Solar Panel Warranties: What You Need to Know
When investing in a solar panel system for your home or business, one of the most important considerations is the warranty coverage. Solar panel warranties protect against defects and performance issues over the long lifespan of your system. Understanding solar panel warranties can give you confidence that your investment will deliver returns for years to come.
Types of Solar Panel Warranties
There are several common warranty types offered on solar panels. The most comprehensive solar installation warranties include:
- Product Warranty covers defects in solar panel materials and workmanship, typically for 10 to 12 years. If a panel cracks, suffers internal moisture ingress, or has faulty connectors under normal use, this warranty ensures replacement or repair at no cost to you.
- Performance Warranty guarantees a certain level of solar panel output over 25 to 30 years. This matters because all solar panels experience gradual degradation over time due to UV exposure, heat, and weather. Typically, around 3% output is lost in the first year, followed by 0.3% to 0.7% annually. Industry standard guarantees 80 to 84% retained output after 25 years, though premium manufacturers go higher.
- Workmanship Warranty covers installation quality and labor, usually for 5 to 10 years, addressing flaws in roof mounting, wiring, and conduit.
- Inverter Warranty is similar to the product warranty but covers the inverter component specifically, typically ranging from 5 to 10 years.
What Is Covered in a Solar Panel Warranty?
Solar panel warranties protect you from malfunctioning equipment or decreased expected energy production. Some of the issues that are covered under solar panel warranties include cracks or damage, failure of connectors and junction boxes, glass or frame issues, damage to cells within the panel, decrease in energy production by less than guaranteed percentages, and improper installation, including loose mounts and incorrect wiring.
What Makes a Solar Panel Warranty Null?
Although solar panel warranties provide broad coverage, there are some things you need to adhere to in order to benefit from the warranty. Some of the issues that may void a warranty include not adhering to routine maintenance, not cleaning the panels on time, using non-OEM components
Questions You Should Ask Your Solar Installer
Among other questions that can help you choose an installer, you should inquire about who provides guarantees on the products, whether guarantees cover both material and services, whether guarantees are transferable when you sell your property, and about the claims process. Detailed responses give a good idea of how much confidence the installer places in his or her product.
Solar Panel Warranties by Waaree
Trustworthy solar installers such as Waaree Energies, India’s largest solar manufacturer, provide reliable warranty guarantees on their panels, with warranty coverage spanning 25 to 30 years, depending upon the type of panels chosen. Waaree solar panels pass through 48+ tests. Combined with good panels and guarantees provided by the installation firm, solar panel warranties will enable building owners to enjoy maximum cost savings for many decades
