DIY Solar Panels Guide (What You Need to Know in 2024)
By Josh Hurst /
In this review of Sierra Pacific Solar, we’ll answer:
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Sierra Pacific Solar is a division of Sierra Pacific Home & Comfort, Inc., started in 1984 in Rancho Cordova, California. Along with solar power systems, It offers an array of home improvement solutions such as solar pool heating, heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) services and whole-home generators.
This review of Sierra Pacific Solar takes an in-depth look at the company’s costs, customer service, pros and cons and other important details.
Sierra Pacific boasts exceptional experience, having been established almost four decades ago. According to the company, it employs well-trained experts who are skilled at energy efficiency upgrades for homes and offices. Sierra Pacific uses equipment from excellent brands, such as Panasonic and SolarEdge, and is arguably one of the best solar companies in California.
Sierra Pacific describes itself as a locally owned solar and home improvement company. The company has completed thousands of home improvement projects over multiple decades and serves select areas of Northern/Central California, including Sacramento, Rocklin, Lincoln, Loomis, Auburn, Davis, and Vacaville.
Sierra Pacific has won the Folsom Telegraph’s Best of the Best Award three years in a row. The company’s tagline is “The Guys In The Big Red Trucks” and it maintains a reputation for reliable consultation, logistics, installation and customer service departments.
Sierra Pacific Solar Fast Facts | |
Year Started | 1984 |
Service Areas | California (greater Sacramento area) |
Services Offered | Solar panel and battery installations; HVAC services; maintenance and repairs; generators; electrical work; general contracting; solar pool heaters and energy efficiency audits |
Types of Solar Equipment Offered | REC Solar, Panasonic, SolarEdge, Generac |
Certifications | ISO 9000 and ISO 9001 certifications; accreditation by the Better Business Bureau |
Better Business Bureau Rating | A+ |
Average cost
Pros
Cons
Sierra Pacific provides a wide variety of home services – from solar systems and pool solar systems to solar attic fans, HVAC systems and large generators. Solar pool system installations and tune-ups place the majority of Sierra’s work in the swim season.
For solar panels, check out our brief overview below of what to expect when you hire Sierra Pacific to install a new system for you.
Despite a few unhappy customers, Sierra Pacific’s customer service has been for the most part outstanding. Its customer service department is staffed with friendly professionals who are available to address any concerns or answer questions. The company president Jason Hanson often addresses customer concerns himself.
The cost of a solar system could arguably be the ultimate deciding factor for most customers contemplating going solar. Sierra Pacific’s use of premium-brand products such as Panasonic and SolarEdge might suggest that it has high costs, but the company’s pricing is comparable to the average cost of solar panels countrywide.
We’ve given a rating of 4.0/5.0 stars to Sierra Pacific for its solar panel systems. Given the service and product quality, the company’s costs justify calling it affordable and making going solar worth it. The company also offers financing options through some of California’s reputable financing agencies.
Below is a comparison between cash purchase and solar loan – the two purchasing options offered by Sierra Pacific.
Cash Purchase | Solar Loan | |
System Ownership | ✓ | ✓ |
Upfront Cost | ✓ | ✓ |
Added Property Value | ✓ | ✓ |
Eligible for Tax Credit | ✓ | ✓ |
Payment Due to | Solar Installer | Loan Provider |
Although Sierra Pacific offers just two buying options, other companies may also offer leasing or PPA (Power Purchase Agreement). Take a look at our solar financing guide to learn about all the options and their pros and cons.
Thanks to Tier 1 solar equipment, Sierra Pacific is able to provide an industry-leading equipment warranty. Its Panasonic panels, for example, come with the Triple Guard warranty with product, performance and labor components.
Sierra Pacific does not have a 25-year workmanship warranty on its systems. However, considering its outstanding workmanship quality, this might not be something customers need to worry about.
The multitude of positive customer reviews for Sierra Pacific’s services is a good indicator of the company’s quality and reliability. Although there are a few negative reviews about the company’s non-responsiveness, most reviews are positive and describe a professional organization with excellent customer support. Take a look at a few examples below.
“[Sierra Pacific] was very professional and explained every step. They were courteous and took great care of my home during a complex installation. They explained the operation of the unit completely and left all necessary paperwork for warranty and inspection in perfect order. I’d definitely use this crew from Sierra Pacific again!”
– Joe M. via BBB
“Just experienced the best pool solar system service and most knowledgeable service technician in over 20 years. The technician, David Techam, was right on time, very pleasant, knowledgeable and very thorough and detailed in his inspection. He also took a few minutes to show me a few things about my pool equipment that I didn’t know about and [that] were useful too…”
– Robert G. via Review Buzz
“Spent over $5,000 on a solar system for our pool. Three years later it stopped working. Called for service and they said it would be at least 2 weeks before they could have someone look at it. I asked why so long and they said it was the ‘spring rush’ when people turn their equipment back on and it happens every year. If they know this, I would think they would be staffed accordingly. When I mentioned I would try someone else, the representative hung up on me.”
– Tim F. via Yelp
“Sierra Pacific installed my solar electric system years ago. I lost an inverter at the beginning of Covid and they were unable to respond because of staffing issues. Since that time I have started having issues with the Sharp solar panels they installed on my house. For the most part Sierra Pacific is non-responsive in dealing with customer problems. They are unable to keep staffing. They have made several promises and failed to deliver on those promises.”
– Kirk H. via Google
Here’s a comparison of Sierra Pacific Solar and select competitors:
Sierra Pacific Solar | NRG Clean Power | Semper Solaris | |
EcoWatch Rating | 4.5 | 4.5 | 3.5 |
Year Started | 1984 | 1987 | 2012 |
Services Offered | Solar panel and battery installations; HVAC services; maintenance and repairs; generators; electrical work; general contracting; solar pool heaters; energy efficiency audits | Solar panel, battery, EV charger and solar roof shingle installations; system monitoring | Solar panel and solar battery installations; roofing services; HVAC services |
Service Areas | California | California | CA, TX, FL |
BBB Rating | A+ | A+ | A+ |
Payment Options | Cash, loan | Cash, loan | Cash, loan, lease, PPA |
If you have specific questions that aren’t answered here, reach out to our team of solar experts at solar@ecowatch.com.
Sierra Pacific Solar is a legit company operating with license #453302 in the State of California. Sierra Pacific has been operating for almost four decades and is undoubtedly a legit company.
A number of factors make Sierra Pacific a great deal for homeowners. These include its premium equipment, experienced and hard-working staff and a noteworthy customer service team. Additionally, Sierra also has energy efficiency solutions for the whole house.
A solar system with good-quality solar panels correctly installed will always lower the electricity bills of houses where they’re installed. A system installed by Sierra Pacific will lower your electricity bills by a noticeable margin.
Even accounting for the excellent service, support and other pros, Sierra Pacific is not an expensive company. Its costs are affordable for most homeowners.
Sierra Pacific operates in California, which is easily one of the top states to go solar in. Its head office is located at 2550 Mercantile Dr., Suite D, Rancho Cordova, CA 95742. The phone number is (800) 551-3040.