FAQ's

FAQ

Most frequent questions and answers
A general rule for Zenith Solar is that your bill will be around the same or less compared to your current electric bill. Because of the Texas Net Metering law, solar isn’t an added cost, it is a bill replacement.
Yes. Utility companies will buy your excess power back. We have lots of customers with bill credits at the end of the month. This isn’t guaranteed for every home. Please submit a copy of your bill and get a free proposal done specifically for your home to see how much you can be saving and earning back.
Today, your solar bill may be about what you’re currently paying in an electric bill. Although, a primary advantage is that your solar bill will be fixed. The real cost is not choosing solar because your electric bill is subject to increase and has historically increased 3-6% annually. The best way to think about it is the difference between renting your home and having a fixed mortgage. A landlord will continue to raise your rent over the years, and you never get anything in return for your payment besides the usage of the home. A mortgage on the other hand is a fixed payment that doesn’t go up over time and your monthly payment goes toward buying down the asset every single month.

Our goal is to produce 100%. Some roofs will not allow for this. Either way, it is ideal to produce as much as possible. If you can’t produce 100% of your power we will offset as much as possible to lock in the lower rates.

Imagine you were offered a discount on your grocery bill for the rest of your life. This only covered half of your groceries instead of 100% of your groceries. Would you still take the discount on only half? Solar could do essentially the same with your power bill. Submit your bill to see how much of a savings you could get.

When you choose solar, you are participating in what is called Net Metering. It is a 1 for 1 exchange of power. When your panels produce 1 kWh of electricity and you use 1 kWh of electricity, they essentially cancel each other out. At the end of the month you would have used more or less than what your panels produce. If you produced more than you used, you will have credits at the end of the month. If you produced less than what you used, you would of pulled the extra power from the grid and would have a small bill for the amount of extra power you used.
As long as you have a reliable internet connection, Zenith provides monitoring on your system. This is accessible through an app that you can download to your smartphone. This allows you to see exactly what your solar system is producing in real time. Zenith also provides an app that tells you what device is using up electricity. It keeps track in real time all major appliances, including A/C unit, oven, refrigerator, etc
Although we have options to be able to go “off-grid”, our standard solar system is a “grid-tied” system. This means that you are still connected to the utility company for any additional electric needs that you may encounter. You also are able to use the utility company as a “battery” with net metering, because it “stores” the energy that you over produce giving you a credit that you can use later.
$0 Down financing is simple. We use a bank that provides homeowners with solar specific financing. In order to qualify, you must have approved credit ( 600 FICO and above) and be a homeowner. The financing is a flat payment that will never increase and there are no prepayment penalties. The first payment on your solar panels is typically 60 days after install. Plenty of time for your panels to begin producing clean energy and rolling back your meter even before you have paid a single dime.
Maintenance for a solar system is very minimal. Cleaning is the most common type of maintenance needed, for which we recommend that you run a hose over them once every 2-3 years.
Yes. Each customer is given access to an application on their smartphone that communicates with the panels. It gives you a play by play of your hourly production. It will also tell your consumption on each major device in your home so you can see where you are using the electricity at. I.e. your AC, oven, dryer, etc.
We monitor each individual panel on your roof top. If one is under performing we are automatically notified and will schedule a time with you to come out and replace it free of charge.
In order to qualify you must be a homeowner, have qualifying credit (600 FICO or higher), and have a qualifying debt to income ratio. One of our energy consultants will help you get qualified by filling out an online form that typically just takes 2-3 minutes. Most approvals happen instantaneously.
All of the costs of permits, design work, engineering, surveys and inspections are included in your initial proposal. The only potential change orders that may require additional cost are if your main electrical panel is not up to code, or if your roof needs to be replaced. See “what if I need a new roof” in the following question.
We only install on roofs that we know have at least 10 years remaining life. If you have a roof that needs replaced soon, there has never been a better time than now to get it done. We use vetted roofing companies that can deliver a sturdy roof at a great value to the customer. Many of our customers get roofs replaced at the same time that they have solar installed on their roofs. The main advantages to this are that you can finance the cost of getting a roof installed into the total project cost and receive the tax incentive for the total solar project including the new roof.
Yes. We carry all of the licensing, bonds, and insurance. If you want to see if we service your area, please feel free to ask in the “custom quote” tab.
Because each city and utility company has different requirements and different permitting timelines, the process will vary in length. Most of our customers have their systems turned on within 4-8 weeks after contacting Zenith Security.

Going solar is an 8-step Process. We make it super simple for the customer and handle all the organizing behind the scene. You get text updates on to let you know where you are at in the process.

