Updated On

March 16, 2024

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    Solar4America is a solar panel and solar battery provider that was once under the Peterson Dean umbrella. Solar4America has since been bought out by SPI Energy, and they are actively involved throughout the country, helping you build and install a new solar panel system. In our Solar4America review, we will tell you what to expect with this solar power system and the customer care the company offers.

    4.5

    Rating

    Based on our 23-point rating system.
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    Year Founded:
    2006
    BBB Rating:
    Not Rated
    States Covered:
    California
    Warranty:
    Varies

    Our Preferred Solar Installers

    Today’s Homeowner recommends several solar companies to our readers. Below you’ll see our latest suggestions and their unique superlatives. You can also explore our review of the best solar companies to find a top installer in your area.

    Highest Quality Panels

    4.4

    Installs high-quality Maxeon panels

    Outstanding customer support

    Best-in-class warranty lasts 40 years

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    Best Damage Protection

    3.7

    Affordable prices

    Excellent selection of panels and services

    Locations in 22 states

    GET QUOTE
    Best Solar Financing
    blue raven logo

    4.3

    No payments needed for 18 months

    Provides in-house financing

    Offers top brands like LG and Trina

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    Best Customer Service

    3.9

    Highly rated customer service

    Provides  24/7 panel monitoring

    Solid A+ rating with the BBB

    GET QUOTE

    Our Solar4America Review

    Solar4America is a large company that takes solar energy quite seriously. The most interesting thing that stands out about Solar4America is the fact that the original golf of the company was a roofing contractor. With all the time they spend on the roofs and the requests from customers to add solar to the roof, they decided it would be best to be involved in solar.

    One of the main concerns homeowners have is whether or not solar panels will destroy their roof, and with Solar4America installing, this is not a concern.

    The reviews from customers showed that people were happy with the pricing, the follow-up, and the cloud-based monitoring of the solar system installed by Solar4America. As with all large corporations like this, there are both positives and negatives to dealing with big companies. One of the issues that some people found was dealing with wait times for installation. Another great feature of Solar4America is that there are DIY panels you can install, helping to save tons of money. Overall we gave the company 4.5/5 stars, and if you live in the California area where they are based, the rating could even be just a little higher.


    Solar4America Company Profile

    Solar4America has been in the industry since 2015, but they are a large company that is publicly traded. Solar4America is very involved in all areas of the solar industry, from residential to government and utility installations.

    Solar4America Summary

    Year founded2015
    HeadquartersSanta Clara, CA
    ServicesSolar Energy Contractors
    Certifications–-
    # of Employees100++
    BBB rating:NR
    Our Rating:4.5/5
    Average Cost:$15,000

    Pros and Cons of Solar4America

    The tabs below cover Solar4America’s high-level pros and cons. Keep these points in mind as you read the rest of the review.

    Part of a very large solar company
    Will help with design to final installation
    Many product offerings to choose from
    Specialized roofing contractors won’t hurt your current roof
    No local presence in most areas
    Installers are often contracted

    Solar Services & Cost

    Solar4America sells solar panels, batteries, and other green energy solutions for all different sectors. However, in addition to selling and manufacturing the actual products, they also provide installation throughout the United States. One of the things that set Solar4America apart is that they can provide panels for a DIY installation as well.

    Not all Solar4America projects require professional installation, but it is a service offered to you should you find that to be a solution. The fact that Solar4America started as a roofing contractor and then made its way into the solar industry helps to ensure the longevity and quality of your roof over time.

    When working with Solar4America, you will be working with one of the larger companies in the industry. Expect lots of guidance and help regarding federal rebates, state-level rebates, and even local incentives to help you save money on your project.

    How Much Does Solar4America Cost?

    Solar4America costs will vary depending on the size of your total project, your current electric bill, what state you live in, and more. Here are a few of the products offered on the website and what you can expect from a cost perspective. Again, a qualified representative with Solar 4 Ameria will have to give you the full quote on how much your system will cost.

    • 410W 72 CELL MONO PERC ALL BLACK SOLAR PANEL ($328 per panel)
    • 550W (BIFACIAL) 144 HALF CUT MONO PERC HIGH-EFFICIENCY SOLAR PANEL ($428 per panel)
    • 150W MONO SOLAR PANEL FOR RV CAMPI G ($159 per panel)

    For a complete solar system, you will need a combination of panels and the solar kit to connect it all to your home, and then the installation fees will be added on top. When you speak with a sales representative, they will put the entire package together for you.

    Highest Quality Panels

    4.4

    Installs high-quality Maxeon panels

    Outstanding customer support

    Best-in-class warranty lasts 40 years

    GET QUOTE
    Best Damage Protection

    3.7

    Affordable prices

    Excellent selection of panels and services

    Locations in 22 states

    GET QUOTE
    Best Solar Financing
    blue raven logo

    4.3

    No payments needed for 18 months

    Provides in-house financing

    Offers top brands like LG and Trina

    GET QUOTE
    Best Customer Service

    3.9

    Highly rated customer service

    Provides  24/7 panel monitoring

    Solid A+ rating with the BBB

    GET QUOTE

    Warranty

    The warranty provided by Solar4America is stated as being “industry-leading”; however, the warranty will not be standard across all products. Depending on what you are purchasing, you will have to speak to Solar4America directly about the warranty offered on that product.

