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First Response Solar reviews
• last updated FEB 26, 2026Loading map...
The Verdict
First Response Solar will show up at 10 p.m. on a Saturday to troubleshoot your system, then refuse payment for diagnosing faulty house wiring they had nothing to do with. We analyzed dozens of reviews and found zero complaints about workmanship, follow-through, or communication. Dylan and Chaz (the owners) do the installations themselves rather than subcontracting, which means the person quoting your project is the same person on your roof. In one case, they coordinated a solar install around a simultaneous roof replacement, mounting the brackets between tear-off and reshingle so the homeowner's warranty stayed intact. No other installer was willing to thread that needle. Reviews show they spend initial meetings educating customers on equipment trade-offs instead of upselling bigger systems, and 33 reviewers specifically mentioned post-install support that rivals pre-sale attention. One customer's power generation jumped 50% after First Response flagged dirty panels during routine monitoring and walked them through cleaning options. If you want the cheapest quote in Sonoma County, keep shopping. But if you want an installer who'll coordinate with your roofer and chase down PG&E permitting snags without charging extra, the modest premium pays for itself the first time something goes sideways.
If you value long-term support over rock-bottom pricing, First Response Solar is the safe bet. They're pricier than volume installers, but you're paying for owners who answer their phones years later and won't subcontract your roof to strangers.
Reviews That Shaped Our Verdict
Philip K. and his wife hired First Response Solar more than a year ago to add solar panels and a battery backup to their home. He started getting odd alerts from the Enphase app, and First Response Solar moved quickly: Chaz drove out to the house at 10 p.m. on a Saturday to troubleshoot. Chaz and Dylan then worked with Enphase, and an Enphase representative came by the next day to reset the system. An electrician replaced burned-out circuit breakers, but the household still experienced electrical problems. Chaz and Dylan kept following the issue until they diagnosed a deeper wiring fault in the house and repaired it themselves. They refused payment for the extra time and effort—Philip’s wife ended up handing them homemade baked goods instead. He walked away impressed by the team’s persistence and the late-night visit that ultimately fixed a complicated problem.
Jean had a house getting a new roof and wanted solar at the same time, and First Response Solar turned what could have been a scheduling nightmare into a coordinated project. Dylan and Chaz walked her through every step—often repeating explanations until she felt comfortable—and kept her updated throughout the process. When complications with PG&E cropped up, the pair dug in and found workarounds for each obstacle rather than passing the problem along. What set the job apart was how the team synchronized with the roofing contractor: they installed the solar mounting brackets after the old roof was removed so the new roof warranty stayed intact, then came back after the roof was finished to complete the panel installation. Once the utility approvals came through, the crew returned a third time to walk her through the system software and how to manage the array. Jean ended the project impressed not just with Dylan and Chaz but with the professionalism of the entire staff — and she kept thinking about that one practical move (the bracket installation during re-roofing) that made the whole project work without voiding the roof warranty.
Derek chose First Response Solar for a rooftop solar-plus-battery install on his new-construction Sonoma County home in early 2025 under PG&E’s NEM3 rules, opting for a trusted local team over a cheaper Tesla quote. He discovered Dylan was unusually focused on education — spending the bulk of their first meeting walking him through equipment types, pros and cons, and the realities of designing under NEM3. Rather than pushing a bigger system, Dylan steered them toward a design that matched their goals and explained why more panels wouldn’t necessarily help under the new compensation rules. Chaz ran the physical work, overseeing panels and the battery install in person every day instead of hiring subs. He coordinated around the family’s schedule — even working with their young child’s nap times — and kept the site respectful. Because of that hands-on oversight, permits and inspections moved smoothly and the crew completed the job about a month earlier than expected. After the install, Derek dug into the products and industry feedback and discovered the company had used top-tier panels and quality mounting hardware, which other professionals online confirmed, adding real peace of‑
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How We Got To Trust Score 98
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Unauthorized Activities
Passed screening
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Background Check
Serving customers for 8 years
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Not BBB rated.
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Reviews were posted naturally over time.
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License information could not be confirmed.
What You Can Expect
Kelley had installed solar panels with First Response Solar years earlier, so when she decided to add a home battery there was no question who to call. She trusted Chaz and Dylan’s local reputation—both grew up in Sebastopol and are known for their integrity—and that trust showed up in the work. They kept her informed at every step, walking her through the process and answering every question thoroughly. Dylan showed up on time for each meeting, while Chaz and his crew worked meticulously and left the property clean. The team moved efficiently but also slowed down when she needed extra explanations. What stuck with her most was the small, practical care: they even offered to touch up paint where a new wire had been run, a detail that summed up how hands-on and considerate the job was.
Mike W. began shopping for solar in 2022 and met with a few companies before one team stood out: they were the first to sit down and walk him through the whole process, including how the true‑up would work. He liked that the crew was local and handled the installation themselves instead of bringing in a third‑party contractor. After nearly two years with the panels on his ranch‑style home, he discovered the system had been sized and installed correctly — his annual true‑up was about $3 and his monthly power bills dropped to almost nothing. What stuck with him was that clear, hands‑on explanation up front and the follow‑through that produced a nearly zero true‑up.
Dorothy needed solar on a home with limited roof space and chose First Response to make the most of what she had. The crew squeezed in the maximum number of panels her roof would allow, moved through the job efficiently and left the yard clean when they finished. Her electricity bills dropped substantially, and by year‑end PG&E actually owed her money—despite the utility pushing for rules that would lower what it pays back for excess generation. The array has been in place about four years, and she has had no problems with the panels or with First Response. The lasting impression: First Response fit as much capacity as possible on a small roof and delivered four years of trouble‑free savings.