Compare Local Pros
Five Star Solar vs A2Z Water Heaters
Sacramento General Contractors Comparison · Updated March 2026
You're comparing a solar contractor to a water heater specialist, making this a service category decision rather than a company comparison.
| Five Star Solar | A2Z Water Heaters | |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | ★ 4.9 | ★ 5.0 |
| Years Licensed | 20 years | 19 years |
| License # | 873535 | 896708 |
| Workers' Comp | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Bond Amount | $25,000 | $25,000 |
| Location | Elk Grove, CA | Sacramento, CA |
| Website | www.fivestarssolar.com | www.a2zwaterheaters.com |
Key Differences
What Customers Say
Five Star Solar
Five Star Solar customers consistently praise quick one-to-two day installation timelines, competitive pricing, and educational consultations that explain solar systems thoroughly without pressure tactics.
A2Z Water Heaters
A2Z Water Heaters customers regularly highlight same-day emergency response capability, meticulous code-compliant installations, and detailed explanations that help homeowners understand their water heater systems.
Key Takeaway: Both companies receive remarkably similar feedback themes around educational approaches and competitive pricing, with the primary distinction being project urgency: solar installations are planned projects completed quickly, while water heater work often involves emergency same-day response.
Customer Reviews
Five Star Solar
The folks at Five Star Solar were professional, experienced, fast, organized, and available for questions and communication. My solar system has been working flawlessly since they installed it. I had ...
In October 2025, I saw an ad about installing solar panels. I called my company, and they filed for bankruptcy. I called other companies, and they told me that they won't finish by December deadline f...
Like so many of us that were going to do some type of solar project at some point we now had to scramble to get our solar projects completed by year end due to the abandonment of the Tax Credit. I was...
A2Z Water Heaters
I highly recommend A2z Water Heaters for their outstanding work on my two properties. They demonstrated exceptional professionalism and a strong work ethic throughout the process.
I called on Friday, they came out on Saturday to give an estimate. He had the replacement heater with him and installed it in about 3 hours. Fred did a great job installing our water heater. Brough...
a2z Water Heaters did a phenomenal job with replacing my old gas water heater. It started making a loud noise and I realized water was already running out, so I called a2z Water Heaters. I had seen ...
Consider Five Star Solar if...
- ✓ You're planning a solar panel installation, battery backup system, or solar expansion project for your home
- ✓ You need expertise navigating HOA approval processes for solar installations in planned communities
- ✓ You're building an ADU or new construction project requiring integrated solar design
- ✓ You value competitive solar pricing with detailed consultation and quick installation timelines
Consider A2Z Water Heaters if...
- ✓ You need water heater replacement, repair, or emergency leak response services
- ✓ Your water heater system requires code compliance upgrades or corrections to previous substandard work
- ✓ You're facing an urgent water heater failure requiring same-day or weekend emergency service
- ✓ You want specialized water heater expertise rather than general plumbing services for your installation
Questions to Ask Before Hiring
- → If comparing for different services at the same property: Ask each contractor about timing coordination if both projects need to happen simultaneously or in sequence
- → For solar projects: Ask Five Star Solar about current equipment warranties and monitoring systems included with installations
- → For water heater projects: Ask A2Z Water Heaters about their typical response time for emergency calls and after-hours availability
The Bottom Line
This comparison only matters if you're deciding between allocating your home improvement budget toward solar installation versus water heater replacement. Both Five Star Solar and A2Z Water Heaters are well-qualified veteran contractors with equivalent licensing credentials, proper insurance, and strong customer feedback in their specialized fields. Choose Five Star Solar for any solar-related project and A2Z Water Heaters for water heater services. If you need both services, both contractors appear capable and properly credentialed to handle their respective work.
Get Up to 3 Free Quotes
Compare prices from licensed, verified contractors
Frequently Asked Questions
This comparison only makes practical sense if you're evaluating different project priorities for your home improvement budget. If you need both services, you'll hire both contractors for their respective specialties. The data shows both are qualified veteran contractors, so the decision is about which home improvement project takes priority.
No, each company specializes exclusively in their respective field. Five Star Solar focuses solely on solar installations and related services, while A2Z Water Heaters handles only water heater work. This specialization means you're getting dedicated expertise rather than a generalist approach.
No, both are essentially equivalent in credentialing. The one-year difference in licensing history is negligible between veteran contractors, and both carry identical $25,000 bonds and workers compensation insurance. Both maintain active licenses and demonstrate similar high owner involvement and customer service approaches.
Solar panel installation typically doesn't impact existing water heater systems unless you're specifically adding a solar water heating component. If you're planning both projects, coordinate timing with both contractors to ensure roof work for solar doesn't interfere with any water heater venting or access needs.
Looking for the Best?
See our ranked list of top general contractors in Sacramento.
Other Sacramento General Contractors Comparisons
How We Compare Contractors
License Verification
All license data is sourced from official California CSLB records and verified regularly.
Review Analysis
Customer reviews are aggregated from Google and analyzed to identify patterns in service quality.
Detailed Comparison
We analyze credentials, insurance, experience, and feedback to highlight meaningful differences.
Not all licensed contractors are created equal. While a valid license is the baseline requirement in California, contractors can vary significantly in experience, insurance coverage, and customer satisfaction.
- Experience matters: A contractor with 15+ years of experience has likely encountered and solved problems that newer contractors haven't faced yet.
- Workers' compensation protects you: If a contractor without workers' comp insurance has an employee injured on your property, you could be held liable.
- Reviews reveal patterns: Individual reviews can be misleading, but patterns across many reviews often reveal a contractor's true strengths and weaknesses.
- Bond amounts vary: A contractor's bond provides financial protection if they fail to complete work as agreed. Higher bonds offer more protection.
Taking time to compare contractors on these factors can save you from costly mistakes and help ensure your project is completed by a qualified professional.
Data Sources: License information from California CSLB. Ratings and reviews from Google. Last verified March 12, 2026.
This comparison is based on publicly available information. We recommend getting multiple quotes and verifying all credentials directly before hiring.
Get in Touch
Have questions or feedback? We'd love to hear from you.