📌 Key Takeaway: Solar warranties typically split into three separate types — equipment/product, performance, and workmanship — each covering something different. A strong warranty in one category doesn't guarantee strong coverage in another.

The Three Warranty Types

  • Equipment/product warranty — covers manufacturing defects in the panels themselves, typically 10-25 years depending on the brand.
  • Performance warranty — guarantees the panels will produce at least a certain percentage of their original output after a set number of years (commonly 85%+ after 25 years) — this is the degradation guarantee.
  • Workmanship/installation warranty — covers the installer's work itself (mounting, wiring), separate from the equipment — typically shorter, often 5-10 years, and specific to the installer, not the panel manufacturer.

Why This Matters

A premium panel brand with an excellent 25-year product warranty doesn't protect you if your installer's workmanship warranty is only 5 years and they go out of business before a wiring issue surfaces. Checking all three warranty types — and who specifically backs each one (manufacturer vs. installer) — matters more than focusing on a single headline warranty number.

What Happens If the Installer Goes Out of Business

Equipment/product warranties are typically backed by the panel manufacturer directly, so they generally survive even if your installer closes. Workmanship warranties, however, are usually tied to the installing company specifically — if they go out of business, that coverage may become difficult or impossible to claim, which is worth weighing when choosing between an established national installer and a smaller local company.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's a typical degradation rate I should expect?

0.3% to 0.5% per year is standard for quality panels — meaning after 25 years, a system still produces over 85% of its original output, which is the benchmark most performance warranties guarantee.

Does the warranty cover damage from severe weather?

Typically not under the standard product or performance warranty — severe weather damage is usually a homeowners insurance matter, not a solar warranty claim, so confirm your policy covers rooftop solar equipment specifically.