A homeowner's question about a door-to-door solar pitch sparked a wave of warnings online after they were quoted $31,000 for a 19-panel system without a battery.
What happened?
In a post on r/solar, the homeowner asked whether the offer sounded reasonable, writing, "A salesman came to my home and quoted me 31k for a 19 panel system. No battery included. Is that a bad deal?"
The discussion on Reddit quickly turned into a broader warning about high-pressure solar sales.
Several commenters said the quote looked expensive, especially since it did not include storage.
One person compared it with their own recent quotes, saying, "I had 2 solar installers quote 25k for 28 panels and 27.5k for 31. Panels were 440W JA JAM54D41 in the PNW. No battery."
Even commenters who stressed that pricing can vary based on system size, equipment, state incentives, and utility rules tended to arrive at the same bottom line: "It probably is a bad deal."
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The original poster later added that they were in Idaho and that the salesperson told them "it would be 300 bucks a month for the solar," even though their summer electric bills were around $250.
Why does it matter?
Solar can be a worthwhile home upgrade, helping cut electricity bills while reducing planet-warming pollution over time. But those savings depend heavily on the system price, financing terms, local utility rates, and whether the equipment is properly sized for the home.
Commenters were especially wary of the door-to-door pitch.
One wrote, "Don't get solar from people who come knocking."
Another was even more direct: "Run away don't ever talk to a solar doorsman!!!"
Some users looked at the proposal through a price-per-watt lens. Assuming the 19 panels were about 440 watts each, they estimated the system at roughly 8.36 kilowatts, which would put the quote near $3.70 per watt.
In the thread, that was widely seen as too expensive for a standard rooftop system with no battery.
A monthly payment alone does not tell the full story. Commenters warned that leases, power purchase agreements, and some financing setups can make a project sound manageable upfront while masking a higher total cost.
What can I do?
The clearest advice from the thread was to shop around.
One commenter put it simply: "Get. Multiple. Quotes."
Another offered a more detailed checklist: "If you really want solar get at least 3 quotes from reputable medium sized local companies who have been in business a few years and where you can get real people (you can actually talk to) references and reviews."
People in the thread also urged homeowners to review the details before agreeing to anything, including how their utility handles net metering or buyback credits, whether a battery is actually needed, and exactly what equipment is being offered. That also means asking about panel wattage and using it to understand the installed cost per watt.
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