Everything You Need to Know About Solar Panel Warranties

September 6, 2019

In this week’s livestream, Patrick and Rex will be sharing information on solar panel warranties and everything you need to know about them. Considering solar panels for your home is a huge decision that requires a lot of researching and you want to make sure you’re getting the best return on your investment. You want to get the best solar panels, the best financing options, and receive the best warranties and guarantees that suits your needs. Warranties vary from installer to installer as well as manufacturer to manufacturer. In addition, warranties are also dependent on panel models. A lot of nuances are associated within the warranties themselves so it can be confusing to those just getting started. Let’s take a deeper dive into solar panel warranties.

Installer Workmanship Warranty 

Installer Workmanship Warranties protect homeowners from any issues that arise from the installation process. This warranty covers the homeowner from the installation work itself which does cover the construction element behind the process. If the homeowner receives roofing improvements, this warranty also protects them from this installation. What this means is that the installers will bear any costs associated with repairs and replacements. This warranties the homeowners that design, assembly, and installations are performed correctly within code. In California, homeowners are warrantied for 25 years. For homeowners in the East Coast, homeowners are warrantied for 10 years.

Manufacturer’s Product Warranty

Think of Manufacturer’s Product Warranty as a product warranty you may receive when purchasing electronic goods such as computers or phones. Product Warranty vary from manufacturer to manufacturer. This warranties homeowners that the physical hardware of the panels (including inverters and batteries) are not dented, are wired correctly and so on. Because solar has no moving parts and remain still for the rest of its longevity, anything physically wrong with the hardware of your system can be identified very early on. 

Performance Guarantee 

The Performance Guarantee or Performance Warranty is related to the degradation of the solar system and is guaranteed for 25 years, as an industry standard, by the manufacturer.  A small amount of performance is expected to be loss over time. However, this amount is a fraction of one percent and is usually set to be between 0.4-0.7% a year. Though degradation will vary depending on manufacturer, this guarantees that the system will not degrade a set perchance year over year for 25 years (after 25 years). Should a panel degrade faster than it is designed to, the manufacturer will replace that panel for free.

This is a generalized chart that displays what solar panel manufacturers guarantee their panels will produce after 25 years.

What About Homeowners Insurance?

A lot of money is invested into your solar array system for your home, so make sure it’s insured! Because it is now an attachment to your property, it is included under a homeowner’s policy and covered in standard plans that won’t raise your insurance premium. The cost of insuring your system will vary depending on your location, the size and cost of your system, and your insurance company’s plan. Here is a list of common hazards that are covered by most insurance companies according to the Insurance Information Institute:

• Fire and smoke (including wildfires)
• Lightning strikes 
• Windstorms and hail (in only 31 states)
• Explosions
• Vandalism and malicious mischief 
• Damage from an aircraft, car or vehicle
• Theft
• Falling objects (usually can be covered under premium plans)
• Weight of ice, snow or sheet
• Water damage

Pick My Solar’s Production Guarantee

Pick My Solar guarantees that during the first year the system will generate 95% of the projected kilowatt-hours described in the Solar Installation Agreement. Why 95%? This factors in a 5% fluctuation in production due to the weather, sunlight, soiling, and temperature variations. Production will exceed expectations in some months and fall short in others. If at the end of the 12-month anniversary of the fully operational system the cumulative kWh generated by the system is less than the weather variated guaranteed production, then Pick My Solar will pay you an amount equal to the difference, if any, multiplied by the utility base electricity rate for your area.

Pick My Solar’s TriGuard Guarantee

At Pick My Solar, the TriGuard Guarantee is a three-level guarantee that ensures Pick My Solar customers’ new home solar installations meet and maintain performance expectations. It includes coverage from: solar system manufacturer, installation company, and Pick My Solar (Pick My Solar’s Production Guarantee). As part of Pick My Solar’s mission to empower consumers to adopt sustainable technology, this is a standard feature for all new customers. We are constantly engaged with the installers and manufacturers guaranteeing a customer’s system and will provide support in the submission of claims. 

Interested in how Pick My Solar’s online solar marketplace works? Click here to learn more and schedule a call to speak to an Energy Advisor to learn about your home’s clean energy options.We’ll match you with quotes from top-vetted installers in your area for FREE. From now until September, we’re rewarding those who refer their friends to go solar through our solar marketplace. For every friend you refer, you both will receive $599.