliminate lax safety practices. As such, all employees receive training in hazard identification and work under strict safety guidelines.

With Solvest, you will get a hassle-free solar array that will last you decades. We pride ourselves in being based in the North, employing local talent and First Nations citizens. We are the largest Photovoltaic solar installer North of 60 and have created a reputation of producing excellent work.

If you want a custom design for your location, timely and accurate construction of backed systems, and all involved paperwork taken care of, you choose Solvest.