    Another interesting thing about Solar4America products is that they are monitored through a cloud system, so you will have a long relationship with this company, ensuring that your solar panel system is always functioning to the best level.

    This is a great company to deal with when you look at strength and longevity, as they are one of the biggest names in the solar industry.

    Financing Plans & Options

    The Solar4America website does not explicitly state any financing plans; however, this company has many local partners that you can work with to help fund your solar project. Remember that as a roofing contractor first, Solar4America is accustomed to helping people who are trying to make big purchases and need a little financial help to get it done.

    Specials or Incentives Offered

    Solar4America will help you plan out the best way for you to save money on your next solar installation. When you work with this company, you will be getting solar panels direct from their manufacturing plant. As part of their website, they have information on specific panels that are on sale and deals and incentives that they are offering; these continually change.

    One of the excellent features of the Solar4America website is that you can sort the products by price to help you find something that will fit within your budget.

    In-House or Contracted Installations

    Solar4America tries to use in-house installers whenever possible. If you are in the state of California in Fremont or San Jose, expect to have a Solar4America team member doing your installation. However, since the Peterson Dean roofing company is also connected to the Solar4America name, sometimes roofing contractors across the country will also do in-house installations. This depends on the area you live, and it’s worth asking about this before you agree to an offer or deal.

    What Solar Panels Does Solar4America Use?

    Solar4America makes their solar panels in their California headquarters. These will all be branded with the Sol r4America name, but the company sells more than just the panels. You can also purchase.

    • Full solar kids
    • Charge controllers
    • Energy storage systems and batteries
    • Inverters
    • Portable power supplies

    With Solar4America producing their panels and offering installation, you will never have trouble putting together a system that is a perfect match for your home or business. This is also why Solar4America is very involved in large-scale utility and governmental projects.

    Partnerships

    Solar4America makes all of their Solar Panels in their California headquarters. Therefore some of their partnerships are with California businesses. These include fully certified solar panels by UL, CSA, and ETL, and they are also approved by Dividend, MOSAIC, and Sunlight Financial.

    Service Area & Availability

    Although Solar4America is a California-based solar company, you will be able to find installers and dealers throughout the country that can help you with either a new roof, a new solar panel system, or both.

    Highest Quality Panels

    4.4

    Installs high-quality Maxeon panels

    Outstanding customer support

    Best-in-class warranty lasts 40 years

    GET QUOTE
    Best Damage Protection

    3.7

    Affordable prices

    Excellent selection of panels and services

    Locations in 22 states

    GET QUOTE
    Best Solar Financing
    blue raven logo

    4.3

    No payments needed for 18 months

    Provides in-house financing

    Offers top brands like LG and Trina

    GET QUOTE
    Best Customer Service

    3.9

    Highly rated customer service

    Provides  24/7 panel monitoring

    Solid A+ rating with the BBB

    GET QUOTE

    Solar4America Reviews From Actual Customers

    Reading reviews from actual customers can only help when deciding if this is the solar contractor for you. Although Solar4America sounds like an excellent option for many homeowners, reading about the experiences that others have will help you make the final decision.

    “"I would just like to say after working for a Utility Company for almost 40 years, I finally decided to go Solar and lower my Utility bill, which was reaching almost 300 dollars a month, and I received a 25 percent discount. I worked with their sales consultant Brad who we drilled for h rs to make sure he knew what he was talking about, and he did! I have to say the site survey technician and the installation team did a textbook installation picture-perfect job. There’s an old term used by competent workers who build power lines; you can’t see it from my house; well, that’s not the case with Petersen & Dean construction workers. I should know I built Power Lines for PG&E. If you’re thinking about going Solar, I highly recommend these guys, and yes I did get 2 other bids."”

    Rodney S

    “"We had our 12k system installed ate last year by Petersen Dean. It has produced MORE than they claimed and was installed exactly as they said it would. I couldn’t be more pleased with the service, product, pricing, or timeline. They walked us through the entire process, including all required authorizations from HOA and permitting. We also had to have a breaker panel upgrade (which they warned us was possible before we signed), which went perfectly as well. Workers were professional and cleaned up after themselves daily while onsite. They found several broken tiles during the installation and ordered new ones to replace them all. The match was perfect. I got on the roof to check their work, and it was top-notch."”

    Tim C

    “"When we decided to get solar panels for our house, I did a lot of research and looked into many companies. We decided not to go with a big company, and we’re glad we chose Petersen Dean. They have been very easy to work with, and the process has been incredibly smooth. Installation was a breeze, and we’re very satisfied."”

