Smart Wave Solar

I have used Smart Wave twice. Once a few years ago for an initial solar system then again to add a TESLA battery and some new panels about 6 months ago. Unfortunately the system stopped working completely and it was a month+ before they can have someone come out. It really sucks because this is prime time that I need solar to offset our AC and build up credits for the winter.

I may change this review later after they come and fix it.

We’ve had a great experience with Smart Wave Solar! We’ve been reluctant to move forward with solar not because of the benefits but because of the sales side. The partnership Smart Wave Solar has with the city made it AMAZINGLY simple. Also, the installation process from start to finish was clear and professional.

Highly recommend!

The sales process was fine, the install was delayed, and not 100% pro with scheduling, but good. A year and a half later and in need service and it is scheduled two weeks out... okay, but then the tech can't make it and it is scheduled for an appointment an additional two weeks out. Not okay.

UPDATE: Original rating: 2 stars. Now 1 star. Would go lower if I could.

Background: A year and a half after the install of the solar, our AC stopped working. An HVAC technician said the parts were impossible to find, making the unit unrepairable. We called several HVAC companies for quotes to replace the system, and one salesman noticed that the AC wasn’t receiving power. He discovered burned-out wires in the main electrical box where the solar system connects.

I sent SmartWave the photos on 5/9, and after waiting a week, they scheduled a visit for 5/29, two weeks later. At this point, we weren’t sure if the electrical issue was the root cause. Based on the initial diagnosis, we replaced the HVAC unit for $7,800, which was a good deal considering other quotes went as high as $21,000. During installation, the AC still didn’t work, and the installers flagged intermittent electrical connection issues. We suspected the electrical problem was the reason the old unit failed. Kudos to Steve from American HVAC for his help.

We didn’t want to pay for an unnecessary electrician and waited for SmartWave’s scheduled visit without AC. It was hot inside—reaching 87°F—so we ate out often and became frustrated. SmartWave was kept in the loop the entire time.
When the 5/29 appointment was missed, I arranged for my electrician to come on 6/2. By this point, we’d been without AC for a month. The electrician quickly traced the issue: during the solar install, SmartWave had moved the AC’s 30-amp breaker from the main electrical box to the solar box and in the original location a 40-amp breaker was placed for the solar. The existing wires were spliced and looped to connect the AC to the new breaker. Unfortunately, the splice connection failed, burning through both the wires and connector housing (Picture).
How does this happen? A loose connection. Who installed the connection? SmartWave. Who is liable? SmartWave.

The electrician cut out the damaged part of the wires and installed a new outdoor 30-amp splice, restoring power to the AC for $230.

I had posted my 2-star review before the electrician came, but SmartWave contacted me later the same day on 6/2. I spoke with Tracie, Head of Executive Escalations. She apologized for the poor service and said they’d cover the $230 charge. She also scheduled a technician to visit the next day, 6/3. After the initial tech came, they communicated:

“no worries—the foreman/electrician has already provided clear instructions and a plan to safely complete the job, as your safety is our top priority. Rest assured, we’ll do our best to resolve the issue and help ensure it doesn’t happen again, while also optimizing your system’s performance.”

On 6/9 a technician came, inspected everything, and confirmed the issues were resolved. At this point, I also asked SmartWave to consider compensation for the prior AC unit (Residual Value), as the connection issue likely contributed to its failure. I provided the invoices as requested.

On 6/19, I received the following response:

“After careful evaluation by our service team—including the foreman and electrician—they confirmed that the wiring in your system was installed correctly and did not contribute to the issues or the fire. This conclusion was based on a detailed comparison with the original installation.

Based on these findings, our management team has made the difficult decision to decline the reimbursement request for both the electrical work and the AC unit.”

I genuinely thought SmartWave was taking ownership, and I was prepared to revise my review to 5 stars if they covered the $230 charge and offered some form of compensation for the failed AC. But now, after their denial of responsibility despite their previous promises, I am lowering my rating to 1 star.

I went back and forth for a long time as to whether I wanted to go ahead with solar or not. Smart Wave never pressured me, never tried to incentivize making an immediate decision. I appreciated this and it was in stark contrast to many companies out there.

Next they were very knowledgeable. I tend to ask a lot of questions and do a lot of research myself and all the information was accurate and honest.

Now that we're on the other side of the project, I can also report that everything went very smooth. Communication was proactive, no surprises and ultimately landed very well.

If you are considering solar, I would highly recommend Smart Wave.

We had the privilege of working with Smart Wave Solar this year. We are very pleased with the performance of our system. The benefits of solar and the process of installation was explained in great detail in a way that was easy to understand. The installation went smoothly and quickly. I feel Smart Wave went above and beyond in everything they did for us.

We had three other companies give us quotes and we had given up on the idea of going solar because it was either too expensive or we didn’t feel comfortable with the other companies. We called Smart Wave in one final attempt to get a quote for solar. We were blown away at the affordable price so we decided to go solar powered with Smart Wave and are very glad we made that decision. I highly recommend Smart Wave Solar.

Excellent customer service and communication. Great value, customization for our home, and knowledge of all relevant subsidies! Highly recommended.

I've enjoyed a Smart Wave Solar system for years! It's provided my family with safe, reliable power and has been one of the best investments we've ever made. Smart Wave Solar sized our system to offset our consumption 100%, only leaving us with a small connection fee with our utility. All of the rate increases with the power company of the years have had no affect on us, which has made our investment even better. Since our system has been installed we have had absolutely no issues with it. It's required no maintenance and is still producing close to the same amount of power it did when we first turned it on. Our next step is to have Smart Wave Solar install a Tesla Powerwall to our existing system so our home has a complete battery back up solution.

We Love Smart Wave Solar
we worked with Justin, he was honest and educated us on everything …..

Justin used our power bill to calculate how many solar panels we would need
we have had our system up for 4 months
and we don’t have a power bill anymore
We went from 200 per month on average to Zero
we only have a statement fee of about $15 per month ….

We installed the Tesla Battery for emergency back up and we use it at Night.
Tesla has the ultimate App that is amazing
Thanks Justin we recommend you to everyone

They are always great communicators and keep me informed during the whole process. I am using them a second time since I moved and will always spread their name to friends

Great company to work with! No pushy sales pitch. Best price out of many bids. Clean and fast install. Couldn’t be happier with my system!