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February 12, 2024

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    Sunrun is one of the largest solar companies in the country, with more than 175 locations spread across 20 states. Sunrun acquired Vivint Solar in 2020, boosting its reach even further and bringing its products to more homeowners throughout the United States. While Sunrun’s prices are lower than average by solar industry standards, its reputation for providing lackluster customer service makes it hard to recommend the company.

    In this article, I’m going to tell you everything I know about Sunrun so you can decide whether it’s the right solar installer for you. I’ll discuss the company’s product lineup, pricing structure, solar warranty, customer service reputation, and more.

    Highest Quality Panels

    4.4

    Installs high-quality Maxeon panels

    Outstanding customer support

    Best-in-class warranty lasts 40 years

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    Best Damage Protection

    3.7

    Affordable prices

    Excellent selection of panels and services

    Locations in 22 states

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    Best Solar Financing
    blue raven logo

    4.3

    No payments needed for 18 months

    Provides in-house financing

    Offers top brands like LG and Trina

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    Best Customer Service

    3.9

    Highly rated customer service

    Provides  24/7 panel monitoring

    Solid A+ rating with the BBB

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      The Best Solar Companies of 2024

      This list below shows my top picks for the nation’s best solar installers:

      SunPower: Highest Quality Panels

      Compare the Best Solar Companies

      CompanyLogoStar RatingBest ForService AreaLink

      Highest Quality Panels

      All 50 states

      Best Damage Protection

      20 states

      blue raven logo

      Best Solar Financing

      22 states

      Best Customer Service

      9 states

      Best Customization Options

      9 states

      Fastest-Growing Solar Provider

      7 states

      CompanyStar RatingBest ForService AreaBBB Rating

      Highest Quality Panels

      All 50 states

      A+

      Best Damage Protection

      20 states

      A+

      Best Solar Financing

      22 states

      A+

      Best Customer Service

      9 states

      A+

      Best Customization Options

      9 states

      A+

      Fastest-Growing Solar Provider

      7 states

      F


      My Take on Sunrun Solar

      Sunrun has a reputation for providing poor customer service and warranty support, so I don’t recommend choosing the company as your solar installer in most cases. There are countless negative Google reviews of Sunrun, but the company has an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau (BBB) as of November 2024.

      Sunrun remains one of the most prominent solar installation companies in the country despite negative reviews due to its low prices and wide selection of panels and services. Even so, unless you live somewhere without alternative options, I don’t recommend going with Sunrun.

      What I Like About Sunrun Solar

      Let’s start with some positives. Sunrun’s prices are hard to beat, which makes the company’s solar power systems accessible to people who have less to spend on a solar project. The company also has good financing options. Sunrun customers can pay cash, take out a solar loan, or enter into a lease agreement or power purchase agreement (PPA).

      Sunrun also has a great product selection. It installs a variety of high-quality tier-one solar panels from the industry’s top manufacturers, as well as extra solar equipment like electric vehicle (EV) chargers and solar batteries.

      Sunrun’s sizable service area is also a plus, giving you a good chance that there’s a Sunrun office near you.

      Affordable prices
      Excellent selection of panels and services
      Locations in 22 states
      Abysmal customer service reputation
      Poor warranty support
      Focuses on leases

      Drawbacks of Sunrun Solar

      Sunrun’s most egregious drawback is the masses of negative customer reviews logged on solar review sites across the internet. The company has a notorious history of providing poor customer support and having terrible communication during the solar panel installation process.

      Sunrun also has trouble supporting its warranties, and numerous customer reviews say the company takes forever to respond to claims and schedule repairs. If you have a problem with your solar energy system, you don’t want to have to wait months for Sunrun to fix the issue while you have to pay for electricity in addition to paying off your system.

      Another drawback of choosing Sunrun is that the company encourages new customers to sign up for a solar lease instead of paying for their systems in cash or via a loan. Leases are better for Sunrun but save you less money in the long run. The company uses misleading sales tactics to make it seem like you’re getting a better deal with a solar lease while in reality you’ll save less money in the long run.

