Southwest Sun Solar reviews
• last updated FEB 26, 2026Loading map...
The Verdict
Southwest Sun Solar is not worth the risk. We analyzed over a hundred reviews and found a troubling pattern: shoddy installation work that leads to expensive home damage. One customer reported a $10,000 repair bill after their re-roof job leaked so badly they had to replace half their ceiling and walls, and the company ignored their calls. Another discovered panels installed next to their chimney were generating half capacity because the crew didn't follow the original plan. The leasing side is equally problematic. Reviews describe deceptive contracts with hidden buyout clauses if you sell your home, and customers report paying the same Edison bill after installation as they did before (one paid $30,000 upfront and saw zero savings). When things go wrong, the company goes silent. Multiple reviewers mention unanswered calls, broken promises to fix problems, and reps who vanish after the sale closes. Even the 50 glowing reviews about professional service can't offset the structural red flags we found in post-installation support and workmanship follow-through.
If you're considering Southwest Sun Solar, know that you're gambling on whether you'll get the responsive team some customers praise or the unresponsive one that ignores leaks and billing disputes. We'd skip the gamble and look elsewhere.
Reviews That Shaped Our Verdict
Totrinh paid nearly $30,000 up front for a residential solar installation expecting the panels to cut the home's Edison bill. After the system went in, they discovered an installer had told them they'd only owe Edison on an annual basis, yet the Edison charges keep arriving every month at about the same amount as before the panels. They reached back to the company's local office and found Phuong and Andy unreliable and unresponsive after payment. The experience ended with a full payment and no reduction in monthly utility costs — the lasting detail: handing over almost $30K and seeing no tangible drop in the Edison bill.
Long N. discovered that a roof the company had replaced four years earlier failed during heavy rain this year. Water leaked so badly that they ended up replacing about half the ceiling and walls, and repair bills topped $10,000. Repeated calls went unanswered; when the dispatcher Kim finally replied, she told them to "let it dry" before anyone would be sent to inspect — advice that allowed more internal damage and the risk of mold to grow. When the company finally engaged, their plan appeared to be limited to repainting the damaged wood rather than addressing the underlying rot and moisture. The clear takeaway for buyers: if a post-installation roof leaks, demand an immediate, documented inspection and remediation — accepting “let it dry” can turn a fixable leak into a five-figure problem.
Phong hired a licensed, NABCEP‑certified installer to equip his roof, which had room for two panel arrays. He discovered the crew put three panels right next to his chimney so those modules now produce roughly half their capacity. There was ample space on Array #2 where those three could have gone, and the shading arrangement ends up costing about 2–3 kWh a day on average — a meaningful loss over time. He raised the issue with account manager Andy, who refused to acknowledge a problem, then called the Semper Solaris contact and received the original installation plan, which shows no panels near the chimney. What stuck with him was the clear mismatch between the plan and the as‑built layout and the measurable daily energy loss; after referring three people to the company he spent time convincing them not to use it.
Platforms Monitored
Performance by Work Type
How We Got To Trust Score 63
No Red Flags
Unauthorized Activities
Passed screening
Misleading Claims
Passed screening
Background Check
Serving customers for 11 years
Operating longer than most installers in the market.
BBB Rating: A+
Excellent BBB standing. Strong complaint resolution.
Natural Review Patterns
Reviews were posted naturally over time.
Licensed Contractor
A valid contractor license is on record.
What You Can Expect
Rich bought a residential solar system from Sun West Solar — a company run by his ex-neighbor — and over a few years he realized the deal hadn’t been good: he felt overcharged and kept running into performance problems. When the system failed from August 2022 through April 2023 he reached out for help, but the owner repeatedly punted him to Sunnova Energy and did not take responsibility. He messaged the owner again on May 17, 2023 and heard nothing back; calls about earlier issues also drew silence. Along the way he watched the company grow and move out of the area, and concluded the owner had prioritized expansion over supporting local customers. After reading similar complaints from other homeowners, he became more certain his installation was mishandled. The striking detail that stuck with him: an eight-month stretch of nonworking solar and an unanswered May 17 message that left him without recourse.
Jeff Bowman hired Southwest Sun Solar about a year ago to install his second rooftop solar array on a Palm Springs–area home. He chose high-output REC 400-watt panels paired with Enphase IQ7 microinverters and ended up with a clean, professionally executed system. The crew handled the paperwork and installation smoothly and followed through on the timeline and commitments laid out up front. After a year he’s still impressed by the workmanship and the price, and what stands out is the no-surprises delivery: the equipment he wanted, installed exactly as promised in a high-sun market.
Stazie L. was introduced to Southwest Sun Solar by her mom and, though she hesitated at first, she called them — and now, more than four years later, she sends friends and family their way. She ended up working with Thai Nguyen as her representative; he moved quickly, stayed highly responsive and professional, and kept her informed through every step of the installation and approval process. His crew handled follow-up questions smoothly, so what started as reluctance turned into steady confidence. They own a second home and plan to use Southwest Sun Solar there as well. The detail that stuck with her: Thai’s responsiveness and the team’s clear communication made the whole process noticeably easier.