Just as with any product or service that comes with a warranty, you can expect a solar panel warranty to provide you with protection from any issues that may arise with the system in the future.
With the ability to negatively impact your home’s energy production, and even set you back hundreds, if not thousands of dollars, serious issues with your solar panel installation can be a big problem, and make warranties essential. But what exactly do they cover you for? Let’s investigate:
Potential issues that may affect your solar energy system
Your solar installation warranty is designed to protect you should something go wrong with the system, which may include:
What your solar panel warranty covers you for
There are a number of different warranties that cover your entire solar installation, and they are as follows:
Helping to protect you from further costs should your equipment fail or be at fault and need replacing, a standard warranty provided by the panel manufacturers covers you for anything between 10 to 25 years. While panels that have failed will have a minimal impact on your home’s solar production in the 1 to 2 weeks it takes to arrange for an equipment replacement, it’s reassuring to know that replacements will be made without costing you anything.
Sometimes, while your solar system might appear to be functioning, it isn’t producing as much electricity as you would expect. Relating to your solar panels’ efficiency, a performance warranty guarantees that your solar panels will provide you with a certain output over a certain time period. Such a warranty might be expected to guarantee 90% production for the first decade after installation, followed by 80% for up to 25 years.
Exactly as its name suggests, a workmanship warranty covers the work that has been carried out by the installer on your solar system, or which will be, while a manufacturer’s warranty saves you the cost of having to replace any equipment that develops a fault.
It’s important to ask your solar installer if a workmanship warranty is offered by them, and if so, what it covers, how long it will last, and how long the solar panels are expected to last. Depending on where you live, it may be that your contractor offers you a 5, 10, 15 or lifetime warranty for workmanship, which can save you a lot of money potentially, on any repairs or maintenance work that may be required during your solar systems lifespan.
What can void a warranty?
Alternating current panels, or AC panels, can void a warranty, as can attempting to install solar panels at your home yourself, and getting it wrong. When it comes to something as important and costly as solar panels, even if you think you can save money by installing them yourself, it really doesn’t make sense to do so when you look at the bigger picture.
Damage caused by natural weather events such as hail and lightening aren’t covered by solar panel warranties, neither is fire, no matter how it occurred. But most homeowner insurance policies will cover the cost of replacement panels, so where possible, cover all of your bases and secure a robust warranty as well as home insurance when having a solar panel system installed at your home.
When discussing having a solar panel system installed at your home or place of business, be sure to talk to your provider about warranties and gain a clear understanding of what is, and what isn’t, covered by them. And if they aren’t willing to provide you with any – steer well clear!
[addtoany]