Sunrun Solar Review (2024 Cost, Panels & More)
By Dan Simms /
In this review of Windmar Solar, you’ll learn:
Each product and or company featured here has been independently selected by the writer. You can learn more about our review methodology here. If you make a purchase using the links included, we may earn commission.
For most homeowners, finding the ideal solar installer that will provide high-quality equipment and the customer service needed before, during and after the installation is the most challenging part of going solar. Unfortunately, as solar becomes more and more prevalent, we’re seeing companies pop up that provide subpar service and poor quality installations that leave customers unhappy and, worse, with potential property damage.
Our Windmar Solar review below should help you narrow down your selection a bit and avoid a potentially bad experience when completing your home solar project.
Windmar Solar has quite a few things going for it, but unfortunately, there are some significant downsides to working with this company as well. It provides high-quality equipment and has around-average pricing of about $3.33 per watt — an average all-in system cost of $29,970 before any incentives or $20,979 after the federal credit — but there have been some customer complaints about a lack of customer service and responses after the system is installed.
It’s worth noting that the poor communication and a the history of errors during the installation seem to be a thing of the past. The company used to have a long history of complaints filed with the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and on other review sites, but it has since turned things around a bit. It only has 4 complaints with the BBB in the past year, all of which have responses and resolutions from the company.
This is a good sign and shows promise for the future of the company that most recent customers have been pleased with the service they received.
Windmar Solar, also called Windmar Home and Windmar Home Florida, is a renewable energy company established in 2002 by Marc Roumain in Puerto Rico. The company is responsible for a massive number of solar installations in Puerto Rico, and it has since expanded to Florida, where it runs a much smaller operation.
Windmar’s company goals include providing affordable clean energy solutions to all homeowners, which it aims to achieve by providing accessible financing options and high-quality equipment that should help homeowners convert entirely to solar power.
While Windmar has struggled to reach these goals in the past, it appears that it has recently started aligning its actual business practices with its company goals, and it’s now rated quite well on BBB, Google Reviews, and other review sites.
Windmar Solar Fast Facts | |
Year Started | 2002 |
Service Areas | Florida and Puerto Rico |
Services Offered | Solar panel, battery and EV charger installations; solar monitoring |
Types of Solar Equipment Offered | Enphase, Hanwha, SolarEdge, LG, LG Chem, SMA, Panasonic, Mission Solar Energy |
Certifications | BBB Accredited, Negociado de Energia de Puerto Rico (NEPR) Certified |
Better Business Bureau Rating | A |
Average cost
Pros
Cons
The process of getting your solar panel system installed is fairly straightforward, and the steps you’ll progress through will be similar whether you go with Windmar Solar or another installer. Below, we’ll walk you through Windmar’s process and provide some insight into the level of customer service you can expect.
Below are the steps you can expect to progress through when you choose to go solar with Windmar.
Your first step will be to fill out the contact request form at www.Windmar.com to let the company know you’d like a free quote and consultation. You’ll need to fill in basic contact information — including your address and phone number, as well as your electric company and your average monthly energy bill.
A sales rep will quickly get back to you to begin the quote process and confirm some additional information. Be prepared for the call with a copy of your electric bill.
Your initial quote will be based on the information you provide, but Windmar will need to send a technician to your property to take measurements and confirm the details you provided. During this inspection, the location of your solar batteries and electric vehicle charger (if applicable) will be set.
Next, the company will begin designing a system that suits your energy needs and fits into your budget. The final design will be sent to you for approval, and the permitting process can begin once you give the final go-ahead and make a down payment.
The permitting process can take a few days or a few weeks, depending on your local municipality and permitting agency.
Once the permits are approved, Windmar will reach out to you to schedule the installation. In most cases, the company finishes installations in just a day or two. Someone will need to be home throughout the installation.
Finally, the system can be commissioned (activated). Your panels will begin producing energy for your home, and you can monitor the production live-time depending on the panel brand you selected.
