Copperhill

Save money by asking the right questions.

Spending is easy.  Getting a refund is next to impossible.

1) Understand and then buy.

Most people don't want to be embarrassed so they won't ask questions. Ask so that you can understand. Keep looking around if you do not feel that you are getting the information you need. A good company will provide all the information you need. You will find that Copperhill people help you to learn before you buy.

2) What area of solar do they specialize in?

You want an expert in the field. Copperhill specializes in solar hot water. With systems across Canada for any hot or warm water application with an in house design team, we are sure to have the right package for you.

3) Ask if they use the system themselves.

All Copperhill dealers and salespeople across Canada use the Copperhill (TM) system in their home or business.  They have  taken the time to learn about solar and invested in an excellent system.

4) Do they sell parts or complete systems?

When you spend thousands of dollars on your choice of solar you want it to work for many years.

To ensure reliability the solar industry asked for a CSA standard for complete solar thermal systems.  This standard addresses 30  years of problems and failures. Some companies suggest buying the parts and having a plumber install them. When parts get destroyed in the process it comes out of your wallet. Most solar and wind purchases are part of a larger system. Buy the wrong component and the system may fail or you may have to upgrade later, abandoning expensive parts. Most electrical parts are not returnable. Performance and energy consumption vary widely. If something doesn't work, it's easy to blame the  buyer for improper installation. Do it yourself projects sound good but do you really think that trades people go to school for 3 to 5 years for nothing. Buying Copperhill (TM) is the best deal both short and long term. Copperhill dealers have the specific training and corporate backing to provide an excellent installation and lifetime satisfaction with your new system.

5) I want to go off grid. Will I save money?

The answer for most people is no.

Your current hydro bill tells you how many Kwh you use per day. If you can cut your hydro bill to  5 Kwh per day all year round, then it can work. Try it. you may be pleasantly surprised.

The cost of PV and wind systems are too high to provide a quick payback. Switching to propane or gas for major appliances avoids the question and will not save money. If you have read everything on this site and need more information, please call or e-mail us.

6) Can solar or wind power be a good back up system?

To answer this question you need to know how much electricity you use every day and what do you want to back up. Look at your hydro bill. What are the high usage months. Averaging is not a good idea because electrical  equipment does not run on averages. If you need backup in a high usage month, design the backup to that need.

You can put in a large battery bank for several thousands of dollars to provide a backup. Look at the other pages on this site to see what the cost is to recharge them using wind or solar. 99% of our business is Solar hot water. When people have all the information, the choice is usually  Copperhill (TM). The reason?  Good payback.

7) How much will it cost for a small wind turbine?

The cost of the turbine itself is small ($3,000.00) . By the time that it is  installed the cost will be a minimum of $12,000.00 plus permit costs.  See the page on Wind Power for more detail or contact us.

8) I have a 2000 sq ft house. How big a system will I need?

Energy usage is determined by the number of people in a house and their habits. The amount of sunshine on the house , direction , insulation, windows and sunrooms are far more important than house size.

9) Find out how long the company has been in business.

As the solar and wind industry becomes popular it attracts many operators. Some are reliable and others are in it for a fast buck. Ask for references and check them out. Visit customers to see what they have installed. Ask them about service and warrantees . Copperhill has an excellent track record for  installation, service and warrantees.