Fire Mountain Solar
Is This Your Business?0.0
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Author: Kaitlyn Short
Founded in northwestern Washington in 2001, Fire Mountain Solar is a DIY solar PV system provider that also conducts full-service solar installation services across the Evergreen State. Unlike several companies in the solar industry, Fire Mountain Solar is not a solar retailer, but rather a consulting office with access to a vast warehouse of solar array equipment and solar-powered devices that can be customized for any grid-tied, grid hybrid, or off-grid rooftop system.
Top Ranked Companies
The Good
- Expansive Solar Catalog
- Full Service Installation
- “Top 500 Solar Contractor”
Expansive Solar Catalog
Fire Mountain Solar offers customers an impressive catalog of solar energy system equipment and other solar products to help them assemble their own DIY solar systems. In addition to pre-assembled DIY solar kits, which include solar panels, solar inverters, racking equipment, and solar backup batteries, the company also offers the following:
- Enclosures and electrical panels
- Solar generators
- Monitors and meters
- Refrigerators and freezers
- Solar-powered water pumps
- Solar batteries
- Solar Panels
In addition to solar inverters from Magnum Energy and OutBack Power, Fire Mountain Solar uses panels from five industry-leading manufacturers:
- Canadian Solar — 19.91 percent efficiency average, 10-year warranty
- Hanwha Q CELLS — 20.1 percent efficiency average, 12-year warranty
- Mission Solar — 19.35 percent efficiency average, 12-year warranty
- Silfab Solar — 19.4 percent efficiency average, 25-year warranty
- Trina Solar — 19.9 percent efficiency average, 10-year warranty
Full Service Installation
In the event a customer would prefer a professional installation, Fire Mountain Energy has that covered. Not only will the company provide expert consulting and design, Fire Mountain Energy will also send its team of master electricians and solar installers to mount the solar energy system and/or backup battery system. The company is committed to tailoring each solar solution to its customers specific requirements.
“Top 500 Solar Contractor”
In 2014, Fire Mountain Solar was named a “Top 500 Solar Contractor” by Solar Power World Magazine. This designation is awarded to residential and commercial solar installers that demonstrate both quality and quantity in their solar panel installations.
The Bad
- No NABCEP Certification
- Undisclosed Service Warranty
- Undisclosed Financing Options
- Limited National Reach
No NABCEP Certification
Despite employing master electricians who are licensed in the State of Washington and specialists who have passed courses sponsored by the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), Fire Mountain Solar does not appear to have a certification from the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP). The NABCEP represents the certification arm of the solar industry, and provides industry-leading training programs that uphold best practices and solar technology literacy.
While the lack of an NABCEP certification does not imply poor installation practices on the part of Fire Mountain Solar, its presence can certainly bolster the company’s claims of quality service and installation.
Undisclosed Service Warranty
While Fire Mountain Solar is primarily a do-it-yourself solar provider, the company does also provide professional installation services to residents of Washington State. And while the bulk of the equipment the company implements into its customized systems carries warranties from the manufacturers, Fire Mountain Solar itself has not disclosed whether it provides its own warranty on its installations.
Unlike equipment warranties, which protect solar panel systems from defective equipment, a workmanship warranty (also called a service or labor warranty) protects the system from errors committed during the installation process. This omission, along with the apparent lack of NABCEP certification, may cause customers to shy away from Fire Mountain Solar’s full-service installation services as a whole.
Undisclosed Financing Options
Although Fire Mountain Solar provides a full catalog of its solar products and equipment on its website, the company has omitted pricing information from each product’s page; instead, customers will need to contact the company directly for product and shipping prices. On top of this, the solar company does not disclose information on whether customers opting for full-service installation can finance their solar panel system through a third-party loan, solar lease, or power purchase agreement (PPA).
Limited National Reach
Fire Mountain Solar only provides full-service installations in Washington State. That said, the company appears to ship its DIY solar equipment kits nationwide.
The Bottom Line
For customers with a penchant for DIY home projects and who want to invest in solar energy, Fire Mountain Solar could be a good place to start. No complicated contracts or pushy salesmen, and installation happens on your time. If you’re local to Washington State, Fire Mountain Solar could also be worth investigating for its installation services. However, much more information — namely financing options, warranties, and certification status — is required before customers sign the dotted line.
