The equipment matters, but the person who installs it matters more. A mediocre panel fitted well will outlast a premium panel fitted badly. Here is how to separate careful companies from hurried ones in late 2026, a market where plenty of new firms have appeared and incentives keep shifting. More guides on the process live in our installation and installers hub.
Start with the basics
Before you compare prices, confirm the company is real and properly set up:
- Licensed for electrical work, and for plumbing if hot water is involved, where your province requires it
- Insured, with proof you can see, covering both liability and workers
- Using equipment that carries recognised certification marks, such as a CSA mark
- Operating for long enough that you can find past customers
In Ontario, for example, the Electrical Safety Authority oversees inspections; in other provinces a different body does. Ask who inspects, and ask whether the company pulls the permit itself. Our guide to permits and inspections explains who does what. Ask for references and actually call one or two. A person who had work done three years ago will tell you things a testimonial page never will.
Get at least three quotes
A single quote has nothing to be measured against. Three lets you see what is normal. Ask each company to price the same job so you are comparing like with like: same roof, same target production, same warranty terms.
A good quote lists the panel model with the rated power of each, the inverter type, the total system size and expected yearly production, the mounting method, what is included (permits, utility paperwork, inspection, monitoring), each warranty with its length, and a payment schedule. If something is missing, ask. Vagueness at this stage usually becomes a surprise later.
Compare the numbers fairly
Divide each total price by system watts to get a price per watt, then compare. Here is an illustrative example for a 7 kW home.
| Quote A | Quote B | Quote C | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total price | $19,500 | $22,400 | $26,600 |
| Price per watt | $2.79 | $3.20 | $3.80 |
| Expected yearly output | 8,400 kWh | 8,300 kWh | 8,500 kWh |
| Workmanship warranty | 5 years | 10 years | 10 years |
The cheapest is not automatically wrong and the dearest is not automatically better. What you want is a reason for each gap. Quote A may use simpler equipment, Quote C may include a panel upgrade. Our cost per watt guide shows how to adjust for such differences, and solar costs and payback puts the figures in context.
Check the production estimate
Installers use software to predict yearly output. Ask what shading and tilt assumptions went in. In southern Canada a kilowatt of panels often produces roughly 1,100 to 1,400 kWh a year, so an estimate far outside that range needs an explanation. Two companies with similar panels on the same roof should land in the same neighbourhood.
Read the warranty properly
| Warranty | What it covers | Typical length |
|---|---|---|
| Product | The hardware itself | Often 10 to 25 years |
| Performance | Minimum output over time | About 25 years |
| Workmanship | The installation, including leaks | Varies, so ask |
Workmanship cover protects your roof. A company that vanishes in five years makes a long product warranty hard to claim on, which is another reason to favour established firms. Details are in solar panel warranties explained.
Warning signs
- Pressure to sign today because of a special price
- A door-to-door pitch with no written proposal
- Refusal to climb onto the roof or look at your electrical panel
- A deposit far above what is normal, or payment in full before work starts
- Promises of free solar, or guaranteed savings with no assumptions shown
- Claims that an incentive is about to expire, when the programme page says otherwise
Questions that reveal a lot
- Who will physically do the work: your own crew or subcontractors?
- How do you seal roof penetrations, and what do you guarantee about leaks?
- What happens if the inverter fails in year eight?
- How do you handle the utility connection paperwork?
- Can I see a system you installed several years ago?
A note on timing
In late 2026 many provincial programmes are still changing, and busy seasons can stretch lead times to several weeks or more. Do not let a short installation calendar rush you into signing. A good company will give you a written timeline, tell you what it needs from you, and explain when the utility is likely to approve the connection.
After you choose
Read the contract slowly. Check the cancellation terms, the timeline and what happens if the price changes. Take photos before, during and after. Keep the commissioning report, serial numbers and permit sign-off together in one folder. If you are curious what the sequence looks like from signature to switch-on, see the installation step by step. Some homeowners wonder about skipping an installer entirely, and our DIY guide explains the legal and safety limits.
Quick answers
How many solar quotes should I get?
At least three, priced on the same basis, so you can see what is normal and spot outliers.
What warranty matters most on a solar installation?
Workmanship cover is key because it protects your roof from leaks caused by the installation. Product and performance warranties matter too.