Three warranties in every install

Solar warranties are not a single document — they are three separate agreements from three different parties, each covering different failure modes with different terms. Understanding the structure is what lets you file the right claim to the right party when something goes wrong.

• Panel production warranty: from the panel manufacturer (JA Solar, Trina, Longi, etc.). Typically 25 years. Covers output shortfall against the published degradation curve.
• Inverter warranty: from the inverter manufacturer (Sungrow, Huawei, Deye, etc.). Typically 10 years standard, extendable to 15 or 20 years. Covers inverter equipment failure.
• Workmanship warranty: from your installer. Typically 5–10 years. Covers installation defects — bad mounting, roof leaks at mounting points, loose wiring, incorrect grounding.

Each warranty has its own claim process, its own required documentation, and its own decision timeline. Knowing the split matters because filing an installer-workmanship claim to the panel manufacturer wastes months of everyone’s time.

Panel production warranty (25 years)

Panel manufacturers warrant that panels will produce at least a stated percentage of nameplate power at year N. Typical warranty curves:

• Year 1: at least 97–98% of nameplate power
• Year 12: at least 90–92% of nameplate power
• Year 25: at least 84–87% of nameplate power

The warranty covers degradation faster than this published curve. In practice, tier-1 panels degrade about 0.4–0.6% per year — well within warranty — so real production-warranty claims are rare. When they happen, they usually involve one panel that has failed outright (broken cell, delamination, obvious defect) rather than aggregate degradation across the array.

How to file: the manufacturer requires the exact panel serial number of the affected panel, purchase documentation, and evidence of underperformance (photos of visible defect, or monitoring data showing that panel underproducing). Your installer usually handles the claim on your behalf — panel manufacturers do not want to deal with individual homeowners. The manufacturer typically ships a replacement panel to the installer’s warehouse; installer swaps and disposes of the failed panel. Total elapsed time for a tier-1 claim: 6–12 weeks.

Inverter warranty (10 years standard)

Inverter warranties cover equipment failure — the inverter stops working correctly and needs repair or replacement. Standard tier-1 inverter warranties run 10 years. Extended warranties to 15 or 20 years are available at time of purchase, usually for 5–15% of the inverter cost.

Common covered failures: capacitor failure (age-related, typically year 8–12), DC input isolation faults (age-related), fan bearing failure (heat + dust), display or communication board failure. Not covered: physical damage from lightning strike (usually a homeowner insurance claim), damage from grid over-voltage events (Meralco or homeowner insurance claim), damage from installation defects (installer workmanship claim).

How to file: the inverter’s monitoring platform typically logs error codes that identify the failure mode. Take a screenshot, note the error code, and contact your installer. The installer files the claim with the manufacturer’s local distributor. Depending on failure mode, the resolution is either: (a) a firmware or configuration change (fast, no equipment swap), (b) a service technician visit and component replacement (weeks), or (c) full inverter swap (weeks to months, depending on parts availability). Manufacturer typically ships the replacement to the installer; installer handles the physical swap and manages the old unit return.

Workmanship warranty (5–10 years)

The installer’s workmanship warranty covers installation defects. Common covered items:

• Roof leaks at mounting penetrations: caused by improper flashing or sealant application. Usually shows up within 1–3 years of installation.
• Loose or corroded electrical connections: connections made incorrectly during install. Usually shows up in year 3–5 as intermittent monitoring alerts.
• Improperly torqued mounting hardware: panel clamps loosening over time. Usually shows up in year 2–4.
• DC wire routing that fails after thermal cycling: wires chafed or improperly routed can fail insulation later.
• Grounding issues discovered after installation: improper grounding can cause monitoring or inverter faults.

How to file: contact the installer directly. A reputable installer responds to workmanship claims quickly because their reputation depends on it. Poor installers make workmanship claims difficult, or claim the issue is outside the workmanship scope. If your installer is unresponsive to a workmanship claim, that is the largest red flag in the whole solar-ownership journey.

Choosing installers for warranty seriousness: before signing, ask about a specific past workmanship claim they honored. A genuine installer can name one; an installer who has never had a workmanship claim in 5+ years of business is either exceptional or lying — the first is fine, but ask follow-up questions to distinguish.

What voids each warranty

Warranty voiders vary by warranty:

• Panel warranty voiders: physical damage from vandalism or non-typhoon impact, DIY-installation without an accredited installer, use in environments outside the specification (e.g., commercial in an installation rated only residential).
• Inverter warranty voiders: unauthorized firmware modifications, unauthorized component replacements, physical damage from lightning (though this is often covered by lightning-arrestor replacement), installation outside stated environmental parameters.
• Workmanship warranty voiders: non-installer modifications to the installed system (adding a new panel yourself, changing wiring), non-installer roof work that affects the mounting, damage from failing to maintain the system per the installer’s guidance.

The pattern: warranties cover manufacturing defects and installation defects, not damage from unusual events or unauthorized modifications. Practical implication: do not have your handyman “add a panel” to your installed system without involving your installer. That single act can void multiple warranties simultaneously.

Documentation to keep

For future warranty claims, keep these documents accessible (ideally in a cloud folder):

• Panel serial numbers list (from the installer’s completion packet)
• Inverter serial number and installation date
• Battery serial number and installation date (if applicable)
• Installation completion certificate + monitoring app account credentials
• Copy of workmanship warranty terms from installer
• Meralco Net-Metering Program Certificate of Interconnection
• OBO Certificate of Final Electrical Inspection
• Photos of the completed installation (installer typically provides these)

These documents live for the 25+ year life of the system. Store them somewhere you’ll still have them in 15 years — not just in your email.

Related guides

• Monitoring your solar production: apps, benchmarks, warning signs
• Solar battery chemistry: LFP vs NMC vs lead-acid
• Solar panel cleaning and QC air quality