SolarMax Technology reviews

Tom F. moved into a Redlands home four years ago and, on a neighbor’s recommendation, had SolarMax install solar panels and a battery backup. He relied on their ongoing accessibility and support over those years, so when he chose to expand the system this summer he turned back to the same team. SolarMax managed the project from design through paperwork—preparing the application, navigating the City review, completing the installation—and secured Edison’s final approval to operate. He found their responsiveness and technical competence kept the process moving smoothly and without surprises. The detail that stood out to him was continuity: the same crew who installed the original system handled the upgrade and the approvals, so the expansion felt like a seamless extension rather than a fresh, uncertain start.

In 2020 Aaron V. began getting bids for a home solar system and kept seeing $40,000-plus estimates — then a coworker recommended Dan Cooley from SolarMax. He landed on SolarMax after their quote came in around $18,000, far less than the other offers, and because the whole sales process was unusually low‑touch: Dan and the team mapped the roof with Google Maps and completed agreements via Docusign instead of a drawn‑out in‑person pitch. The system went in and, four years later in 2024, it continues to produce at the same rate with no problems. The takeaway that stuck with him was simple and concrete: a significantly cheaper, largely remote sales experience that resulted in a reliable system still performing years on.

On a residential solar install, Christina S. discovered a kinked electrical conduit after the system was in place and sent SolarMax an onsite photo (Update #4) the moment she became aware. She volunteered to cover any correction she hadn’t known was needed and approached the company looking for a fix. Instead, SolarMax declared the conduit had been tampered with by another contractor, refused to work with her to resolve it, and voided the contract. What frustrated her most was that several SolarMax technicians had been to the house to repair split wiring—work she believes was not up to code—and at no point did any of them identify or report the kink. She emphasizes that the original installer is responsible for ensuring equipment meets code, and she was left with a safety/code issue that the company declined to correct after blaming third-party tampering.

Paul arranged for solar panels to be installed more than 11 years ago and watched the whole process go smoothly — careful, top‑notch work from start to finish. Over the ensuing decade the system’s power output stayed steady. When a small problem, one he had caused, appeared, the company turned up promptly and courteously to make it right. What stood out was their willingness to stand behind their work even after many years — a quick, professional response that left him very satisfied.

Kevin, a Realtor in South Orange County who lives in Rancho Santa Margarita with his wife Julie and their three boys, connected with Brandon Mezzanato at Solar Max when he decided to go solar. From the first meeting Brandon walked him through the whole process in plain language, set realistic expectations and then exceeded them, patiently answering every question and shaping a system aimed to break even or deliver a small positive return each year. Fourteen months after the system went live he ended the year with a credit on his Southern California Edison bill that rolled forward into the next year — a tangible sign the design worked. Because he leased the array, he also locked in a fixed monthly payment for 25 years that turned out to be meaningfully lower than his pre-solar bills, and he now feels better positioned to absorb future electricity price increases. Beyond the numbers, the standout detail is Brandon’s ongoing availability: more than a year later Kevin can still pick up the phone, reach Brandon directly and be greeted by name when complex billing questions come up. He also appreciated that Solar Max is a local Riverside company that manufactures its own panels in a 165,

John installed a system on a small two-person home expecting a noticeable cut in his power bills, but after installation he still pays roughly $100–$130 a month plus the solar payments. When a single panel stopped producing, Solar Max sent a technician out promptly to troubleshoot — that quick service started off well. After the visit, however, the experience unraveled: for two months he pushed for a replacement and met a stream of excuses. The panel remained in place so the manufacturer had nothing to inspect, warranty approval dragged on for a month, then Solar Max said the manufacturer needed to ship the replacement to them, creating another delay. Meanwhile his electric bill stayed high, and he began to doubt that Solar Max keeps spare panels locally. He recently inquired about upgrading the system but decided against any further work with Solar Max because of the slow warranty process. Reading BBB complaints that reflected the same delays reinforced his reluctance; the concrete takeaway he kept in mind was that a prompt diagnostic visit didn’t prevent months without a working panel and continued high bills.

Aaron bought a 28-panel solar system from SolarMax about six to seven years ago; the sales rep moved quickly, answered questions, and the array produced roughly 3–4 kWh per hour at peak. About a year ago he opted to add a 20 kWh battery backup and asked about more panels. SolarMax advised adding only three panels to avoid being pushed into NEM3.0 — a piece of local SCE know-how he appreciated — but that decision marked the turning point where the experience began to fray. What followed were a string of small but frustrating issues. An installation window slipped from an initial two months to three or four. The field techs were personable and willing to explain technical details, but they left some clamps behind. The crew that came to inspect and paint accidentally spilled paint on the concrete and didn’t mention it; he eventually removed the dried stain with a pressure washer. The biggest problem emerged after commissioning: the batteries barely charged and the companion app reported confusing information. He discovered a widespread equipment bug that affected charging; technicians corrected it, but he lost out on generated kWh and dollars while it was unresolved. Even under best

Paul W. has lived with this company's solar installation on his home for twelve years and gave it a five-star review. Over that span he found the equipment still performing reliably, and whenever a small issue came up the company moved quickly to fix it. The lasting impression: durable gear plus fast, responsive service for the little problems that do occur.

Carl Terzian found himself with loose wiring at his home after the crew unhooked connections to his pre-existing Generac standby generator. When he asked the company to return and reattach the cables, they refused. What began as decisions framed to “save money” quickly felt like moves that served the company’s interests rather than his — and the disconnected generator wiring is only one of several problems he’s experienced. He plans to upload photos of the loose, unconnected wiring to document the issue, leaving the lingering image of a standby generator left unusable by the installer’s choices.