      You can check out the video below to see an honest review from a past Sunrun customer:


      What Solar Panels Does Sunrun Offer?

      Sunrun offers a decent selection of tier-one panels from some of the industry’s top photovoltaic panel manufacturers like Qcells, Canadian Solar, and REC. These panels cover a range of price points, efficiency ratings, and power outputs, giving you a lot of flexibility when designing your system.

      Qcells is my go-to pick for a more affordable panel that strikes a good balance between cost and efficiency. Qcells panels top out at 21.2% efficiency, which is good but not the best. The company’s panels are popular due to their low prices and excellent 25-year warranty.

      Canadian Solar’s options are also good, but they only come with a 12-year warranty, which isn’t great. With that said, many of Canadian Solar’s panel options are even more affordable than Qcells’s.

      The highest-efficiency panels Sunrun installs come from REC. REC panels go up to an impressive 22.2% efficiency — more than enough for any home. REC solar panels are known for being highly durable and resistant to physical damage and heat. They come with a solid 25-year manufacturer’s warranty.

      The table below summarizes the panel options available to Sunrun customers:

      Panel ManufacturerOur ScoreWarrantyPower Output Range (in watts)Efficiency Range
      Qcells4.5 / 5.025 years360W – 415W19.6% – 21.2%
      REC4.2 / 5.025 years240W – 450W16.5% – 22.2%
      Canadian Solar4.0 / 5.012 years225W – 465W15.9% – 21.0%

      Does Sunrun Offer Any Other Solar Products?

      Sunrun also offers three additional solar products: Tesla’s Powerwall battery, the LG-powered Brightbox battery, and the Ford F-150 Charge Station Pro. It also offers solar system monitoring through the Enphase solar monitoring app.

      Tesla Powerwall Batteries

      Powerwalls are the gold standard of solar batteries. They have an impressive 13.5 kWh (kilowatt-hour) capacity and can go off-grid with the touch of a button. Additionally, Powerwalls come with Storm Watch, a feature that can automatically switch your batteries to maximize storage over performance when the system detects nearby storms that might cause a power outage.

      The one downside to adding a Powerwall to your home solar system is the cost. Powerwalls are expensive, although they’re not much more expensive than the average solar battery. Tesla offers discounts for installing more than one Powerwall, so you won’t have to pay as much for the second battery if your Sunrun salesperson recommends two batteries for your home.

      Related: Sunrun vs Tesla Solar Review

      Brightbox Solar Battery Storage

      Sunrun also installs Brightbox batteries, which are an alternative to Tesla Powerwalls made by LG. These batteries are about the same price as the Tesla Powerwall and come in several different capacities between 9.8 kWh and 16 kWh. It’s worth mentioning that LG rebranded its LG Chem battery last year and now calls it the LG Energy Solution.

      F-150 Lightning Charger Station Pro

      Sunrun has a partnership with Ford to bring the latter company’s Charger Station Pro to solar customers. The charging station is fast and effective, letting you top up your electric F-150 or any other J1772-equipped EV.

      One cool thing about the Charger Station Pro is that it lets you use your F-150 Lightning as a backup generator during blackouts. This is a clever and innovative solution to backup energy production and is a great option for people who own or plan to purchase an F-150 Lightning.

      Enphase Solar Monitoring

      Most Sunrun-installed systems use Enphase inverters. You can monitor your solar energy system’s energy production using the Enphase mobile app. This is helpful for keeping track of the money you save and ensuring that your system continues to function as expected as it ages.

      Best Damage Protection

      3.7

      Limited Time:
      No current offers available.

      3 Ways to Save Money with Sunrun Solar

      Sunrun’s systems are more affordable than systems from other companies, but that doesn’t mean it’s not worth looking for more ways to save money. Here are three ways to lower the costs of going solar with Sunrun.

