Reviews

What homeowners see in solar installer review searches

By Asaf Shamly, founder · Last updated October 31, 2026 · 6 min read

Solar review sites don't score installers the same way. CNET gave Tampa installers between 7.0 and 8.3 out of 10. EcoWatch gave Arizona installers between 4 and 4.5 out of 5. A homeowner typing "solar installer reviews" hits two or three scoring systems, plus a separate BBB grade, before they ever read a word a real customer wrote.

What do solar review sites actually score?

Solar review sites don't run the same math. CNET scored Tampa installers on a 10-point scale: Palmetto Solar landed an 8.3, EnergyPal a 7.7, Freedom Forever a 7.6, and Tesla Solar a 7.0.

EcoWatch runs a 5-point scale instead, built around its Arizona comparison. Tesla scored 4.5. Elevation Solar and Solar Optimum each scored 4. Sun Valley Solar tools and Verde Solar Power both landed at 4.5.

Same homeowner, same kind of search, two different number systems. A contractor can look strong on one site and merely average on another and nothing about the actual install changed in between.

Tampa solar installer scores spanned a 1.3-point range on CNET's 10-point scale

CNET, 2024

Does a BBB rating show up next to the reviews?

EcoWatch's Arizona comparison table runs Better Business Bureau grades right alongside its own star scores. Tesla carries a BBB rating of C. Elevation Solar, Solar Optimum and Sun Valley Solar tools each carry an A+. Verde Solar Power shows up as Not Rated.

A homeowner scanning that table takes in a star score, a cost tier, and a BBB letter grade all at once, before they've read a single line of customer review text.

What do comparison sites tell homeowners to check before signing?

SolarReviews tells Phoenix homeowners to favor installers that have been in business at least five years. The logic is simple: a longer track record usually means the company will still answer a callback years after the crew's truck has pulled out of the driveway.

The same guide pushes homeowners toward getting at least three quotes before choosing, and tells them to check for a labor warranty of at least ten years, stacked on top of whatever equipment warranty the manufacturer offers.

How much do tax credit numbers shape the decision?

Comparison pages lean hard on tax credit figures, because the math changes what a homeowner is willing to pay. The federal solar tax credit covers 30% of a system's cost.

EcoWatch's Arizona page adds that the state layers its own 25% residential solar tax credit on top, with a cap on how much it can reduce a homeowner's personal state income tax. Both numbers sit right above the installer table on the page.

How are deep-dive reviews different from ranked lists?

Ranked list pages, like the Tampa roundup from CNET and the Phoenix page from SolarReviews, score several installers side by side on one page, each boiled down to a single number.

Deep-dive sites work differently. SolarProLab, covering Connecticut, New York City, and Long Island, publishes one long review per installer, digging into financial health and contract terms rather than flattening a company into one score.

How does a state directory site present installers differently?

ResidentSolarPower's state directory skips the single-number scoring entirely. It lists installers like Blue Raven Solar, Everlight Solar, and Solar Energy World under each state page, alongside write-ups of local incentives and regional guides.

That format trades the score for breadth. A homeowner browsing a state page sees which installers show up at all, before they ever compare how any one of them is rated.

What this means for a contractor

A homeowner researching your business will likely land on two or three different scoring systems before they read a review in your own words. A few things follow from that.

Check what score your business carries on at least one ranked comparison site in your market. That number shows up before your reviews do.
Keep your BBB profile current. It sits next to star ratings on comparison pages like EcoWatch's, and a blank or low grade stands out badly next to competitors sitting at A+.
Ask every recent customer for a review instead of waiting for one to show up on its own. WorkBrag texts the homeowner a link right after a finished job, so the ask lands the same week the install wrapped, not months after the tear-off's long forgotten.
Match your warranty language to what comparison sites tell homeowners to look for: a workmanship warranty of ten years or more, stacked on top of standard equipment coverage.

Methodology

Installer review scores cited here come from CNET's October 2024 roundup of Tampa solar installers and EcoWatch's Arizona solar company comparison, last updated December 2023. BBB letter grades and state and federal tax credit figures are drawn from the same EcoWatch page.

Quote-count and warranty-length recommendations come from SolarReviews' Phoenix solar company guide. The structure of independent, per-company deep-dive reviews and state-by-state directory listings is described on SolarProLab's companies page and ResidentSolarPower's state directory page.

Frequently asked questions

Do all solar review sites use the same rating scale?

No. CNET scores installers out of 10, and gave Palmetto Solar an 8.3 in its Tampa roundup. EcoWatch scores out of 5, and gave Tesla a 4.5 in its Arizona comparison. The same installer can land in a different spot on each scale.

Does a solar installer's BBB rating show up next to its reviews?

Yes, on some comparison sites. EcoWatch's Arizona page lists a BBB grade right alongside its star score for each installer, with Tesla at C and Elevation Solar, Solar Optimum, and Sun Valley Solar tools all at A+.

How many quotes should a homeowner get before choosing a solar installer?

SolarReviews recommends getting at least three quotes, alongside checking for an installer with five or more years in business and a labor warranty of at least ten years.