Three different promises
Equipment warranties come from the manufacturer. Workmanship warranties come from the installer. A paid third-party warranty is a separate product — sometimes useful, sometimes a duplicate of coverage you already have.
What to confirm
Are the panel, inverter, and battery warranties the ones that belong to the models on the page? Does workmanship cover roof leaks related to the install, and for how long? If you sell the home, can the coverage transfer?
Extras
If you are on a lease, ask whether a paid warranty duplicates the lessor’s obligations. Paying twice for the same promise is a cost, not a benefit.
Make a coverage checklist for the exact equipment
The FTC distinguishes equipment warranties from installation workmanship coverage. Obtain the terms for each rather than relying on a single advertised duration. FTC: Solar Power for Your Home (U.S. consumer guidance, April 2022)
Illustrative example: a failed inverter might qualify for a replacement part while the labor needed to remove and reinstall it is handled separately. Read the actual terms to establish who pays; the length of a warranty does not answer that question.
- Save the manufacturer terms that match your model numbers.
- Ask who handles a claim if the installer stops operating.
- Compare paid extras against existing coverage before purchasing them.
| Coverage | Record these details |
|---|---|
| Equipment | Exact model, provider, term, exclusions, and claim process |
| Workmanship | Installer obligations, roof-related coverage, and duration |
| Service costs | Labor, shipping, diagnostics, and removal/reinstallation |
| Transfer | New-owner eligibility, fees, and notice requirements |
Use one row for each promise
“A 25-year warranty” may refer to only one part of a system. Record the equipment product warranty, any output warranty, inverter and battery terms, installer workmanship coverage and any separately purchased protection. Keep a copy of the actual terms that apply when you buy.
For each promise, identify the provider, the equipment or work covered, the starting event, the duration, exclusions and the claim process. A battery warranty may include usage or operating conditions; ask for the terms for your exact model instead of borrowing the panel’s warranty duration.
Walk through a repair before you need one
Imagine an illustrative inverter failure after installation. Who diagnoses it? Who submits the manufacturer claim? Who removes the failed unit, ships it and fits the replacement? Ask what you pay at each step and who helps if the original installer is no longer available.
A manufacturer replacement and a local service appointment are separate responsibilities. Save the responsible organization’s contact details and ask how ownership changes, registration deadlines or maintenance requirements affect your coverage.
| Task | Party responsible | Written term to save |
|---|---|---|
| Diagnosis and visit | Ask who schedules and pays | Service policy or warranty clause |
| Replacement part | Identify the exact provider | Model-specific product warranty |
| Removal and reinstallation | Ask whether labor is included | Installer and manufacturer terms |
| Shipping and other charges | Record exclusions and fees | Claim-cost provisions |
| Home sale or installer closure | Ask for transfer and alternate-service process | Transfer and claim provisions |
Connect warranties to the equipment you will actually receive
Compare model numbers on the proposal, contract and warranty documents. If substitutions are permitted, ask how the replacement’s coverage and service responsibilities will be confirmed before the change is accepted. Keep the final equipment schedule with the agreement.
A document review can highlight missing terms or differences between the proposal and contract. It does not guarantee a future claim will be accepted or that a provider will remain in business. Solar bid and contract review · Questions about equipment substitutions