      Solar Incentives

      The best way to save money when switching to solar energy is to take advantage of solar incentives. The federal solar tax credit (ITC) lets you claim 30% of your system’s total cost as a tax credit to reduce your federal income tax liability for the year you have your system installed. For the average system, that comes out to about $7,182. It’s important to understand that the ITC is not a tax rebate, so it only benefits you if you owe federal taxes.

      State and local governments often have incentive programs to encourage residents to adopt clean energy solutions like home solar installations. Many states have a sales tax exemption for rooftop solar systems and solar batteries, which saves you a few thousand dollars depending on your local sales tax rate.

      Similarly, many jurisdictions have a property tax exemption for solar power systems that excludes the value solar panels add to your home from your property tax assessment. Since solar panels typically increase the value of your home, avoiding a property tax hike is a major benefit.

      Skip the Solar Battery

      Having a solar battery helps you save money when your panels aren’t producing energy, but it’s not a requirement. Solar batteries are expensive, and adding one to your system increases the overall cost by between 50% and 100%.

      Solar batteries are less beneficial in states that have net metering programs. Net metering allows you to sell any excess energy your system produces back to the grid for credit. The best net metering programs compensate you at the full retail electricity rate, which means that your utility company pays you the same amount you would have to pay to purchase an equivalent amount of energy.

      Unfortunately, more states are adopting avoided-cost net metering, which uses a lower rate than the full retail rate. If you live in a state with avoided-cost net metering — or no net metering — you should think about including a solar battery in your system design.

      Another benefit of having a solar battery is that you don’t have to worry about losing power during a blackout. Solar batteries act as emergency backup generators and can power your home for anywhere from a few days to a few weeks, depending on how much energy you use and your storage capacity.

      Pay Cash

      I know — recommending paying tens of thousands of dollars all at once as a way to save money sounds odd, but it’s the best way to maximize your long-term savings. Cash purchases save you $22,379 over your system’s 25-year lifespan, on average. Solar loans save you somewhat less — around $17,000 — and leases and PPAs even less than that (about $5,000 and $4,000 respectively).

      Solar panels also add value to your home, so you can think of the upfront installation costs as an investment more than a pure cost. If you decide to sell your home after you install solar panels, you’ll typically recoup at least 75% of your solar system’s purchase price, and often much more.

      Basically, if you can afford to pay cash, you should.

      Highest Quality Panels

      4.4

      Installs high-quality Maxeon panels

      Outstanding customer support

      Best-in-class warranty lasts 40 years

      GET QUOTE
      Best Damage Protection

      3.7

      Affordable prices

      Excellent selection of panels and services

      Locations in 22 states

      GET QUOTE
      Best Solar Financing
      blue raven logo

      4.3

      No payments needed for 18 months

      Provides in-house financing

      Offers top brands like LG and Trina

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      Best Customer Service

      3.9

      Highly rated customer service

      Provides  24/7 panel monitoring

      Solid A+ rating with the BBB

      GET QUOTE

      What Is Sunrun’s Solar Installation Process Like?

      Sunrun’s solar installation process is pretty standard, but you should expect a bit more friction than you’d experience with most other installers. Sunrun is not known for its speed or communication skills, so you should be prepared for unexplained delays.

      Here’s a quick look at what the typical Sunrun installation will look like:

      1. Inspection. You can sign up for a free quote and inspection on Sunrun’s website. A Sunrun sales rep should contact you within a few business days to set up an inspection appointment. Some customer reviews mention that Sunrun prefers to perform a virtual inspection rather than send a tech to your home to measure your roof and assess your property. I strongly encourage you to push for an in-person inspection since virtual inspections are not accurate enough to design a system. If your local Sunrun office insists that a virtual inspection is good enough, I recommend looking for a different installer.
      2. System Design. Once your inspection is complete, Sunrun will design a system for you that meets your home’s energy needs and fits your budget. When the design is finished, Sunrun will send you a proposal detailing your system’s components and cost. If you like the design, you have to sign and return the proposal to Sunrun to move ahead with the installation.
      3. Permitting. Your local government will almost certainly require a building permit before you can have a solar panel array installed. Sunrun handles the permitting for you, which is good in theory but is actually a nuisance in practice since this is where a lot of customers report experiencing delays. Be prepared for it to take anywhere from a few weeks to a few months for Sunrun to get the necessary permits and schedule your installation.
      4. Installation. After the permits are pulled for your system, a Sunrun rep will call you to schedule the installation. On the day of the installation, you should plan on being home all day, as the installers will need periodic access to your home to connect the system to your breaker box, as well as to install any batteries or EV chargers. The whole process with Sunrun normally takes between six and 12 hours, although some customers have reported running into delays that span days or even weeks.
      5. System Activation and Monitoring. Finally, Sunrun will schedule the necessary inspections, and then activate your system. At this point, it will begin power production for your home, and you’ll be responsible for monitoring the production and health of your system via the monitoring app Sunrun sets you up with.

      Does Sunrun Offer a Good Solar Warranty?

      Sunrun’s solar warranty looks good on paper, offering 25 years’ worth of coverage for your solar system’s equipment and energy production and 10 years’ worth of workmanship coverage. This is right in line with industry standards, although it’s not quite as good as what some of the leading companies offer in terms of the workmanship warranty. For example, SunPower’s labor warranty also lasts for 25 years, which is 2.5 times Sunrun’s coverage.

      However, in practice, Sunrun’s warranty support is lacking, with many customer reviews mentioning that the company takes ages to process warranty claims and schedule repairs.

      One point in Sunrun’s favor is that its workmanship guarantee covers roof leaks, which is not something all installers offer. Again, whether or not Sunrun will follow through on its guarantee is up in the air, but it could save you from needing a new roof if your system causes damage.

      Sunrun’s warranty for leased systems is significantly better than its warranty for purchased systems, which is a shame. Sunrun offers comprehensive coverage for your entire system, including the panels, inverters, roof-mounting system, and any additional equipment you have installed, like an EV charger or solar battery. The company also offers free maintenance and repairs for leased systems.

      I still don’t recommend leasing panels from Sunrun since you’ll only save a fraction of what you would if you bought the system. Sunrun provides better support for leased systems because it owns those systems, whereas it doesn’t own the systems it sells, of course.


      Does Sunrun Offer Any Other Solar Services?

      Sunrun installs solar panels, EV charging stations, and solar batteries but doesn’t offer additional services like energy audits or home efficiency upgrades. The company also doesn’t offer other renewable energy products like geothermal heat pumps or solar water pumps. As long as you’re only interested in solar energy systems, Sunrun has you covered.

      Sunrun’s offerings are about average, as most companies cover panels, batteries, and EV chargers and don’t include other add-on products or services. Still, I’d love to see some of those additional perks offered.

      Related: Sunrun vs Sunpower Solar Company Review


      Where Is Sunrun Solar Available?

      Sunrun is headquartered in San Francisco and has locations in the following 20 states plus Puerto Rico and Washington, D.C.:

      • Arizona
      • California
      • Colorado
      • Connecticut
      • Florida
      • Hawaii
      • Illinois
      • Maryland
      • Massachusetts
      • Nevada
      • New Hampshire
      • New Jersey
      • New Mexico
      • New York
      • Pennsylvania
      • Rhode Island
      • South Carolina
      • Texas
      • Vermont
      • Virginia

      One thing I should mention is that Sunrun is available through Costco in many places, so you might be able to schedule a consultation at your local Costco if you’re a member.

      Another point I want to make is that some solar reviews state that Sunrun also has locations in Wisconsin, but the locations page on the company’s website doesn’t list Wisconsin as a state it services.


      What Are Solar Customers Saying About Sunrun?

      Customer reviews of Sunrun are largely negative, unfortunately. The company has mostly one-star reviews on platforms like Google and Yelp.

