SolarMax Technology - Riverside, California

william whelan

After getting multiple quotes, our Representative Nick, from Solar Max came to our home and offered us the best deal yet. Not only did he offer us a great interest rate, he also included a patio cover. No other company we spoke with could offer what Solar Max offered. Nick was very kind and responsive.

Aaron Fox

Bought solar about 6-7 years ago from this company. Everything went flawlessly. The sales rep was on point, was fast to answer questions, felt like I was their only customer. I'm pointing this out to contrast what it was like later on. Anyways, I got 28 panels at 130w. Generating about 3-4kwh per hour at it's peak.

I later(about 1 year ago) decided to get a battery backup system (20 KWH) and asked about getting more solar panels. I was advised I could only get 3 more panels because any more and I would be forced into NEM3.0. I was grateful they knew all these little niches that SCE has with power generation and they were trying to look out for me. This is about where I saw things decline though. A lot of little issues came up along the way - not one single big one at least but cumulatively caused me to overall not be as satisfied as I was with their support with installing the original solar panels. First issue is that I was given a timeframe of about 2 months but when I called back about a month later to get an update, they said 3-4 months wait. Okay... was hoping to get it installed during the peak of summer but I could wait. The techs doing the physical installation were pretty cool and I even was able to chat with them. I personally like knowing the technical details of the unit in case it comes up later so it was just a nice situation where they were not too busy to throw some info my way. They did end up leaving some parts laying around - mainly those clamps that are used to lock electrical tubing to a junction box but not a big deal. A day or so later, another person came by to do the inspection of the work and to do the painting. Unfortunately they had spilled some paint and didn't mention it so by the time I had found it, it had already dried on my concrete. Fortunately I have a pressure washer so I was eventually able to spray it off.

The biggest issue came later after the entire system was in operation. I dont remember the exact situation but I remember that I was basically getting no power charging the batteries and the information on the app didn't make much sense. Come to find out there was a bug or some kind of technical issue with the equipment that was pretty far spread(other people had the same issue). I was able to get this corrected but I lost out on $ and KWH of generated power for the battery storage. The batteries never charged more than 20% per day so the most I could get from it was about 4kwh of use during peak hours. I realize this is getting a bit complex but let me just end with the current situation. The unit currently does not charge from the original solar array at all. I'm basically having to pull power from the grid during early hours and then let the solar dump back into the grid to make up for it. Fortunately it balances out okay but I was concerned because when I told the system to enable this setting, it might void one of the rebates. I should find out during the next annual billing cycle if this is the case.

Overall the battery installation was significantly more complex and unlike the original installation, it was more of a battle to get information and things resolved. I plan on contacting SolarMax one more time to see about getting this issue with the main solar array not charging the batteries resolved but I'm not holding my breath. The few times I contacted them, they instead referred me to Enphase to get technical support. I felt this was somewhat backwards since the system was not working as originally described and I felt SolarMax should be taking point on this.

In any case, both solar array systems are currently generating about 45kwh per day (summer) and I am discharging about 15 kwh per day during peak hours to off-set the peak pricing. The solar has more than paid for itself but the battery system still has a ways to go when just looking at cost savings. The main reason I got the battery system though was to have AC during any summer fire shutdowns and to store any excess solar power during the day.

Will update if SolarMax fixes the issue.

Kevin Hoffman - Compass

I had an exceptional experience with Brandon Mezzanato at Solar Max. From the very beginning, Brandon did an outstanding job explaining everything in detail, ensuring that I fully understood the process. He set proper expectations and then exceeded them, which truly impressed me. Brandon is not only ethical and super knowledgeable, but he's also incredibly patient, taking the time to answer all of my questions thoroughly. Thanks to Brandon's expertise, my solar system was designed with the goal of ending each year at a breakeven or with a slightly positive financial impact. In fact, 14 months after going live, I ended the year with a credit balance on my Southern California Edison bill, which rolled forward to the next year. Since I lease my system, I was able to lock in a fixed monthly payment for the next 25 years. This price is significantly less than what I was paying before going solar, and I now have high confidence that I can absorb electricity price increases much better than I would have without solar. Even more impressive is the continued support I receive from Brandon. Over a year later, I can still pick up the phone and call him directly, and he greets me, knowing exactly who's calling. Solar can be a confusing topic, especially when dealing with the complexity of our electricity bills, but with Brandon on speed dial, I always know I have someone in my corner to explain things properly. It's also great to know that Solar Max is a local company based in Riverside. Their commitment to quality is evident, as they manufacture their own panels and operate out of their impressive 165,000 square-foot building. I have no hesitation in recommending Brandon and Solar Max for anyone considering solar energy. They truly stand out in the industry!

