Before switching to rooftop solar panel installation or other solar energy systems, you must consider a solar warranty. It is an important part of any solar installation as it protects the solar investment. Here, we will provide complete coverage over what is solar panel warranty, its coverage, factors that void the warranty, and so many facts. So, keep reading to get the essential information.
What is a solar warranty?
It is a guarantee that solar panel installers or manufacturers provide a customer for a panel’s production output, protection, reliability, and more things. The warranty depends on the manufacturer and installer.
The performance warranty generally guarantees just 80% efficiency of the panel at 25 years and 90% production at 10 years. However, the product warranty ranges between 10-12 years without any failure. Through warranties, customers get financial security by protecting their systems from performance problems, manufacturing damages, premature wear and tear, and other issues.
Advantages of a solar warranty
Whether installing a rooftop solar panel or interested in solar street light installation, considering a solar warranty is highly important. Unlike a short-term warranty for electronic devices, a solar warranty provides long-term protection and security in your home. You will have immense peace of mind as you don’t need to worry about costly repairs of solar panels.
You can rest assured that you will get convenient support just by sending an email or making a call to the experts. It will help you in saving a big amount by reducing the long-term repair investment. It is also a plus point for home buyers because more and more residential property customers are nowadays looking for homes with already installed solar panels.
What does the solar system warranty cover?
Well, 25 years is the industry standard warranty on solar panels but it doesn’t apply to the complete system. Solar warranties are generally divided into four categories –
Product warranty
As the name depicts, this warranty category covers the protection of various components of a solar panel system. It protects customers from damages or defects in workmanship or material problems during the manufacturing stage. This warranty is also known as the manufacturer’s product warranty.
Each component comes with a varying manufacturer warranty. For example, 5-10 years of battery warranties and inverter warranties, 10-15 years of solar panel warranty, etc. The labor cost to repair and/or replace the components is not covered in the product warranty of the manufacturer.
Performance warranty
Most manufacturers offer customers a linear performance warranty of about 25-30 years. It means the effective panel performance will remain for more than a particular degradation rate. This type of warranty is also known as a liner degradation warranty. It will constantly generate a certain percentage of energy during the specified warranty period. Note that it doesn’t cover the particular amount of solar production for a solar panel system.
Solar installation warranty
This is another category of solar warranty that covers the installation of solar panels. It can range from 1-10 years. It covers defects that happened during the installation process to confirm the right installation. Find out what is covered for you in the warranty and who the warranty itself is with.
Inverter warranty
According to experts, this is one of the most important warranties you must know about because the inverter is an essential part of the solar system. This component converts power generated by the solar panel from DC (direct current) to AC (alternating current), which is widely used in homes. If the inverter stops working, the entire solar system becomes useless.
What is excluded from a solar panel warranty?
There are some things that are not covered by most solar panel warranties. These comprise but not limited to the following –
- The labor cost to find and replace a component, or the cost of shipping to get replacements on the site.
- A guarantee of a particular amount of energy production from your solar system.
- The damage happened due to explosions, acts of war, accidental damage, vandalism, or other causes that come outside the control of a solar system manufacturer.
- Solar panel damage due to direct or indirect lightning strikes, power failure, flood, fire, or other natural accidents.
Only a few of the warranties cover the labor cost, while others provide this service at additional charges. You will have to pay an installer if labor is not included in your warranty.
How to compare different solar warranties?
To confirm that you are getting a perfect deal for your solar investment, carefully examine the details of a solar warranty. For this, ask as many questions as possible without any hesitation. Some questions you must ask before signing a contract are as follows –
- What warranty period is covered for the installation?
- What happens if any solar panel does not generate the required amount of energy as mentioned in the proposal?
- What will happen if anything breaks?
- What things are specifically covered in the warranty?
- Is the solar panel warranty an ongoing or extra cost?
- Do you get any warranty on the parts you will use on installation?
- What is the average response time when you require work done?
- What factors would void your solar panel warranty?
- What warranty is provided on the cables and other parts used during the installation?
- Can your warranty be transferred to another individual in case they purchase your home?
- What would you do when one or more manufacturers of your solar panel components go out of business?
- Do they provide a replacement warranty for solar inverters?
Can the solar warranty be transferred?
When you have already installed a solar panel in your home and now selling your home to another person, you can transfer the warranties in some situations. If you are going to buy and install a solar system, ask your supplier if a warranty can be transferred. Contact the manufacturer before listing your home to let them know your purpose. To simplify the transfer process of a buyer, make sure they know that the home sale depends on the solar warranty agreements or lease transfer.
What voids solar warranty?
Mishandling or mismanaging the solar system can void (cancel) its warranty. You can call for warranty service only when your system is properly maintained. To prevent permanent warranty voiding, never install the solar system yourself or by an unregistered contractor.
You might void the warranty if you fail to maintain the system properly or hire a different company or unlicensed worker to repair without involving the authorization of the original company. Some people believe that solar panels void roof warranty but it is one of the common myths about solar energy. It is possible only due to accidental damage.
Final Words
This is everything you need to know about solar panels warranty. So, if you are thinking to install any solar power technology in your home to save monthly electrical bills and contribute to a safe environment, then review the content of the solar warranty in the proposal. Voiding the warranty can be expensive so try to avoid things that can cause this.