Coronado Solar Overview
Coronado Solar is, by business definition, a small company, but with around 25 employees, it is slightly larger than a few of its competitors. Its head office is located in Avon Park, Florida, and it provides services throughout most of the state and in certain Caribbean countries.
Although Coronado Solar was formed in 2008, it is also part of Coronado Custom Homes, founded in 2002. Coronado Solar uses this wealth of experience to provide businesses and homeowners with solar energy solutions. Pairing that with reasonable pricing seems to be the basis for attracting customers.
Solar Panels & Services offered by Coronado Solar
Specific solar panels offered
There is no specific mention of the types of solar panels offered by Coronado Solar. However, on its website, the company states that it “continues to research and develop [its] own line of solar products.” The description also says that “portable PV products at affordable prices” have been developed.
Customer reviews indicate different solar panels are recommended during the consultation phase and depend on various factors.
Specific types of solar solutions offered
Coronado Solar offers grid-tied (with or without batteries) and off-grid battery backup solar energy solutions for commercial or residential properties.
- Grid-tied without batteries means the energy derived from the solar panels is not backed up and can either be used or sold back to the grid.
- Grid-tied with batteries means that the energy coming from the solar panels can be stored in batteries and used in case of a grid outage.
- Off-grid battery backup means that all energy for the property in question is generated from the solar panels and has no links to the power grid. This solution is used when diverting the grid’s power to the site is not practical or wanted.
For properties whose roofs might not be able to support solar panel installation directly, Coronado Solar can install panels onto standing seam metal roofs. An S-5 mounting system would allow the company to avoid penetrating the roof directly, and the panel can be attached to the vertical sections.
Coronado Solar offers other modes of solar energy systems. One of them is the construction of solar panel-covered carports. It serves the dual purpose of creating a shaded area to protect vehicles and create energy. This option also qualifies for the 30% tax credit for certain solar energy installations.
Another popular choice is solar attic fans. These fans can move 400-800 cubic feet of air per minute to reduce the temperature by 30-40 degrees Fahrenheit, allowing AC units to work more efficiently.
Installation costs & process
Costs
The average home installation cost is estimated to be $14,000, which is just about the standard for Florida. Besides providing free quotes, Coronado Solar also assists clients in applying for tax credits.
In terms of the process, Coronado Solar first helps customers understand how the product works and what to expect once it starts working. After that, the options of solar panel options are discussed, along with inverters and battery storage if applicable or required. The final step is Coronado Solar explaining the installation process that will take place over the following weeks, covering permits, installation, and inspection by the power company for any grid-tie systems.
For roof installations, Coronado Solar also creates an image render to send to clients, showing them what the solar panels will look like once installed.
Legitimacy
Coronado Solar appears to be a legitimate business.
- It has been BBB accredited since 2019, although there are no reviews about the company on the platform.
- Although contact details are not found on the website, a quick search should provide them soon enough.
- It holds licenses as a roofing contractor (CCC1326519), building contractor (CBC12553671), and solar contractor (CVC56809)
- It is also a certified Generac partner.
Usually, information about which types of solar panels and other related equipment would be more readily available, which detracts from Coronado Solar’s legitimacy. In addition, the lack of a direct contact e-mail address reflects negatively on the company.
Maintenance
Maintenance services are not explicitly stated on the website, with the only mention of it appearing when stating that solar systems require no maintenance and carry 25-year warranties. To better understand the level of maintenance and support offered, customer reviews were consulted, and the overall sentiment is that Coronado Solar can do much better in this department.
Scheduling is rated as average at best, while installation quality and after-sales support are unfavorable. In one review, a customer explained that he felt:
| “often forgotten about and had to remind them [he] needed to get the system turned on as the solar panel loan bill was soon due.” |
Some other reviews also stated that getting hold of Coronado often proved difficult.
Notwithstanding, there are positive reviews, too, with people complementing the professionalism displayed by the sales and installation teams in particular while also expressing how happy they were to see the installed system was producing the energy levels agreed upon.
Customer Service (Review Analysis)
Two customer reviews will be looked at in further detail to show the polarization of experiences Coronado Solar has provided. The negative one comes from a customer who was told that even after installation, his roof was secure for another 15 years. However, the first rain after the solar panels installation resulted in leaks and damage to the customer’s two ceilings. Although the leaks were repaired, ceiling repairs are not within Coronado’s remit. That damage, the customer claims, resulted in a complete roof change barely two years later due to the damage caused by Coronado.
In terms of the solar panels per se, the customer informed Coronado Solar that one panel, in particular, was not functioning at full capacity. The reply, allegedly, was that they sell those panels but don’t warranty them. This resulted in the customer contacting the solar panel company directly, who then sent a new panel, free of charge, and a different installer.
The positive review, on the other hand, spoke of a friendly and knowledgeable salesperson who not only made the signing of the contract easy and understandable but was also present at every stage, from design to installation of the system.
Furthermore, the customer acknowledged that though there were some issues, these were quickly handled by Coronado and is sure that they will be able to count on them in the future should the need arise.
The SolarEmpower View
Although several years’ experience, BBB accreditation, and some very positive reviews should stand Coronado Solar in good stead, the number of complaints about various services across different platforms means that potential customers should approach cautiously.
| 💲Cost: 8/10 | ✅Legitimacy: 7/10 |
| ⭐️Quality: 6/10 | 📞Customer Service: 5/10 |
Contact Details
Address: 4801 W/ Arrowwood Boulevard, Avon Park, Florida, FL 33825
Phone number: (833) 288-4786
