How to Hire a Solar Installer Safely in Mozambique

Solar installations represent a significant investment — a poor installation can mean underperforming panels, damaged batteries, or roof damage that costs far more to fix than the original job.

Pre-Hire Checklist

| Check | Why It Matters | |-------|-----------------| | Verified solar-specific credentials | Confirms training beyond general electrical work | | System sizing consultation | Ensures panels match your actual power needs | | Battery and inverter experience | Different skill than panel mounting alone | | Warranty and follow-up terms | What happens if performance issues arise later |

Why Solar Needs More Scrutiny Than Basic Electrical

Solar systems involve electrical work, structural mounting, and ongoing performance monitoring — a worker skilled in residential wiring alone may lack the specific solar sizing and battery management knowledge your system needs.

Questions to Ask Before Hiring

Ask how they calculate system size for your household's actual usage — an installer who doesn't ask about your appliances and daily usage patterns before quoting a system size is likely using a generic estimate rather than a proper assessment.

The IoT Monitoring Advantage

Some installers offer IoT-monitored systems that automatically flag performance drops — ask whether ongoing monitoring is included, as this can catch problems (dust buildup, wiring issues) before they cause bigger failures.

Using Escrow for Solar Installation

Structure payment with a portion released after installation and a final portion after a short performance-verification period (e.g., one week of confirmed output) rather than 100% upon visual completion.

Red Flags

No willingness to discuss your specific power needs, generic system recommendations without site assessment, or no verifiable installation history are reasons for caution.