Enphase Energy Inc.
03/11/2025 | Press release | Archived content
The homeowner's guide to solar system warranty coverage
To help you make an informed decision for your home solar installation, this guide walks through typical product warranties for PV systems and outlines everything you need to know about service and warranty coverage before you go solar.
Understanding solar warranties for home installations
When you install solar, your warranty won't take the form of a single policy, but rather several different coverages offered by your installer and the manufacturers of your solar equipment. Today, most home solar energy systems include three primary coverages: product warranties, performance guarantees, and installation warranties.
1. Product warranties
A solar product warranty covers the physical components of your system, such as the panels, inverters, or batteries. Product warranties guarantee free part replacements in case of a defect or malfunction. While what warranties cover varies by manufacturer, here's a list of typical product warranties for solar installations:
- Solar panels: 10-25 years
- String inverters: 10-15 years
- Microinverters : 25 years
- Solar batteries: 10-15 years
- Mounting equipment: 10-25 years
Critically, solar product warranties cover manufacturing defects rather than any issues that arise during or after your installation. For a product warranty to remain valid, a certified solar professional may need to handle, install, and maintain your solar panels, inverters, or batteries.
2. Performance warranties
Performance guarantees - also known as power or production guarantees- ensure your equipment maintains a certain level of productivity over an expected lifespan. As solar panels, batteries, and other PV components slowly lose efficiency over time, performance guarantees are essential in both calculating and ensuring the long-term value of your system.
The table below shows typical performance guarantees for residential solar energy system components.
| Component | Warranty length | Performance guarantee |
|---|---|---|
| Solar panels | 20-30 years | At least 80% of original output, 85%+ for premium equipment |
| String inverters | 10-12 years | At least 90% energy conversion efficiency after 10 years |
| Microinverters | 25-30 years | At least 80% energy conversion efficiency after 25 years |
| Solar batteries | 10-15 years | At least 70% of original usable battery storage capacity |
3. Installation warranties
An installation warranty covers the labor, service, and workmanship aspects of your solar system. Offered by your installer, contractor, or solar company, installation or workmanship warranties are essential in guaranteeing the quality, longevity, and ROI of your installation.
Workmanship warranties can differ widely between solar companies, with coverage typically lasting anywhere between 1 to 10 years, depending on your installer. While inclusions vary between providers, most workmanship warranties will cover installation-related issues such as wiring, roof penetrations, and improperly installed components.
Unfortunately, workmanship warranties are only good if your installer stays in business to service your warranty. So, it's imperative to choose a reliable installer. The good news is that if your installer does go out of business, and if you have an Enphase system, you can take advantage of Enphase Care or Enphase Care Plus to take care of some of that servicing.