7.6
Freedom Perpetually
Like
Manufacturing assure
Value match assure
Money escrow possibility
Do not like
Customer support considerations
Some warranties are longer elsewhere
For those who’re noticing extra photo voltaic panels popping up on roofs round your neighborhood, you are not imagining issues. Rooftop photo voltaic installations have been constantly growing, with the Photo voltaic Vitality Industries Affiliation predicting 15% of houses may have photo voltaic panels by 2030.
For those who’re seeking to be part of that 15%, you are going to want a dependable photo voltaic installer (except you are one of many few who can do it your self). One of many largest within the US, Freedom Perpetually installs high quality photo voltaic panels, photo voltaic batteries and inverters, whereas additionally highlighting newer methods to pay. The corporate has had some customer support considerations however says that new instruments and processes have latest inner satisfaction numbers trending up. It was the third-largest residential installer by market share in 2022, based on consulting agency Wooden Mackenzie.
Whether or not you are enthusiastic about photo voltaic panels for local weather, electrical energy reliability or power value causes, you will wish to know concerning the federal tax credit score, the set up course of and the way a lot it can save you. However consultants inform us that locking in a dependable installer is a very powerful factor. We’ll get you began by telling you what we learn about Freedom Perpetually.
Can photo voltaic panels prevent cash?
Desirous about understanding the affect photo voltaic can have on your own home? Enter some primary data beneath, and we’ll immediately present a free estimate of your power financial savings.
This overview should not take the place of you getting a number of quotes earlier than you progress ahead. Set up prices and incentives change state to state and metropolis to metropolis. Getting quotes from a number of installers in your space is your greatest protection towards a nasty deal. Opinions like this one can get you began, so this is what you should learn about Freedom Perpetually.
What do I get from Freedom Perpetually?
Freedom Perpetually installs high quality photo voltaic tools and extends warranties which are fairly normal for the trade. You should buy photo voltaic panels and enter right into a lease or an influence buy settlement.
What photo voltaic tools does Freedom Perpetually set up?
Freedom Perpetually installs a variety of essentially the most put in photo voltaic panels available on the market, firm representatives mentioned. These embrace fashions from LONGi, REC and Silfab. It is also provided Canadian Photo voltaic, JinkoSolar, Qcells and Trina and can once more sooner or later, mentioned Rob Angell, Freedom Perpetually’s vice chairman of gross sales operations. (REC and Canadian Photo voltaic each claimed spots on CNET’s checklist of greatest photo voltaic panels.) The corporate has additionally provided the Freedom Perpetually Photo voltaic Panel, which it really works with tier one producers to assemble.
You can too get a battery from Freedom Perpetually, which installs batteries from Tesla (which seems on CNET’s greatest photo voltaic battery checklist), Enphase and SolarEdge. These choices match Freedom Perpetually’s desire for working with dependable producers, Angell mentioned.
Inverters, which make the swap from the direct present electrical energy your photo voltaic panels generate to the alternating present electrical energy most of our electronics use, are available in two sorts: string inverters and microinverters. String inverters do the job for a bunch of panels directly, whereas microinverters work on every panel individually. Microinverters typically get extra electrical energy out of the system, however most string inverters include optimizers that accomplish the identical factor. Greater than 90% of installations have microinverters or optimizers, based on the Lawrence Berkeley Nationwide Laboratory.
Freedom Perpetually presents SolarEdge and Enphase inverters, in addition to Tesla inverters on a restricted foundation. Every of these manufacturers seem on CNET’s checklist of greatest inverters.
What warranties does Freedom Perpetually supply?
All the photo voltaic panel producers utilized by Freedom Perpetually supply not less than 25-year manufacturing warranties. These warranties assure a sure degree of manufacturing on the finish of the time period, typically from about 85% to 92% of the photo voltaic panel’s rated capability. Some degradation is regular however should not be a major fear.
Freedom Perpetually extends a 10-year guarantee to cowl the set up labor in your venture and a 10-year guarantee towards leaks brought on by the penetrations in your roof made throughout that set up. These numbers are fairly regular for the trade, although a number of corporations say their normal labor warranties are longer. In my expertise, it is uncommon to see weatherization warranties towards leaks longer than 10 years, although it is not unprecedented.
