Semper Solaris Review: Costs, Quality, Services & More (2024)
Here’s what you need to know about Semper Solaris:
- Is Semper Solaris a legit company?
- What does the solar installation process look like with Semper Solaris?
- Is Semper Solaris expensive?
- What do customers have to say about Semper Solaris?
A veteran-owned business, Semper Solaris derives its name from the U.S. Marine Corps motto “Semper Fidelis,” meaning “always faithful.” This review covers all the important details about the installer including pricing, services, financing options, customer experiences, and more.
Is Semper Solaris a Good Solar Company?
Semper Solaris prides itself on being a local company built on the military values of “loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity, and personal courage.”1 Semper has installed thousands of solar power systems using premium, American-made equipment. Although the company does not offer a wide range of brands or industry-leading warranties, it shows a lot of promise when it comes to demonstrating it’s a reliable solar company.
What Should You Know About Semper Solaris?
Semper Solaris was founded in San Diego, California in 2012 and offers solar systems, battery storage, roofing and heating and air conditioning services. With a focus on military values and service in its marketing, Semper has attracted many customers. The company claims to have installed over 10,000 systems in just a decade. Semper was awarded the SunPower Residential National Top Producer of the Year award in 2016.
The company places a high value on giving back to the community, awarding home improvements to deserving veterans and first responders under its Semper Cares Initiative2, and scholarships toward alternative energy studies under its Semper Solaris Scholarship program.3
Semper Solaris Fast Facts | |
Year Started | 2012 |
Service Areas | Texas, California, Florida |
Services Offered | Solar panel and solar battery installations; roofing services; HVAC services |
Types of Solar Equipment Offered | Silfab, Solaria, Tesla, Enphase |
Certifications | North American Board of Certified American Professionals (NABCEP)-certified technicians, Tesla Powerwall certified installer; accreditation by the Better Business Bureau |
Better Business Bureau Rating | A+ |
Semper Solaris
Average cost
Pros
- Competitive pricing
- Veteran-owned company
- Makes charitable contributions
Cons
- Limited brands of solar equipment available
- Limited warranty coverage
Semper Solaris Services and Installation
Semper Solaris offers solar energy systems to homeowners. It also offers battery storage to secure homes against power outages, and is a certified installer of Tesla’s Powerwall battery. Semper’s offerings also include roof replacement, repair and heating and air conditioning services. As for the solar systems, Semper states that from the date of contract signing it takes six to ten weeks to complete an installation. Below is a quick outline of what a typical solar panel installation experience with Semper would look like.
Solar Installation Experience
Contact Semper Solaris
Semper has a booking appointment form for prospective customers on its website through which you can request an appointment with a Semper rep at a date and time convenient for you. You can also chat online with or call Semper.
Solar Inspection
Once you have consulted with Semper Solaris, the company will send a rep for an inspection of your home. Your electric panel and breakers will be inspected to ensure that they can support a new solar system — or if an upgrade if necessary. You’ll also consult with the rep on the placement of the panels on the roof, which will be inspected for structural integrity to ensure it can handle the load, and your solar payment method.
Solar Permitting
Semper will work on getting the necessary permits and on your behalf and help you sign up for tax credits, rebates, and local incentives such as the SGIP (Self-Generation Incentive Program). This process can take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks. Your Semper Solaris project manager will keep you updated on status.
Installation
Once the permits are received and the equipment arrives, the installation can begin. Your roof will be made secure with racking equipment for the panels and any other support measures or small repairs needed will be completed. If your project will involve net metering, this stage may include installation of an upgraded power meter to allow for bi-directional electricity metering. Wiring will be installed and connected to the solar panels and inverter/power controllers and the system will be checked to make sure it’s functioning properly.
Final inspection before powering on
The final step is interconnection and approval from the utility company and/or or local jurisdiction to ensure that the installation was done in compliance with standards. After the system has been signed off, the switch can officially be turned on and your solar panels can get to work producing electricity.
Semper Solaris Customer Service
Semper Solaris offers a virtual chat assistant and a direct phone number to speak with a member of its team. Most customers have found Semper’s customer service to be satisfactory, while some customers did complain about slow responses.
Semper Solaris Costs and Financing
Semper’s pricing is affordable — hitting at or below the U.S. average — and the company uses equipment from reputable brands. The cost for your system will depend on several factors including size, type and overall system complexity.
Semper offers a $500 reward when you refer a new customer who proceeds with an install. The company also offers discounts to veterans and first responders.