Windmar Solar used to provide poor customer service, but it has turned a new leaf since the beginning of 2024 and now has significantly better customer review scores across the board. Many customers are pleased with the communication before and during the installation, and the past complaints about the lack of service and return phone calls after the system is commissioned have all but disappeared. The company only has 4 complaints filed in the past year with the BBB, and it has provided a resolution for every single one of them.
Overall, customers are pleased with the service they receive now, and few have mentioned any issues with communication or system functionality following the installation.
Solar panel costs vary quite a lot among different homes, projects and installers. The average cost per watt for solar panels in Florida is around $3.04, and Windmar Solar usually falls around this number. Your total cost will depend more on the system size required by your home than anything else, but most Floridians pay between $19,152 and $31,920 for solar panel systems after the federal tax incentive. Windmar’s prices are usually in line with these as well and average around $34,960 before the credit or $24,472 after the credit is applied.
Windmar only accepts cash purchases and solar loans, which are the only payment options we typically recommend. Customers looking for solar lease options or power purchase agreements (PPAs) will need to look elsewhere.
With that being said, we should also mention that leases and PPAs are likely to become more prevalent in the future, so we’d love to see Windmar add these options. California recently adopted net metering 3.0, which decreased the credit rate for exported electricity, cutting the average solar savings for customers quite a lot. Batteries are now necessary for most customers to see significant savings.
Most other states, including Florida, will likely roll out a similar change in the near future, and since batteries add between $10,000 and $20,000 to the typical system total, the low-cost leases and PPAs that aren’t as beneficial now might become the norm in the industry.
The table below provides a quick comparison of the different payment options Windmar Solar accepts, which include cash purchases and loans for solar equipment.
Cash Purchase | Solar Loan | |
System Ownership | ✓ | ✓ |
Upfront Cost | ✓ | ✓ |
Added Property Value | ✓ | ✓ |
Eligible for Tax Credit | ✓ | ✓ |
Payment Due to | Solar Installer | Loan Provider |
Unsure if one of the above options is better for you or if you should pursue a solar lease or PPA? Take a look at our solar financing guide for more information.
Solar equipment is expensive, so most solar customers will want to ensure they get a warranty that helps protect their systems. Warranties for solar equipment often cover either the physical equipment — including physical damage or power production — or the labor.
Unfortunately, Windmar Solar doesn’t provide any warranty for workmanship, so labor is not covered. This is a pretty significant downside, especially in an area like Florida that sees above-average rainfall — 53.7 inches as opposed to the national average of 36 inches — which can quickly uncover problems with the installation. Windmar has significantly brought down the number of complaints it has gotten regarding poor installation technique, but the risk is always there, even with the best installers.
Windmar also doesn’t provide its own physical warranty coverage, but you will get the manufacturer’s warranty. This ranges from 10 years, for some inverters and Tesla Powerwalls, to 25 years, which is more common for solar panels.
Reading through online customer reviews is often the most effective way to get a sense of how a company will serve you. When you’re spending thousands of dollars on solar equipment, customer reviews can save you headaches and help you find a reliable solar company. Below, we’ll include some of the positive and most negative Windmar Solar reviews to give you a snapshot of the service it tends to provide.
There are quite a lot of positive reviews of Windmar Solar, which have brought up the company’s overall rating overall on numerous review sites. We’ll include some of the reviews below that have looked favorably on Windmar.
“Excellent services from the beginning, orientation was easy to understand and answered all of our questions perfectly. Installation was very prompt and fast, the team did an excellent Job. Definitely would recommend.” — Nelson J via BBB
“A few months ago I decided to switch to solar energy with Windmar and the experience in all aspects has been very favorable, responsibility, customer service, excellent punctuality, but above all I thank Mr. Ronald for clarifying each and one of my doubts with empathy and kindness. . Grateful and highly recommended.” — Miguel S via BBB
Windmar used to have far more negative reviews, but since it has seemingly turned around its business practices, it no longer has an overwhelming number. Below are some of the negative reviews from recent customers. Most of them mention things like an undersized system and misrepresentation of incentives, like the federal tax credit.
