Solar warranties: what is actually covered?

Start by separating the promises

Your panels, battery and inverter may have different warranties from different companies. The installer’s cover for its work is another promise. Ask for a list rather than accepting a single line saying “25-year warranty”.

Panel performance is not a savings guarantee

A performance warranty allows for a stated fall in panel output as the equipment ages. It does not promise a fixed amount of electricity from your roof each year. Nor does it guarantee your bills or export income.

The REC Alpha terms that include the UK, for example, separate product defects from a performance test under specified conditions. They also explain how a claim is assessed. Read both promises; do not assume that the longer one covers every fault.

What does the battery promise to retain?

Check whether the warranty covers faults, remaining storage capacity, or both. A capacity promise normally allows some reduction. Ask what starting capacity the percentage refers to and how the manufacturer measures it.

Usage can matter as well as years. Cycles refer to charging and discharging. Throughput is the total electricity counted through the battery over time. The terms should explain the counting method and any limit.

Tesla’s UK-inclusive Powerwall warranty illustrates why the detail matters: the operating limit depends on how the battery is used. Its terms also include registration, internet connection and installation conditions. These are examples from that warranty, not rules that apply to every battery.

Our battery specification guide explains usable storage and power, so you can check that the warranty describes the same equipment as the quote.

Check the inverter’s own cover

Do not assume the inverter is covered for as long as the panels. Ask for its standard warranty, any included extension, and the date the cover begins.

Some extensions need registration. Fronius, for example, provides warranty information and certificates through its Solar.web service, with terms that vary by country and region. Ask the installer who completes registration, by when, and what proof you will receive. Confirm any extra price before signing.

Who pays to reach, remove and replace a faulty part?

A replacement panel is only part of a repair. Someone may need to find the fault, reach the roof, remove the equipment and fit the replacement. Ask separately about:

• Call-out charges and fault-finding.
• Scaffolding or other roof access.
• Labour to remove and refit equipment.
• Transport, replacement parts and any extra materials.

REC’s standard Alpha warranty excludes on-site labour, removal, transport and refitting costs, while referring to possible additional cover through its ProTrust package. That is why you need the terms of the package actually included, not just the manufacturer’s name.

Also check whether a replacement is new or refurbished and whether the remaining warranty continues or starts again. Do not assume a replacement gives you another full term.

Keep installation cover separate

Ask who deals with a problem caused by the installation, such as a fault in the work rather than the equipment. Get the installer’s written workmanship terms and claims contact.

If insurance-backed cover is offered, ask for the policy, provider, covered events and exclusions. Find out what happens if the installer stops trading. The label alone does not show that every future repair is insured.

A manufacturer warranty is additional to applicable consumer rights; it does not replace them. If a fault or contract dispute arises, seek independent consumer advice rather than relying on this buying guide to decide your legal entitlement.

What must you do to keep the cover?

Ask about registration, servicing, maintenance, internet access and any approved-installer requirements. Get the obligations and possible ongoing costs in writing. Keep the invoice, model and serial-number list, installation paperwork, registration confirmation and applicable warranties together.

For a claim, start with the contact named in your documents. Ask who arranges inspection and who authorises repair costs. Do not climb onto the roof or open electrical equipment to collect evidence yourself.

A short request to send before signing

Please send the full UK-applicable warranties for the exact panels, inverter and battery on my quote, plus your workmanship cover. For each one, confirm the start date, length, registration and maintenance conditions, and who handles a claim. Please state who pays for fault-finding, scaffolding, removal, transport and refitting, and send the policy for any insurance-backed cover included.

Put the answers into the quote comparison worksheet, then use our contract checklist for the remaining checks before signing.