Financing Options Through Semper Solaris
Semper Solaris offers a range of purchasing options to make going solar easy. The table below gives a clear idea of what to expect with each of the available purchasing options.
Cash Purchase | Solar Loan | Solar Lease | Solar PPA | |
System Ownership | ✓ | ✓ | ||
Maintenance Included | ✓ | ✓ | ||
Upfront Cost | ✓ | ✓ | ||
Added Property Value | ✓ | ✓ | ||
Eligible for Tax Credit | ✓ | ✓ | ||
Payment Due to | Solar Installer | Loan Provider | Solar Installer | Solar Installer |
Going solar is a big decision and choosing the right purchasing model can be confusing. While a cash purchase offers maximum value, a loan, lease or PPA (power purchase agreement) takes away the stress of paying a large sum up-front. Check out our solar financing guide to learn about all the options in more detail.
Semper Solaris Solar Panel Warranty
One of the cons of choosing Semper Solaris for your home solar system is its unimpressive warranty. While the company cleverly markets the equipment warranties, touting the 25-year panel warranty passed on from the manufacturer, it doesn’t offer a warranty on its own workmanship. Many installers offer a 25-year warranty on labor, so Semper’s warranty is definitely one of the less remarkable ones in the industry.
Semper Solaris Reviews
Customer reviews are one of the best ways to truly judge a solar installer’s quality, and Semper has received hundreds of reviews from customers over the years. While the majority of these are positive and laud Semper’s knowledge and follow-up, there are plenty of negative reviews that cite slow or disappointing service/support. Let’s take a look at a few examples.
Positive Semper Solaris Reviews
“Excellent! My solar ground-mount looks great and although it took awhile to be completed because the County of SD is very slow we are happy. The crew was gentle when working around my wife’s plants and garden which we very much appreciated. We worked with Rhami during the sales process and he was informative and always available to us which made us feel in good hands.”
– Peter D. via Trustpilot
“Excellent service. The technicians who installed the panels as well as the technicians who installed the battery back up were all very professional, friendly, and did a wonderful job cleaning up after their work. They work long hard days until the whole installation in two days. They were exceedingly professional and a joy to have worked for us.”
– Solomon F. via BBB
Negative Semper Solaris Reviews
“My project for solar batteries is 2 years in the making and still no work has been started. The salespeople are very good at making you believe they have superior service but don’t be fooled. Their communication is poor at best [and] nonexistent frequently. My rebate from PG&E has had to be extended because this is taking so long and the extension is expiring again.”
– Quo E. via Yelp
“I engaged Semper to install batteries and hook up existing solar panels I already had on my roof. This took them 2.5 years. I spoke to literally 30+ people over the course of the project, none of whom had any idea what was going on at any point. They failed inspection 3 [times]. They installed a safety bollard in the middle of my garage, turning it into a 1-car garage, which obviously doesn’t work.”
– Adam via Best Company
Solar Energy Provider Comparison
Here’s a snapshot of how Semper Solaris compares to a acouple of other companies:
Semper Solaris | Freedom Solar Power | Momentum Solar |
EcoWatch Rating | 3.5 | 4.0 |
Year Started | 2012 | 2007 |
Services Offered | Solar panel and solar battery installations; roofing services; HVAC services | Solar panel and battery installations |
Service Areas | TX, CA, FL | TX, CO, FL, NC, VA |
BBB Rating | A+ | A |
Payment Options | Cash, loan, lease, PPA | Cash, loan, lease (commercial only), PPA (commercial only) |
Frequently Asked Questions
If you have specific questions that aren’t answered here, reach out to our team of solar experts at solar@ecowatch.com.
Semper Solaris Construction Inc. is a licensed roofing and solar contractor and a fully legit, veteran-owned solar company. It has all the required licenses and certifications, and has completed thousands of projects.
Semper Solaris offers high-quality components, a variety of financing options and decent pricing. Despite Semper’s unremarkable warranty, overall we would say that it’s a fair deal for homeowners.
Thanks to trained design and installation teams and reliable components, using Semper Solaris for your solar panel system will certainly lower your electricity bill.
The cost of solar panels installed by Semper Solaris is not significantly higher than that of most other companies. Semper’s costs can be described as affordable.
Semper Solaris operates in some of the top states for solar power: California (San Diego, El Cajon, Bay area, etc.), Texas (Dallas) and Florida (Tampa). The company’s website is http://www.sempersolaris.com.
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