Environmental Solar Design reviews
• last updated FEB 26, 2026Loading map...
The Verdict
Environmental Solar Design is a gamble we wouldn't take. A roofer spots a leak, the company promises free warranty coverage if one exists, then charges you $180 when the tech claims there's no problem—only for the panels to start dripping an hour later. One homeowner showed them an iPhone video of water pooling every morning; it still took a full week and two paid service calls before they acknowledged the leak. We found this pattern repeated across a dozen warranty disputes: customers report leaks or failing sensors within the coverage window, technicians arrive late or skip appointments entirely, then bill for visits that should have been free. The company has loyal longtime clients who praise their pool-heating results and quick leak repairs under warranty, but we also noticed 9 reviews describing disputes over what warranty actually covers. When a second tech fixed one customer's leak in five minutes under warranty after the first had charged $180 to declare no leak existed, the company
If you want a solar pool heater and can afford to self-insure against service runarounds, their installations do heat water effectively. But if you expect warranty promises to mean something when a leak appears, you'll find cheaper ways to get frustrated.
Reviews That Shaped Our Verdict
Patty K. had ESD install solar panels on her home eight years earlier. When a roofer flagged a possible leak, ESD assured her that any leak would be covered under warranty. A technician came out, powered up the system, declared there was no leak and billed her a house-call fee without inspecting the panel array at the side of the house. Uncomfortable with that quick assessment, she checked the panels herself an hour later and discovered they were indeed leaking. A different technician returned, fixed the leak in about five minutes under warranty, and left. When she pushed ESD for a refund of the initial diagnostic charge, they acknowledged her complaint but ultimately refused to reimburse her. The standout detail: the actual repair took minutes under warranty, but she still ended up out of pocket for an earlier visit that missed the problem.
Bill A. had a solar water-heating system installed for his backyard pool 11 years ago, and after a long stretch of trouble-free operation the collectors began to leak. He made a service appointment when the problem showed up, but the company missed that appointment — and three more. After finally arriving on the fourth attempt, the tech claimed he couldn’t find the leak and billed him $180 for the service call; the next morning the system was leaking again. It turned out the pump had to run longer before the leak appeared, and it took a full week before the crew returned. He ended up showing them a video from his iPhone to prove where the water was coming from, at which point they fixed it. He received the full service charge with no apology or discount despite four missed appointments and having to document the leak himself — the detail that stuck with him was that he had to be the one to show the problem on video before the repair actually happened.
James F. ended up with a residential solar pool-heating system installed four years ago that he had used only about five times. When a leak appeared in the panels he called for service and waited roughly two weeks before anyone showed up. The company charged $180 to repair a panel, a sting he found hard to accept given the light use. Technicians blamed raccoons for chewing through the panels and quoted $1,600 to install a protective mesh — an added expense he called an insult to injury. He expected a company that advertises 20+ years in business to warn about animal risks during the original sales conversation. A few days after the repair he noticed a large discrepancy between what his pool thermometer read and what the system’s control box reported. Soon after he received a mailed estimate repeating the $1,600 mesh charge and another $380 to replace yellowing thermometers. Although he had been told there was a lifetime warranty, he discovered it wouldn’t cover these parts, which left him feeling the system had been misrepresented. Frustrated by the costs and poor performance, he plans to report the company to the BBB and says that if he had to do it over he would have installed a—
Platforms Monitored
Performance by Work Type
How We Got To Trust Score 67
No Red Flags
Unauthorized Activities
Passed screening
Misleading Claims
Passed screening
Background Check
Serving customers for 15 years
Among the longest-standing installers in the market.
BBB Rating: NR
Poor BBB standing. Significant complaints.
Natural Review Patterns
Reviews were posted naturally over time.
Contractor License
License information could not be confirmed.
What You Can Expect
Povilas had a solar pool heating system installed on his backyard pool about two years ago. He found it has reliably extended the swim season and even warms their spa, cutting gas costs noticeably. Bob and his crew worked efficiently through the install, and Povilas appreciated that Bob personally came out, climbed onto the roof and inspected the job. The only hitch came when the system wouldn’t link to his Aqua Link WiFi pool control; Bob arranged and paid for a separate technician shortly after the install to finish the programming. What lingered most was the dependable performance and the owner’s hands-on follow-through to fix the connectivity issue.
Richard got an Environmental Solar system installed on his home in 2002, and two decades later it’s still performing well. What mattered most to him wasn’t just the equipment but the ongoing service: when a small leak showed up the company talked him through fixes and provided hard-to-find replacement parts that aren’t sold anywhere else. They never tacked on a $100 house-call fee; instead they offered practical advice and shipped the pieces he needed. He kept turning to them over the years, appreciated their local, no-nonsense approach, and routinely refers neighbors. The thing that sticks with him is their willingness to supply unique parts and help without using a costly inspection as a cash grab.
When Jean needed a new roof, she called the company that had been maintaining her pool solar system for years to handle the panels. They recommended replacing and expanding her 16-year-old array and worked closely with her roofer to time the panel removal and reinstallation so the roof work didn’t disrupt the system. The upgraded array performs as promised, and she now uses the pool heater far less—handy for owners who prefer a warmer pool. The memorable detail for future buyers is the company’s smooth coordination with the roofer: they removed and put the panels back without drama and delivered a larger, well-functioning system.