Review for Spiffy Solar

01/06/2014
Anonymous

Spiffy Solar Saves Money

We have installed a few critter guards a month for the last few years. We have used every name brand unit designed specifically for solar. In addition, we have troubleshot many systems installed by other installers over the years so we have an extensive first-hand background into how these systems perform. <br /><br />We have found that the Spiffy critter guards use the same quality of materials as the most expensive brands on the market, yet cost much less. In addition to the lower cost, we have found that the installation method used by Spiffy saves money on man power. Depending on the difficulty of the roof and the size of the array the labor is generally reduced by 1-2 man hours as compared to the major competitor's design. This is the main reason we switched to using Spiffy exclusively. <br /><br />Another hidden benefit we have discovered is in our warehouse. The competitors we have used (trying not to name specific names), generally supply enough attachment brackets for the supplied screen length, but depending on the install, our techs sometimes need a few extra brackets. This means that after a handful of projects we end up with no brackets and a spare roll of screen. Most of these other brands do not allow you to order extra brackets without the screen which causes inventory issues. With Spiffy they supply more attachments then you normally need so we often end up with extras. Also, you can order the screen and brackets separately so you can stock your inventory as needed.<br /><br />One final note. We are often called out to troubleshoot systems installed by other companies. Here and there we come across a system that the original installers simply used mesh or chicken wire from the hardware store. This is a poor method. It is not unusual for us to find systems that squirrels have pushed or pried their way through to chew away at solar wires. In our opinion, there is no way to make a proper critter guard with hardware store material. It really is important to use a product made for this use with proper attachments. We have also found that it may void equipment manufacture and roof warranties if you physically attach homemade screens with screws.<br /><br />For our company, we only use Spiffy Solar. We highly recommend it and Spiffy's customer service is always top notch. In all of the systems we have installed, we have yet to have one fail. I can not express the importance of critter guards enough. It is not unusual for us to find complete systems destroyed by critters and costing the homeowner up to $5k or more to repair/replace system components, especially if microinverters were used. I believe we will continue to see more and more of these unfortunate situations on unprotected systems as these newly installed systems mature and the industry continues to grow.