“We started our journey September of 2022 and we did not receive our permission to operate until the end of July 2024. Our Sales rep said that with the purchase of two solar batteries and the panels installed we would not have an electric bill from the city. He stated that it will only be the service fees. Since having our panels operational we are still receiving an electronic bill over $150-200 every month, plus our loan payment of $350. We are currently paying more than before going Solar. — Patty S via BBB
“I signed a contract with Windmar September 2022. When I originally signed company sales representative advised the company would provide a $500 gift card for signing upon installation. The installation was a huge process from not having adequate contractors to permitting and when was final they still have not returned my call for an grounding wire that was installed esthetically unappealing for a newly remodeled home. Also, another complaint is coordination of when contractors were to be at the property days scheduled would not show and days I was not available several times showed up when I was not available for someone to be there.” — Carmelita via BBB
Windmar has turned itself around throughout 2024 and has become a well-respected member of the solar industry. But how does it stack up against the companies that rank first and second on our list of the best installers? The table below pits Windmar Solar against SunPower and Momentum Solar to give you an idea of how they compare.
Windmar Solar | SunPower | Momentum Solar | |
EcoWatch Rating | 4.0 | 5.0 | 4.5 |
Year Started | 2002 | 1986 | 2009 |
Services Offered | Solar panel, solar battery and EV charger installations; solar monitoring | Solar panel, solar battery and EV charger installations; solar monitoring | Solar panel and solar battery installations |
Service Areas | Florida and Puerto Rico | Nationwide | 11 States |
BBB Rating | A | A+ | A+ |
Payment Options | Cash payments, solar loans | Cash payments, solar loans, solar leases, power purchase agreements (PPAs) | Cash payments, solar loans, solar leases, power purchase agreements (PPAs) |
The cost information presented in this article is derived from a comprehensive analysis, incorporating data from multiple industry sources. The average cost per watt per state was calculated based on figures from Consumer Affairs, Energy Sage, and Berkeley Lab’s Electricity Markets & Policy Department. Additionally, monthly energy consumption and the average monthly cost of electricity were sourced from the U.S. Energy Information Administration, ensuring a well-rounded and accurate representation of the information presented.
Below, we’ll answer some of the most common questions we get about Windmar Solar. If you have specific questions that aren’t answered here, reach out to our team of solar experts at solar@ecowatch.com.
Windmar Solar is a legitimate company and is not a scam. The company used to have an overwhelming number of negative reviews and complaints filed with the Better Business Bureau, but over the course of 2023, it turned itself around. It went from a D+ rating with the BBB to an A, and the majority of the reviews are now positive as opposed to overwhelmingly negative.
As of recently, yes. Windmar Solar provides access to high-quality equipment at average prices, and the customer service that used to be poor is now quite good. Windmar doesn’t have a workmanship warranty, which is an important factor to consider, but the other warranty coverage is in line with the industry averages. Overall, going solar with Windmar is considered a good deal and should end up saving you quite a bit on your electric bills.
In most cases, going solar will lower or even eliminate your electric bill if you have a good interconnection policy. Going solar with Windmar, which installs high-quality equipment and has a good reputation now for customer service, should help you decrease or eliminate your electric bill. Just note that every home and system is different, so your all-in savings could vary quite a lot from the average in your area.
Windmar Solar is around average in price, costing most Floridians around $34,960 before the federal credit or $24,472 after the credit. Those prices assume you need the average system size for Florida — 11.5 kW — and pay the average price per kW in the area of $3.04. You should pay around these numbers through Windmar, which is in line with what other companies in the area charge.
Windmar Solar currently services Florida — via its Orlando office located at 6753 Kingspointe Pkwy, Orlando, FL 32819 — and Puerto Rico — via its Caribbean office.