STI Solar reviews

Norman returned to the same family-run crew that installed his first panels about three years earlier, and this time they closed the loop by fitting an Enphase battery-and-inverter package they recommended. Elliott remained his principal point of contact through design, installation and commissioning, and because he’s a bit of a technology geek he was especially impressed by the Enphase monitoring software. The team showed up on the appointed day, worked straight through until the job was done, and wrapped up ahead of schedule and on budget. Commissioning and follow-through went smoothly, and the hardware has been delivering as promised. Beyond the clear financial benefits, he liked the feeling of doing something positive for the planet — and is already saving toward an electric car.

Jeri Miller first called Solar Kauai to fix an aging solar water heater on her Kauai home, and after they repaired it she decided to install a photovoltaic system. She’s had the PV array for four years and it has run trouble-free, cutting her electric bills dramatically and delivering the tax-credit savings she expected. Solar Kauai offered the best price, scheduled the work with no delay, and handled installation and follow-up with solid service. What sticks with her is how a simple repair call turned into four years of dependable performance and real savings — she still can’t believe she waited so long to go solar.

Diane N. had a solar roof and a water heater installed on her home three years ago by STI Solar. She discovered the system stopped working and spent two months trying to get service under the 10-year warranty. Devin, the owner, refused to provide the warranty help, instead insisting she buy replacement parts he admitted he didn’t even know were necessary — parts that are supposed to be covered. She found the same pattern echoed in other reviews: strong during installation, little interest afterward. The detail that sticks: the owner pressed her to pay for parts he wouldn’t guarantee, despite an active 10-year warranty.

Eric I. chose Solar Kauai to upgrade his system on Kauai and found the whole process—from reviewing his needs to picking a system, through construction and final handoff—smooth and well managed. He researched options and ended up with the system Elliot recommended, which ranked among the top three in independent expert reviews. During installation a local crew showed up on time, worked diligently, stayed personable, and left behind clearly solid workmanship. The finished system is performing very well and has exceeded his expectations. As a local family business, Solar Kauai combined a highly rated equipment choice with careful installation—those three things are what stood out most to him.

Eric Inouye chose Solar Kauai after digging into Elliot’s recommendation and discovering the package carried top-three ratings from expert reviewers. He moved through a clear, step-by-step process — requirements review, options, system selection, construction, and final commissioning — that felt smooth and well managed. During installation a local crew proved diligent, personable, and meticulous, leaving behind workmanship that matched the attention to detail in the sales stage. Once live, the updated system began producing better than expected results, which became the most memorable part of the project: a highly rated system, installed by a local family business, actually outperforming projections.

Kristi M. hired STI Solar and a rep named Devin to put a roof-full of panels and a battery backup on her home, and the project turned into one of her biggest regrets. Before the install Devin answered every text, call and email, which set high expectations, but once the equipment was in place he disappeared. After living with the system for years she discovered only about a 20% drop in her utility bill, while friends with a similar setup through a different contractor routinely see bills in the $10–$30 range; hers still runs into the hundreds. She reached out to Devin hundreds of times for help or accountability and got no resolution. She also noticed her critical Google review vanished, leaving only the five‑star entries. The lasting image: a full rooftop system and battery backup that hasn’t delivered the savings or aftercare she expected.

Ruby Melvin found working with Elliot and his crew refreshingly straightforward when she pursued a residential solar installation. She appreciated how quickly they answered questions and how professional they were throughout the process. Once the system was up and running, her electric bill plunged by 75%, a dramatic change that she attributes directly to the installation quality. She ended up with a solid, well-executed system and a team that stayed on top of the job from start to finish. The clearest takeaway for her: the monthly bills shrank to roughly a quarter of what they were before, and the smooth, responsive service made that outcome feel effortless.

Daniel Kraus hired Solar Kauai to expand his home system, adding a solar water heater and extra panels to handle higher energy use. He worked directly with Elliot and the family-run team, who guided the project and stayed personally involved from start to finish. Promises were kept and the work was completed on schedule, and the crew’s warm, attentive approach made him feel genuinely cared for during the upgrade. The most memorable detail was Elliot’s hands-on service—turning a technical upgrade into a smooth, reassuring experience and leaving him with functioning equipment and confidence in ongoing support.

Jennifer P. hired STI to put a solar array on a school campus and to install several air conditioners, and what began as a big investment turned into a long string of problems. She discovered the most striking failure early on: the so-called “solar-powered” air conditioners were never set up to draw from the panels and instead pulled power from the grid. Those units cost far more than conventional systems and, in her experience, produced less savings—so much so that when the school replaced them with ordinary split ACs from another company (Cool It Kauai), the new units used less electricity than STI’s expensive, underperforming models.

From the start, equipment performance felt cheap and technicians often seemed unsure what they were doing. Breakdowns became constant; the system—only a few years old—rarely ran without something wrong. One optimizer is still out of service, and Jennifer puts off calling because she expects to have to pester the company for months. Repairs can stretch into months or even years, and when STI does turn up, the owner comes across as unfriendly and quick to complain about repair costs rather than take responsibility.

Promises meant to make thingsright