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More about me: I am a realtor in South Orange County California with Compass Brokerage. I live in Rancho Santa Margarita. Julie is my wife, and we have 3 wonderful boys: all Eagle Scouts and Engineers. We love our community of RSM and are very active in the community volunteering at our Saddleback Church, hiking, playing pickleball and serving in various volunteer capacities.

Chris Hart (Archpoet)

Amazing work! Both fantastic and prompt service, and Dan is stellar. Any questions I have are very quickly answered in a way that is clear, concise and easy to understand.

For example, I was recently confused as to why my system's (momentary) production output (6.4kW) did not equal the system size rating (8kW), and if that was even a beneficial metric by which measure. They explained that the system size rating is based on laboratory conditions which include like being at the equator on the summer solstice in perfect weather, etc... in other words, unlikely conditions for most installed systems. Additionally, you'd never expect a 1k horsepower engine to actually perform at that rating after being placed in a car, because there is loss at every transfer point.

After this discussion I understood that production/time (kWh) is the more valuable metric by which to gauge your system's performance, and given that: mine is "crushing it"-- to use Dan's phrase. 🙂

Very Happy in Apple Valley!

Kevin Mar

SolarMax and their crew did an amazing job. John Brookshier was our rep, from beginning to the completion he was great. Never felt pressured to do anything that didn't make sense for our situation. Each step of the process, from the quote to the initial plans, the measuring, and installation was smooth. Their support staff made sure I was kept in the loop of the application and submittal process. Would definitely recommend SolarMax to friends and/or family.

Neya

when it comes to customer service, it is hard to talk to someone... I called over a week, left a couple of messages, and emailed to their customer services..... but so far 15 days passed, still not gotten anyone to reply..... is kind of frustrating..... My co-workers suggested I to try walk-in their office in Diamond Bar, this may be a way...

3.13.24: update: we got a call back to schedule an inspection appt in April. Even though is a month's wait, but at least we get communicated. Thanks.

Melissa Tidey

Horrible customer service for warranty claims. I emailed their customer service department regarding a leaking roof due to their workmanship. After multiple emails and phone calls, they finally scheduled a repair date 5 weeks from the date of our claim. Their reason for the long wait was "there is an overwhelming amount of customers still waiting...since the last storm." This is a huge red flag. If they have an "overwhelming amount" of roof leaks due to one summer storm, that should be enough for anyone considering using SolarMax for a new system to look elsewhere. Furthermore, their solution to stopping the leaks was to slap a bunch of silicone caulking on the shingles and around their mounts. This is literally a band-aid that will not last in the hot southern California sun. They are looking for the least expensive way to get by until your warranty expires and you are stuck with a leaky roof.

Ben W

Dan is the absolute best with Solar! He worked with me over several months to assure me of the technology and the value in pricing of SolarMax. I needed a new roof as well as a new patio cover installation before my solar could be installed. Dan made sure I had the time I needed and even helped me coordinate with my contractors to get the job done right and on schedule. This is the second time I have had solar installed on a home I have lived in so I am very familiar with the process and I was very comfortable with Dan because he maintained transparency. There was an initial expectation of additional costs due to electrical box modifications for my home, however that was later determined not to be necessary and my installation cost was reduced. Every time I called or emailed the office I received a quick reply and was happy with the entire team! If I ever need Solar again I will definitely turn to Solar Max!!