Is Your Solar Warranty Expiring? Here’s What to Do Next
How to Continue Ongoing Maintenance of Your Solar Panel System
There are currently more than 22,000 solar panel systems across the state of Iowa, powering everything from homes to farms to factory buildings. Many of these systems carry multiple warranties, ensuring that the panels operate efficiently for years to come.
If you’re a solar panel owner, though, it can be difficult to understand which parts of your system are still under warranty, and for how long.
Many warranties cover factory defects in your system for two decades or more – most of the panels’ lifespan. But the warranty that will likely expire within a few years of installation is the workmanship warranty from your solar installer. Knowing when this coverage ends is essential for protecting your system and avoiding unexpected out-of-pocket repair costs down the road.
Here is a guide to the types of solar panel warranties your panels may have, as well as what to do when your warranty expires.
Understanding the Types of Solar Warranties
Manufacturer Warranty
The solar panel manufacturer’s warranty is the most common and often the longest warranty your solar panels will have. This warranty is on the solar panels themselves and ensures that any factory defects or mistakes won’t cause problems on your panels through most of their useful lifespan. Most solar panels have up to a 25-year manufacturer warranty.
Workmanship Warranty
On top of the manufacturer warranty, most solar installation companies will add a workmanship warranty. This covers any malfunctions related to the installation and setup process. If there are any errors, the panel company will often come and fix it for free. At 1 Source Solar, we offer a free five-year workmanship warranty on all installations.
Component Warranty
Some individual components, like inverters, also have warranties from their manufacturer. These component warranties are often 10-15 years, shorter than the warranties for the panels themselves.
Production (Performance) Warranty
Solar panels lose a small amount of efficiency as they age. A performance warranty protects against premature degradation. This ensures that your panels will not drop below a certain efficiency level by a certain year. All panels that we use at 1 Source Solar come with production warranties lasting 25 to 30 years, guaranteeing the modules won’t go below 85 to 90% of the efficiency they had on day one during that time period.
Warranty Comparison (At a Glance)
| Warranty Type | Who Covers It | Typical Duration | What It Covers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manufacturer (Panel) Warranty | Solar panel manufacturer | 25+ years | Physical defects & factory flaws |
| Production (Performance) Warranty | Solar panel manufacturer | 25-30 years | Excessive drop in power output over time |
| Component Warranty | Component manufacturer | 10-25 years (varies by component) | Defects and failures in non-panel equipment |
| Workmanship Warranty | Solar installer | 5 years (at 1 Source Solar) | Issues or damage resulting from the installation process |
What Happens When Your Workmanship Warranty Expires?
When your installer’s workmanship warranty ends, you enter a new phase of solar ownership. Here are a few common scenarios for how these warranties expire:
- The warranty’s time period expired. The simplest and most common scenario, this occurs when the warranty period is up. While the company may not be able to cover certain repairs under warranty, if you trust your installer, you can still reach out to them for maintenance requests since they are familiar with your system. However, they will likely not fix it for free.
- The system is transferred to a new owner. If you bought a home, farm, or commercial building with pre-existing solar panels, the workmanship warranty may not have transferred to you. It’s always good to check with the installation company to be sure.
- Your installer went out of business. Unfortunately, if a solar installer goes out of business, their warranty also usually ends. This means customers will need to go elsewhere for their maintenance and repair needs.
- The warranty was voided. Some actions that businesses and homeowners take may void their workmanship warranties, such as attempting to fix issues yourself or hiring uncertified contractors. It’s important to know what requirements are included in your warranty for it to remain valid.
What to Do When Your Workmanship Warranty Expires
Once your workmanship warranty expires, you generally have two choices.
The first is paying out-of-pocket for service calls only when something breaks. The second is a maintenance contract where you pay a small routine fee for monitoring, seasonal inspections, and priority repair response.
The good news is that solar panels generally require very little maintenance. They are built to withstand the outdoor elements and have no moving parts. Still, a maintenance contract is good for homeowners and businesses who want to ensure their panels are working at top performance and that they don’t miss a warning sign that could cost you energy savings in the future.
How 1 Source Solar Can Help
At 1 Source Solar, we offer comprehensive ongoing maintenance plans as an optional add-on for all of our customers. Even if we didn’t install your system, we would be happy to help you maintain it. These plans include:
- Routine checkups and system inspections
- Rapid response for emergency repairs to reduce downtime
- Lifetime system support and troubleshooting
- Live 24/7 monitoring of your system
Has your solar warranty ended? Contact the 1 Source Solar team today. We’ll help you evaluate the current status of your warranties and decide whether a maintenance plan is the best option for you.