Freedom Perpetually additionally presents a manufacturing assure to prospects who buy their methods. Upon set up, the corporate ensures a sure degree of manufacturing from the system. For those who consider your system is performing beneath that degree, you may file a declare and, in the event you’re right, the corporate will minimize you a test. The quantity is commonly linked to your native value of electrical energy, so it varies by state, Angell mentioned.
This is likely one of the many photo voltaic installations that make Freedom Perpetually one of many largest photo voltaic corporations within the US.
Does Freedom Perpetually supply monitoring service?
Like with different corporations, Freedom Perpetually prospects will have the ability to monitor the app of their inverter’s producer. SolarEdge’s mySolarEdge app will get a 4.6-star score on the App Retailer and three.9 on Google Play. The Enphase Enlighten app will get a 4.6-star score on the App Retailer and a 4.1-star score on Google Play.
Freedom Perpetually has its personal app that lets individuals who personal their photo voltaic panels monitor their manufacturing. It is also the place prospects can monitor the progress of their venture and the paperwork essential to maintain the venture transferring. The app garners decrease critiques on the App Retailer (2.6 stars) and Google Play (2.2. stars), however you may entry all of this data via a web-based buyer portal too. In case your expertise with the app is poor, you should not must depend on it.
The timeline view throughout the Freedom Perpetually app.
Does Freedom Perpetually use subcontractors?
All set up work is finished by Freedom Perpetually workers, although some extra electrical work could also be subcontracted out.
How a lot do Freedom Perpetually photo voltaic panels value?
Like most photo voltaic corporations, Freedom Perpetually did not supply up particular pricing information for his or her installations. That is smart, since costs differ by location and venture due to variations in labor prices, system sizes, roof complexities and extra. On the one hand, we would prefer to see extra upfront value transparency from the photo voltaic trade at massive. However on the opposite, it is troublesome to offer an correct estimate with out taking a look at your particular residence and wishes. It is a part of the explanation getting a number of quotes is vital.
Nationwide averages can differ broadly and will not give an correct view of value in your area. One estimate from consulting agency Wooden Mackenzie put the common value at $3.28 per watt to start out 2023 ($16,400 for a 5-kilowatt system). One other estimate from the Lawrence Berkeley Nationwide Laboratory put the common at $4.20 per watt in 2022 ($21,000 for a 5-kilowatt system).
Freedom Perpetually representatives mentioned that its finance companions say the corporate is incessantly 20 to 25 cents per watt cheaper than rivals. (I could not independently confirm the assertion.)
If one other firm beats their estimate, Freedom Perpetually representatives can match the value.
“That is sometimes not an issue for us to do,” Angell mentioned.
What financing choices does Freedom Perpetually supply?
You should buy photo voltaic panels from Freedom Perpetually and it additionally installs for leases and energy buy agreements. Generally, proudly owning your panels outright will prevent extra money in the long term, although an influence buy settlement or lease will ship financial savings nearly instantly.
Excessive rates of interest are making money purchases with out a mortgage extra frequent. Money purchases could be a headache for each the installer and the client, particularly when disagreements concerning the work come up, Angell mentioned. To get round these challenges, Freedom Perpetually has began providing money escrow purchases, the place a 3rd occasion holds the money whereas the work is being finished and does not launch it to the corporate till it is accomplished.
“It protects all events: [It] makes positive that buyer is aware of their cash is just not going to vanish. It protects us to know that the cash is there,” Angell mentioned.
Does Freedom Perpetually function in my state? How do I order?
Freedom Perpetually operates in 34 states and territories.
Service is coming quickly to Michigan, Minnesota, Louisiana and West Virginia, firm representatives mentioned.
To order from Freedom Perpetually, the method happens prefer it does for many corporations. A consultant of the corporate will conduct a website audit to take related photos and measurements of your own home. The corporate will pull all of the permits and coordinate together with your utility. (You’ll be able to monitor your venture’s progress and see predicted deadlines within the buyer portal.)
Whereas the timeline varies from place to position and venture to venture, a mean set up from Freedom Perpetually goes from the beginning of the method to activation in about 100 days, Angell mentioned.
Freedom Perpetually operates in over half of the US.
