Customers should guarantee they aren’t at midnight when shopping for photo voltaic panels and power merchandise following an increase in cowboy installers.
Gareth Jones, Vice President for the Federation of Grasp Builders Wales and Managing Director of Carbon Zero Renewables, is anxious unlicensed and inexperienced firms and people are coming into the market and capitalising on a growth in inexperienced power as a result of rising value of gasoline and electrical energy.
Carbon Zero Renewables – which has websites in Deeside, Mochdre, St Asaph and a brand new Previous Colwyn headquarters – has skilled a surge in enterprise and brought on employees to fulfill demand, however Gareth is extra targeted on shining a lightweight on the doable pitfalls going through owners.
“The trade has seen an increase within the variety of installers popping up out of nowhere and disappearing once more, which, if there is a matter with the panels, leaves the client with nowhere else to go,” he mentioned.
“We’re additionally listening to of increasingly more folks shopping for photo voltaic panels on-line and attempting to put in them themselves, which is a foul thought as insurance coverage firms advocate all installations are finished by certified and authorized specialists.
“The long-term advantages of renewable power are constructive from an financial and environmental perspective, so individuals are higher doing issues the proper manner with a reputable provider the primary time, so that they don’t must do it once more at further value.”
A Web Zero Ambassador for the North Wales Mersey Dee Enterprise Council’s new Web Zero North Wales community, Gareth added:
“The variety of calls we’ve had from owners wanting recommendation as a result of they haven’t been given the proper steering and the installer isn’t round anymore, is sort of horrifying.
“This occurred in 2015 when there was the same drawback, an inflow of latest suppliers flooded the market, bought the most cost effective merchandise, made some cash, and disappeared.
“Given the cost-of-living disaster folks can not afford to be duped, they have to do their analysis and due diligence as a result of this isn’t like shopping for a toaster, it’s a giant funding that if finished proper can get monetary savings and decrease your carbon footprint.”
Gareth additionally revealed – following a Freedom of Data (FOI) request – that fireplace crews battled a median of 10 photo voltaic panel-related fires every month this yr throughout the UK.
“It’s so necessary folks have the most secure gear put in or the very least fitted by an accredited firm. The typical photo voltaic panel declare can value round £8,000 and one declare in 2020 triggered £1.5million of injury and made 30 folks quickly homeless at a block of flats in Kent.
“Customers must do their homework and the most cost effective citation isn’t all the time the very best. Typically it’s low-cost for a cause so folks should be certain they’re getting like-for-like quotes.
“It’s essential know what you’re shopping for and what the warranties are, that is actually necessary. If it goes improper who’s the guarantee with?”
Gareth concluded it’s also essential prospects know the distinction between a 10-year assure and a 10-year guarantee; the assure is completed by a 3rd social gathering – equivalent to an insurance coverage firm – and the guarantee by the corporate, but when the corporate not exists the place do you flip?
He added:
“There may be quite a lot of ailing recommendation on the market, and let’s be trustworthy, how many individuals examine what panels are on their roof, or know what occurs if one breaks?
“One dimension doesn’t match all in relation to renewable power, each property is completely different, so each system must be as properly – if anybody has any issues please get in contact as a result of it’s time we got here collectively and resolved this situation at a time when so many households are already struggling.”
