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The installation bill, however, rises if homeowners want backup power battery storage.
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Most people can sense the red flags when a salesperson says something is “free,” but for some reason, there are still some shady companies left that didn’t get that memo. Most of those are door-to-door companies selling a smaller product or service like a security system, but they can also be as big as solar panels. 
Nonetheless, just like with a security system, solar can be a great home investment, and really one of the only ones that can actually continue to save thousands of dollars for years on end if you hire a trusted company. With complaints about less reputable companies on the rise, though, it’s important to stay informed about shady sales tactics so you can find a solar deal that doesn’t cause any regrets down the line.
Content creator and host Justin Pack from EcoBits took on this topic in a recent YouTube video. In the clip, Pack identifies four solar sales traps involving financing, electric bills, outage protection, and tax incentives. 
Pack says solar complaints increased eightfold over five years, though it’s important to note that almost all have stemmed from doorstep sales as well as people whose installations were finalized during low-power winter months, complaining before they had a chance to see big numbers from spring through early fall. Most who get solar see the system pay for itself in 7-10 years, but the four pitfalls Pack covers from shady companies can undermine those savings quickly.
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As the EcoBits video says, though, don’t believe any solar company that says it will completely eliminate your electric bill even if you get panels well beyond your home’s needs. In reality, the only way to have no electric bill, outside of rare communities that do not have a minimum customer charge, is to go totally off-grid, which is not practical for most families. 
When the sun goes down, solar production does too. Grid electricity can also supply a home with electricity after dark, of course, though, as can a home battery installation.
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Keeping appliances powered during a blackout takes more than rooftop panels: a standard solar installation switches off when the grid loses power, as a safety mechanism, so workers don’t get electrocuted by your solar power.
The only real way to have blackout protection and potentially go off-grid (that $0 utility bill goal) is to install home batteries alongside your solar panels. While there are rare configurations like Enphase’s Sunlight Backup system that can take a home off the grid without a battery, that option can only work while the sun is shining bright.
Getting a battery backup system means a bigger installation bill, however, usually by at least another $15,000 if you want a quality system from a name brand like Franklin, Enphase, or Tesla. 
“Free means no money down, not no cost,” Pack explains.
And while $0 down with monthly payments can actually be a good option for a number of big purchases, it’s important to understand the terms and to work with a reputable company. Undisclosed loan fees can make financing at least 30% costlier than paying cash, according to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. 
A solar loan is buying the panels outright and then owing another company that paid the balance for you upfront so it can collect over time with interest, just like a car payment or mortgage loan. With companies like Palmetto, you can also consider solar leasing instead, which can also come with $0 down, but instead of owning the panels, you lease them on your roof, paying a fixed rate like a car lease and typically getting included performance guarantees and maintenance included, with an option to buy later.
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Most companies that offer a solar lease also offer a power purchase agreement as well. A PPA also means the company owns the panels on your roof, but in this setup, it functions more like another electric company for you, where you pay a lower price for the electricity you get from the panels than what you’d pay your regular electric company for any power you use that doesn’t come from the panels.
In that way, a PPA creates a bit of a “no-brainer” floor when considering solar. If you can’t afford it upfront, a PPA can be structured to cost you nothing and only save you money on your electric bills, provided you agree to have the company install panels on your roof. 
With the normal residential federal homeowner solar tax credit having ended, Pack says that a pitch relying on that expired incentive deserves scrutiny, though he leaves out that solar leasing and PPA options can still provide the savings from this tax credit through an exception that kept the credit alive for businesses that put solar panels in use before the end of 2027.
It’s important to note that you won’t claim the tax credit yourself, as the company will, but if it’s a reputable company mentioning the credit, they will show you the exact 30% value being passed on directly to you. In these cases, the company is generally viewing that credit as its way to secure your business and compete with upfront purchasing and loans.
So while leasing and PPA both introduce another company into the mix to pay for the entire system, meaning you pay over time and that leasing or PPA company makes some profit, getting that 30% cost reduction through the federal incentive means you still have plenty of room for a good deal compared to buying outright. Since most companies doing them include performance guarantees on the panels and at least basic maintenance, the subscription model can be right for many households.
For homeowners weighing a doorstep offer, Pack advised getting promises in writing and making sure the pricing was clear.
Solar offers have left some homeowners facing unexpected costs or flat-out lies. These other stories cover “free” installation offers, costly leases, inflated quotes, tax-credit claims, and unexpected payment obligations.
• A UK homeowner tested a “free” solar deal, prompting commenters to warn against signing up.
• A New York homeowner received $64,000 quotes for solar, then learned prepaid leases may inflate prices.
• A San Diego buyer was steered toward a lease after being told tax credits had expired.
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© 2025 THE COOL DOWN COMPANY. All Rights Reserved. Do not sell or share my personal information. Reach us at hello@thecooldown.com.

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