Vista Solar, Inc. Frequently Asked Questions

(408) 256-3919
2985 Kifer Road
Santa Clara, CA 95051
Vista Solar installed this ballasted solar array on a flat commercial roof in Fremont.
Q: When will I see a return on my solar system investment?
A: "In most cases, you’ll see a return on your investment in four to six years. And since your panels are under warranty for 25 years, you’re guaranteed to be producing free electricity for about 20 years."
Q: What kind of warranties do your solar systems carry?
A: "In addition to the 10-year warranty we provide on all our installations, the panels we install are under warranty for 25 years—their production is guaranteed at 90 percent in the 10th year and 80 percent in the 25th year."
Q: What kind of maintenance does a solar system require?
A: "Very little maintenance is required. As far as general upkeep, we recommend cleaning your modules once at the beginning of spring to ensure they’re capturing the most sunlight possible during the sunny months—just use a squeegee and hose to rinse off any surface dirt. In other seasons, the rain is usually enough to keep the panels clean."
Q: What happens if I have a rooftop solar system installed and my roof leaks?
A: "We minimize the number of roof penetrations by recommending ballasted (non-attached) systems. That way, even if you had 1,000 panels, you’d typically need less than 10 penetrations in the entire roof. If a leak surfaces below one of our panels, one of our technicians can easily move them for a roofer to complete the repair."
Q: Do all solar installations have some type of passive storage system?
A: "No. All the systems we install are grid-tied photovoltaic systems, as opposed to off-grid or battery storage systems. With a grid-tied photovoltaic system, electricity is generated solely by sunlight, so you’re back on the main utility grid during evening hours. You buy power when you need it and send it back, earning credits with the utility when you don’t."
Q: Can I really sell back my excess electricity to PG&E?
A: "Yes, but they buy it back at a very low rate. Our solar systems are carefully designed to offset enough electricity to nearly eliminate your electricity bill, but no more. The current payment structure from the utilities for excess solar generation is so low that it simply doesn’t justify building a system that generates more than your specific needs."