How to Choose a Solar Installer in Texas: 10 Questions Every DFW Homeowner Should Ask

The solar industry in Texas has grown fast — and so has the number of companies willing to cut corners on equipment, permitting, and warranties. Choosing the wrong installer in Dallas-Fort Worth does not just cost you money. It can mean an undersized system, a roof leak years later, or a warranty nobody honors. Here are the ten questions that separate reliable local contractors from the ones you should avoid.

1. Are You Licensed as an Electrical Contractor in Texas?

Solar installation in Texas requires an Electrical Contractor License (ECL) issued by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR). The company must also have a Master Electrician on staff or as a qualifying party. This is not optional. If an installer cannot show you their TDLR license number, stop the conversation.

2. Do You Pull Permits for Every Residential Installation?

Solar installations require permits from your city or county and interconnection approval from your utility (Oncor for most DFW customers). Skipping permits is illegal, voids equipment warranties, and creates serious problems when you sell your home. Any installer who suggests skipping permits to save money or time is a red flag you cannot ignore.

• ✓City permits ensure your installation meets local building and electrical codes
• ✓Oncor interconnection approval is required before your system can legally send power to the grid
• ✓Unpermitted solar can be flagged during a home sale and may require removal at your expense
• ✓Insurance claims related to unpermitted electrical work are often denied

3. Who Actually Installs My System — Your Employees or Subcontractors?

Many national solar companies sell in DFW but use subcontractors to do the installation. That is not automatically bad — some subcontractors are excellent. But you deserve to know who is getting on your roof. Ask whether the installation crew is employed by the company, how long they have worked together, and whether the company has a local office that can respond to service calls.

4. What Brands of Panels and Inverters Do You Use?

Tier-1 solar panels from manufacturers like REC Group, Q CELLS, Canadian Solar, and Jinko Solar have strong track records and bankable warranties. Inverters from Enphase, SolarEdge, and SMA are similarly well-established. Be wary of installers who cannot name the specific brands and model numbers in their proposal, or who use unfamiliar equipment you cannot research independently.

5. Can You Provide References from Installations in the Last 12 Months?

A legitimate installer has a trail of happy customers. Ask for 3-5 references from jobs completed in the past year — not testimonials on their website, but actual names and phone numbers you can call. Ask those customers whether the system was installed on the promised timeline, whether any issues came up, and whether the company responded quickly.

6. How Do You Size the System — and Can You Show Your Work?

Any credible DFW solar installer should request 12 months of your electricity bills before proposing a system size. National installers who quote a system size without seeing your actual usage are guessing — and undersized systems are the single most common complaint in post-installation reviews. Your proposal should include your estimated annual production in kWh and a comparison to your actual annual usage.

7. What Does Your Workmanship Warranty Cover and How Long Does It Last?

Equipment warranties come from the manufacturer. A workmanship warranty covers the installation itself — roof penetrations, wiring, racking, and any labor-related issues. Reputable DFW installers offer 5-10 year workmanship warranties. A company offering less than 5 years is telling you something about how long they expect to be in business.

8. Who Do I Call in Year 7 If Something Breaks?

This is the most underrated question in solar. The national company that sold you a system in 2026 may not exist in 2033. Local installers with a physical DFW presence are more likely to be around to honor their workmanship warranties and coordinate equipment warranty claims. Ask directly: do you have a local service team, or do you dispatch from out of state?

9. Do You Handle the Oncor Rebate and Form 50-123 Paperwork?

For DFW homeowners, two key documents matter after installation: Form 50-123 for the Texas property tax exemption and the Oncor Solar+Storage rebate application for customers adding battery storage. A full-service installer handles both on your behalf. If an installer tells you to "just Google it" after installation, that is a service quality problem.

10. What Is Your Cancellation and Change Order Policy?

The Texas consumer protection period for home solicitation contracts gives you 3 business days to cancel without penalty. Beyond that, understand what happens if you change your mind, if your HOA rejects the design, or if a permit is denied. Reputable installers have transparent change order processes and will not trap you in a contract if circumstances change.

Red Flags That Should Stop a DFW Solar Deal

• ✓Pressure to sign today — "this pricing expires tonight" is a sales tactic, not a real constraint
• ✓No physical office address in DFW or Texas — national call centers make service calls difficult
• ✓Inability to provide a TDLR license number upfront
• ✓A proposal that does not reference your actual electricity bills
• ✓Equipment brands you cannot find reviews for with an independent Google search
• ✓Workmanship warranty under 5 years or vague warranty language
• ✓Claims that you will receive the 30% federal tax credit — the residential ITC expired January 1, 2026
• ✓Verbal promises that differ from the written contract — get everything in writing

Why Zencore Solar Is Built Around These Standards

We are a licensed Texas electrical contractor based in DFW. Every installation is permitted, inspected, and uses Tier-1 equipment with full manufacturer warranties. We handle Form 50-123 and Oncor rebate paperwork at no extra charge. And we have been in the same community as our customers long enough that our neighbors know where to find us if something needs attention in year eight.