    Jonathon T.

    Bottom Line: Is Solar4America a Good Company?

    Solar4America is a very large company in the solar game. One of the things that helps this particular product stand out is that they started as a roofing company and realized that solar panel installation and roofing go quite well together. Solar4America is installing solar panels throughout the country, and they do everything they can to help you save time and money on this large home improvement project.

    Highest Quality Panels

    4.4

    Installs high-quality Maxeon panels

    Outstanding customer support

    Best-in-class warranty lasts 40 years

    GET QUOTE
    Best Damage Protection

    3.7

    Affordable prices

    Excellent selection of panels and services

    Locations in 22 states

    GET QUOTE
    Best Solar Financing
    blue raven logo

    4.3

    No payments needed for 18 months

    Provides in-house financing

    Offers top brands like LG and Trina

    GET QUOTE
    Best Customer Service

    3.9

    Highly rated customer service

    Provides  24/7 panel monitoring

    Solid A+ rating with the BBB

    GET QUOTE

    Frequently Asked Questions About Solar4America

    How long has Solar4America been in business?

    Solar4America has been in business since 2015. However, they have purchased a different company called Peterson Dean, an extensive roofing and solar contractor. The combination of the two companies makes for some highly trained salespeople ready to handle any solar project.


    Where is the Solar4America headquarters?

    Solar4America is located in California, but SPI Energy LTD is a large company with locations and other branches worldwide.


    What inverter does Solar4America use?

    Solar4America used several types of inverters. One more common is the 7.6KW Inverter with Solar4America BAT58 Energy Storage System.


    Who owns Solar4America?

    Solar4America is a corporation that is owned by SPI Energy LTD, which is a publicly-traded company that has several different brands under one company name. One of the other brands is called Solar Juice, and it is growing at a fast pace.


    Is Solar4America Worth It?

    Solar4America has a unique position in the solar industry as they started out as roofers and eventually moved into a roofing and solar company. The sales rep and installers are excellent at answering phone calls, cleaning up after an installation, and ultimately monitoring the functionality of your solar system.


    Will Solar4America design my solar panel system?

    Solar4America is a full-service energy efficiency company that will help you design a plan for your solar panel installation. Solar4America has quite a few options for homeowners and business owners to choose from, and they will help you from the start to the finish of your project.



    Today's Homeowner’s Solar Companies Rating Methodology

    At Today's Homeowner, transparency and trust are our most important values for the reader. That’s why we took the time to create an objective rating system and score each solar energy company/service according to our methodology.

    Our research team dug deep into the fine print of contracts, combed through more than one hundred customer reviews, and thoroughly investigated all of each solar energy company’s services, costs, and products. We’ve done the homework for you by researching nearly all of the solar energy companies on the market so you can have the information you need to make the best choice for your home.

    We developed a formula to objectively determine the best solar energy companies and give each a score out of 100 based on the following criteria:

    • Plan Options (30): Do they provide a variety of plan options? We looked at the number of plans each solar energy company offered and the flexibility of adjusting the plan.
    • Services offered (20): How many services are offered in each plan? We looked at whether the company manufactures its own solar panels, whether it contracts out installation, and what additional products each company offers.
    • Trust (10): What do customers say after their solar panels are installed? Does this company offer a guarantee? We considered how satisfied customers are post-service if the company does what it says it will, BBB accreditation, and service guarantees.
    • Prices (10): How reasonable are the costs of the plan or service in comparison to the industry average? We compared the costs of each company to competitors that offer the same solar energy services.
    • Unique perks (10): Does the company offer discounts or special services such as financial incentives, rebates, or a useful mobile app? We looked for extras each company offers that set them apart from the competition.
    • Customer Service (10): How is the customer experience when contacting the company? We considered the speed of response, weekend/holiday availability, and ease of communication through phone calls, email, and online chat functions.
    • Nationwide availability (10): How many states does the company offer its services? Companies that operate nationally and in all zip codes are favored over those with limited availability.

    Editorial Contributors
    avatar for Britt Olizarowicz

    Britt Olizarowicz

    Britt Olizarowicz is a former real estate agent and landscaping business owner. She has a wide range of experience across several industries and was also a professional golfer. With her experience in investing, renovating, and improving properties Britt loves to share in all of the latest and greatest technologies, systems, and strategies to keep your home and garden looking great.

    Learn More

    photo of Roxanne Downer

    Roxanne Downer

    Editor

    Roxanne Downer is a commerce editor at Today’s Homeowner, where she tackles everything from foundation repair to solar panel installation. She brings more than 15 years of writing and editing experience to bear in her meticulous approach to ensuring accurate, up-to-date, and engaging content. She’s previously edited for outlets including MSN, Architectural Digest, and Better Homes & Gardens. An alumna of the University of Pennsylvania, Roxanne is now an Oklahoma homeowner, DIY enthusiast, and the proud parent of a playful pug.

    Learn More

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