      Common complaints I see in many reviews focus on delays with scheduling installations, a general lack of communication, and failure to respond to warranty claims. Some customers say they’ve been waiting for months for repairs that are supposed to be covered by their warranties without hearing anything from Sunrun. Generally speaking, Sunrun has far more negative reviews and complaints on sites like Google and BBB than most direct competitors, and those complaints go back for many years.

      There are a few positive reviews sprinkled among the negative ones. Most of the positive reviews focus on Sunrun’s affordability and selection, which are definitely its two strongest features. It seems like people who are satisfied with Sunrun are relatively new customers who haven’t had to deal with the company’s support infrastructure. Unfortunately, most direct competitors to Sunrun have more positive reviews that mention things like professionalism, accurate system design, and timeliness, especially in response to warranty claims.

      Some negative reviews also focus on Sunrun’s propensity for soliciting new customers with incessant phone calls. While this doesn’t affect Sunrun’s solar systems or existing customers, it does shed some light on the company’s business practices. Most reputable companies avoid these kinds of complaints, so Sunrun is painted in a poor light with respect to these issues.


      How Does Sunrun Compare to Other Solar Installers?

      Overall, Sunrun is more affordable than other installers, but the tradeoff is it has an atrocious customer support system and doesn’t communicate well with its existing clients. Sunrun also has a history of pushing solar leases on unwitting homeowners, making it seem like leasing solar panels is a better deal than it really is. I don’t recommend solar leases, and the fact that Sunrun misrepresents the benefits of leasing is a bad sign.

      If Sunrun is the only option in your area, then it’s better than nothing. However, it’s not the best solar company, and  I encourage you to get quotes from other installers if you have any near you. Sunrun’s affordability isn’t worth the headaches you’re likely to run into should you have any issues with your panels down the road.

      Companies like SunPower and ADT Solar have much better customer service, offer high-quality panels, and are worth the extra money, in my opinion.

      CompanyLogoStar RatingBest ForService AreaLink

      Highest Quality Panels

      All 50 states

      Best Damage Protection

      20 states

      blue raven logo

      Best Solar Financing

      22 states

      Best Customer Service

      9 states

      Best Customization Options

      9 states

      Fastest-Growing Solar Provider

      7 states

      CompanyStar RatingBest ForService AreaBBB Rating

      Highest Quality Panels

      All 50 states

      A+

      Best Damage Protection

      20 states

      A+

      Best Solar Financing

      22 states

      A+

      Best Customer Service

      9 states

      A+

      Best Customization Options

      9 states

      A+

      Fastest-Growing Solar Provider

      7 states

      F


      Bottom Line: Will Sunrun Solar Work for You?

      If you’re on a tight budget and are willing to risk dealing with the company’s infamous delays and poor customer support, Sunrun might work for you. If you value communication and want a smooth installation, I recommend looking for another solar installer. You can use the tool below to find reputable solar installers near you and schedule a free quote.

      Get a Solar Quote in 30 Seconds
      On average, homeowners save $5,000–$20,000 with solar panels

      Here are some common questions I hear about Sunrun.

      FAQs About Sunrun Solar

      Is Sunrun a good idea?

      Honestly, probably not, in my opinion. Sunrun is most well known for the problems it has, which include poor customer service, shady sales tactics, and predatory behavior like pushing customers towards its leasing program. I recommend choosing a solar installer with a better reputation, like SunPower, ADT Solar, or Blue Raven.


      Is Sunrun owned by Elon Musk?

      No, it isn’t. His solar company is Tesla, which used to make its own solar panels. Tesla still makes the Tesla Powerwall solar battery and solar roofs, but it now installs Qcells solar panels rather than its own brand.


      What is the size of Sunrun’s solar panel?

      Sunrun installs a variety of solar panels with different sizes, power outputs, and efficiency ratings. Sunrun will help you choose the right panels for your home that fit your energy consumption and work well in the space you have available.


      Is Sunrun worth the cost?