1. Provide your light bill to Zenith Solar (1 Day)
2. Energy Consultant will provide a free proposal that goes over the design and numbers (Usually same day or next)
3. Get Qualified & Sign-Up (Same time as proposal)
4. Survey Performed by Zenith Solar (Usually same or next day after qualifying )
5. Engineering and Permitting (1-6 weeks)
6. Installation of System (1-2 days)
7. Inspections by city and Oncor or AEP depending on city (1-4 weeks)
8. Permission to Operate and site commissioned – Turn System On!!!

We DON’T only install solar on roofs. Many times when homeowners have land to spare, we do what is called a ground mounted system. We also install on many types of roofs; metal, tile, composite shingle, flat roofs, etc. In the instance that you have a roof-type that we are unable to install on, we have additional options you can consult with your Energy Consultant about for your home.

Our solar panels have been tested against baseball sized hail up to 60 mph speeds. In the event that hail were to cause damage (which is highly unlikely), your homeowner’s insurance policy will cover the damage to the solar panels. In Texas you can add solar to your homeowners insurance through something called a Green Endorsement. It typically ranges $30-50 a year (only $2-4 a month). You can consult your insurance provider for more details on your specific policy.

When a homeowner moves, they have 2 options: 

1. You can have the flat financing payment of the solar system transferred to the new homeowner.
-Or-
2. You can wrap the payoff of the loan into the value of the sale. This is the most common. Here is an example – Say your home is valued at $200,000 WITHOUT solar… You have a solar system that you owe $8,000 on, but the value of the system is $20,000. You sell the home for $220,000 because of the solar. You pay off the $8,000 that you own and this done at closing. You pocket an additional $12,000 because you were a smart homeowner and had solar installed by Zenith Solar for $0 out of pocket. We make this process simple. Simply call us at 361-353-0900 when you decide that you are going to be selling your home.

A: According to many reputable sources, solar adds significant value to your home. According to Energy.gov, solar homes sell for a premium of $15,000 for an average system size of 5kW. Not only do they sell for more, but they sell 20% faster than a home without solar. See the Energy.gov source here – https://www.energy.gov/eere/solar/downloads/solar-homes-sell-premium

Zillow did a study that claims that solar adds anywhere from 4-5% to the value of your home. This, of course, depends on where you live and the size of the system that your home requires. Zillow calculated the solar premium by comparing homes with and without solar-energy systems that were listed for sale and sold from March 1, 2018 to February 28, 2019, controlling for observable attributes of the homes, including bedrooms, bathrooms, square footage, age of the home and location. Here is a link to the most recent study performed by Zillow – https://www.zillow.com/research/solar-panels-house-sell-more-23798/

No! You’re too young NOT to make the switch! Not only will this be a great thing for anyone that could potentially buy or inherit your home, but this will be an incredible option for the rest of your life! By going solar for $0 Down with Zenith Solar, this allows you to fix exactly what your monthly electric bills (now solar bill) will be for the foreseeable future. That’s what each of us are pursuing… fixed bills!

At Zenith, we provide 2 different types of warranties; manufacturers’ equipment warranties and labor warranties. The manufacturers of the equipment that we install provide 25-year linear production warranty on the panels and a 25-year warranty on the inverters. The warranties are available upon request from our customer service department. Our labor and roof penetration warranty is for 10 years. This means that for 10 years after the solar system is installed, Zenith Solar will come out for free and service your system. This warranty also covers roof leaks, craftsmanship, and all work performed.

The standard life expectancy of our solar systems is 40 years. The first 25 years is covered under a manufacturers’ warranty. This means that your system will cover your needs for much of the rest of your life!

If your roof leaks, we will come and fix it for as long as it is under warranty. Typically 10,15, or 25 years.

If your roof leaks, we will come and fix it for as long as it is under warranty. Typically 10,15, or 25 years.

Yes, we can. Although, the majority of the systems that we install are “grid-tied” – meaning that there are no batteries involved. The benefit of this is that you are able to use the grid like a battery without the additional costs of batteries. Net metering gives you credit for everything that you over produce and send back to the utility company.

At Deca Solar, we understand that going solar can be overwhelming. Our staff and Energy Consultants are standing by to take all the effort and headache out of the equation. Our goal is to make it simple to choose clean energy. We provide a top-of-the-line concierges service, tier 1 quality equipment that also appeals to the aesthetic eye, all at a fair price that makes sense to you. There is a reason why so many homeowners have chosen to trust Deca Solar with their solar needs. Thanks for checking us out!