Is Freedom Perpetually your best option?
As with all main residence enchancment venture, you will wish to store round and get a number of quotes earlier than you progress forward with one firm. That mentioned, Freedom Perpetually might be a very good match for you in the event you’re searching for the backing of one of many largest photo voltaic corporations within the nation. The tools it installs is high quality and among the many most generally put in fashions obtainable.
Freedom Perpetually’s warranties are just about inline with the trade, however a manufacturing assure, whereas different corporations are beginning to supply them, continues to be a pleasant perk that provides some safety to your monetary funding. Equally, a money escrow buy possibility would possibly take some stress out of the acquisition and set up course of.
On-line reviewers have rated Freedom Perpetually poorly (extra on that beneath). Whereas on-line critiques aren’t essentially gospel reality, it is best to look into critiques for any firm you are contemplating.
Professionals
High quality equipmentProduction guaranteePrice match guaranteeCash escrow possibility
Cons
Customer support concernsSome warranties are longer elsewhere
Freedom Perpetually critiques: What are prospects saying?
Dependable, goal customer support metrics are troublesome to come back by, however Freedom Perpetually’s web page on the Higher Enterprise Bureau signifies issues. In my conversations with firm representatives, they acknowledged that unhappy prospects had been an issue for the corporate however that after some modifications their latest inner buyer satisfaction numbers are far more constructive. On-line critiques aren’t an ideal predictor of what your expertise will likely be however could be helpful in figuring out developments and questions it is best to ask earlier than signing on with an organization.
The excerpts of critiques beneath come from the corporate’s Higher Enterprise Bureau web page. They might have been edited for grammar and spelling.
5-star critiques
“Nice set up crew. Very environment friendly. Did a wonderful job. Well mannered, skilled, and answered all my questions.” Particia O. 11/18/2023
“They arrived on time, they usually completed their a part of the set up in a single go to. They cleaned up the areas used. All the employees have been skilled with a terrific work ethic. I extremely advocate this firm.” Judy A. 11/16/2023
One-star critiques
“Good till you signal the contract, after that they’ll drag the venture for months. Put in the panels, and nonetheless did not come again to really join them. Each time you name they convey excuses and apparently do not have anybody they’ll schedule to come back out to complete the job. Very sad.” Ramel A. 11/17/2023
“I bought my panels Aug. 2022… it is Nov. 2023. I’ve known as, threatened, and pleaded with this firm to repair my panels and even make them totally operational. All I get is “we may have somebody look into it.” Spoiler alert nobody has. Please spend your cash elsewhere.” Lupe R. 11/4/2023
How we consider photo voltaic corporations
Reviewing photo voltaic corporations in a hands-on means is troublesome, given the variations between initiatives. To offer a useful overview, we centered on what we are able to measure and meaningfully evaluate amongst corporations.
These issues fall into three classes: tools, warranties and repair.
For tools, corporations obtain scores for the panels, inverters and batteries they set up. Warranties embrace the ensures on the panels, workmanship and weatherization towards leaks. Corporations earn factors for service if they provide a value match, a significant degree of value transparency and a well-rated app for monitoring photo voltaic manufacturing. They lose factors if there are main points pertaining to customer support (lawsuits, investigations or clear reputations for shoddy service). These points will all the time be detailed within the overview.
You’ll be able to learn an in depth have a look at how the scoring breaks down.
We ignore the common value of an organization’s installations of their rating. This data is not available and might change from place to position and venture to venture. For that motive (not less than partly), corporations do not prefer to share pricing data both. We additionally ignore what number of states an organization operates in, although we do report it. Until you personal a number of homes in several states, you most likely do not have interstate wants you need the corporate to meet.
Freedom Perpetually FAQs
How lengthy does it take Freedom Perpetually to put in photo voltaic panels?
With the massive caveat that it varies primarily based on the complexity of a venture, the velocity of allowing from native authorities and a number of different components, firm representatives informed CNET that 100 days is a typical timeline to go from preliminary curiosity to operational photo voltaic panels.
What model of photo voltaic panels does Freedom Perpetually set up?
Freedom Perpetually installs all kinds of a few of the most generally put in residential photo voltaic panels. It presents base degree panels in addition to choices which may match particular efficiency wants.