      Sunrun is more affordable than most solar installers, but it’s probably still not worth it. Sunrun has a history of not supporting its warranties and ignoring customers’ requests for maintenance and repairs. The company offers better support for its leased panels, but leasing panels from Sunrun won’t save you nearly as much as you could save by buying your solar system instead


      What does Sunrun do?

      Sunrun installs solar panels, solar batteries, and EV chargers. The company also handles connecting your system to the electric grid and obtaining building permits for your Sunrun solar panels from your local government.


      Methodology: How I Reviewed Sunrun Solar

      At Today’s Homeowner, we strive to bring you the most transparent, accurate information for your home improvement projects. Our solar ratings emphasize what matters most to you — a wide range of energy-efficient panels, reputable and reliable installation, and comprehensive warranties.

      Our ratings are based on publicly available information about each company, secret shopping online and over the phone, customer-review analysis, and interviews with solar industry experts.

      A company can earn a maximum of 100 points across six categories, converted to a five-star scale. I researched and analyzed dozens of solar installers and developed the following formula:

      • Services Offered (20 points): What does each solar provider offer as a basic service with any solar installation plan? In-house labor led to companies being ranked higher than those that contracted their labor out to third parties. Similarly, battery installation and panel monitoring were key factors that I looked for in each provider. Sunrun scores well in this category. The company offers a good selection of solar panel brands, installs EV charging stations, and offers Tesla Powerwalls as a battery storage solution.

      • Warranty Period (20 points): Solar warranties can cover labor, components, or both. The length of these warranty plans is of chief importance. Companies that offer 25-year warranty coverage got our highest score in this category. Sunrun doesn’t score well in this section despite the fact that its warranty looks good on paper. The company has a history of not supporting its systems and taking forever to handle warranty claims.
      • Other Offerings (20 points): Solar companies that provide secondary services are rated highly. These include obtaining permits to operate (PTO), providing financing and price matching options, and mobile performance tracking options. Sunrun performs well in this category since it obtains permits for you and has several payment options available. It does, however, get points off for taking longer to obtain permits than most solar energy companies.
      • Company Reputation (15 points): Our main metrics for rating company reputation were Better Business Bureau (BBB) ratings and complaint response rate. These are reliable indicators of quality. Many of our best providers have a 100% complaint response rate. Sunrun does not have a good company reputation and is known for being a low-quality installer throughout the solar industry. Customer reviews of Sunrun on the internet are mostly negative.
      • Customer Service (15 points): Availability via phone and online is key for modern home service providers in any niche. Those that offer both, along with clearly posted business hours and in-person estimates, are rated highly. Sunrun’s customer service is abysmal, giving it a low score in this area. Customers say that getting in touch with Sunrun is nearly impossible and that the company doesn’t respond to warranty claims in a timely fashion.
      • Availability (10 points): Companies with availability in more than 40 states received our highest score in this category. I rated providers with a more limited presence progressively lower, depending on exact reach. Sunrun gets an average score for availability since it has locations in 20 states plus offices in Puerto Rico and Washington, D.C.

      We monitor company data on an ongoing basis to keep rankings and information up to date.

      Editorial Contributors
      avatar for Dan Simms

      Dan Simms

      Contributor

      Dan Simms worked in real estate management for five years before using his experience to help property owners maintain their own homes. He got his master’s degree in English Literature and Creative Writing, and he now enjoys sharing his knowledge about homeownership and DIY projects with others on Today’s Homeowner. When he’s not writing, he’s usually outdoors with his wife and his dog, enjoying mountain biking, skiing, and hiking.

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      photo of Lora Novak

      Lora Novak

      Senior Editor

      Lora Novak meticulously proofreads and edits all commercial content for Today’s Homeowner to guarantee that it contains the most up-to-date information. Lora brings over 12 years of writing, editing, and digital marketing expertise. She’s worked on thousands of articles related to heating, air conditioning, ventilation, roofing, plumbing, lawn/garden, pest control, insurance, and other general homeownership topics.

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