Solar energy systems come with a mix of protections, product warranty, performance warranty, and sometimes a workmanship warranty if the solar installation was completed by a Clean Energy Council–accredited solar retailer or subcontractor. But these warranties don’t all mean the same thing, and they certainly don’t cover every situation. Some manufacturers offer an extended warranty for certain string inverters, microinverters, or even batteries, but these must usually be activated within the first year of installation. Miss that window, and the option disappears.
In Australia, both solar panel systems and inverters fall under not just the manufacturer’s terms but also Australian Consumer Law and Australian Standards. That means your system must be “fit for purpose,” but even then, coverage has limits. A solar panel product warranty might protect against defects, while a performance guarantee promises that your panels won’t degrade more than 20% over 25 years. An inverter warranty will cover internal defects, but not damage caused by lightning, pests, or poor maintenance.
It’s important to understand what’s actually included in a solar warranty, what isn’t, and why knowing those limits can save time and frustration. For homeowners, the real question is whether the problem is a genuine warranty issue or if it calls for repairs or maintenance.
What does a solar inverter warranty cover?
When you buy a solar panel system, the solar inverter is often the first component that will need attention. Most inverter warranties run for five to ten years, although some solar retailers let you purchase an extended warranty if you activate it within the first year of installation. The idea sounds simple: if the inverter has a defect, the warranty should cover it. That includes things like faulty circuit boards, premature electronic failure, or other internal inverter faults that stop your solar energy system from delivering AC power to the home.
But here’s the cath, not everything that makes an inverter fail is considered a warranty issue. If storm damage fries the electronics, if vermin chew through the wiring (which happens far more frequently than you'd think), or if the unit was installed poorly in the first place, that sits outside warranty coverage. In those cases, you’re looking at solar inverter repairs or replacement, not a free fix from the manufacturer. Under Australian Consumer Law, solar products do have to be “fit for purpose,” which means that genuine defects should be honoured. The challenge is working out whether your inverter fault is actually a defect, or something external that the warranty won’t touch.
What is the average ifespan of a solar inverter?
On paper, inverter warranties don’t last as long as your panels, and there’s a reason for that. The average lifespan of a string inverter is about eight to twelve years, depending on the brand and how tough the conditions are. Hybrid inverters and microinverters can have similar limits, though quality makes a big difference. Heatwaves, salty coastal air, and dust all speed up wear and tear.
Plenty of inverters will keep going beyond their warranty, but once they fail it’s rare to have coverage left. That’s why most homeowners end up replacing at least one inverter during the life of their solar panel system. If your solar monitoring system shows fault codes or your production drops suddenly, it’s often a sign that the inverter has reached the end of its life
What does a solar panel warranty cover?
A solar panel warranty is there to cover defects in the panels themselves, not the things that happen outside of them. That means issues like cracks in the solar panel glass, corrosion in the frame, delamination where the layers begin to separate, or failures in the junction box and connectors. Hot spots, which are areas of a cell that overheat and damage solar energy components, are also classed as a defect. These kinds of problems usually come from manufacturing faults in solar products or weaknesses in the solar panel pv system itself.
How long is Solar Panel and Solar Inverter Warranty?
Solar inverters are generally covered for five to ten years, while solar panels usually have ten to twelve years of product warranty and up to 25 years of performance warranty.
What is the 20% rule for solar panels
The 20 percent rule means your solar panels must still produce at least 80 percent of their original rated output after 25 years. A gradual drop in production is expected and covered by the performance warranty only if it falls below that level.
What is not covered by warranty?
A solar warranty is limited to defects in the panels or inverter. It does not cover external damage to your solar energy system. If storms, hail, flooding, or lightning damage your solar panels, that is an insurance claim, not a warranty issue. The same applies if pests chew through cabling, if a roof leak causes water to enter the junction box, or if poor solar installation creates faults over time. Normal wear, gradual solar panel degradation within the performance warranty limits, or ageing components like DC isolators and mounting hardware are also outside warranty coverage. These problems still stop a solar panel system from working, but they fall under home maintenance, insurer responsibilities, or require solar inverter repairs and solar panel maintenance, not a manufacturer warranty claim.
Case Study 1: Covered by Warranty: A homeowner notices their solar monitoring system shows reduced solar production. An inspection finds several panels have delaminated, with protective layers peeling apart. Because this is a defect in the solar products themselves, the solar panel product warranty applies. The manufacturer replaces the faulty panels, and the solar energy system returns to normal output.
Case Study 2: Not Covered by Warranty: Jeffrey had a rooftop PV system with Trina solar panels. For years it ran fine, then his monitoring software began logging daily fault codes and drops in output. He contacted Trina and filed a warranty claim, but the issue was found to be panel degradation exceeding limits, not a manufacturing defect.
A solar inspection showed that four panels in one string had degraded prematurely, but not due to physical damage like hail. Trina tested the entire string (every serial number, current output records, heat-spot imaging). In their warranty terms, only defects from the manufacturing process are covered. So while he had a performance warranty, the degradation was judged to be normal aging beyond allowable loss, and thus was excluded. The insurer was cleared of liability. The customer was then quoted a big cost to remove and retest panels to meet Trina’s strict requirements. In short: the warranty was denied, because the failure was not a defect, it was excess degradation, which falls under maintenance or replacement territory, not warranty. That's why keeping up with regular solar panel maintenance and inverter checks is essential.
Getting your solar back on track
When your solar panels or solar inverter stop working, the first question is always whether warranty coverage applies. The truth is some common problems with solar energy systems, from inverter faults to gradual panel degradation, may fall outside what the manufacturer will cover but this doesn’t mean you’re stuck without options.
At Solar Water Wind, we specialise in getting systems back on track. Our team can diagnose solar inverter faults, carry out solar inverter repairs, and replace components in your solar panel system so your home keeps generating solar energy. We use Australian Standards for every repair, and we can identify whether the issue is caused by defects in solar products or by wear and tear that needs servicing. Either way, we provide a clear solution to restore your solar production and protect the long-term performance of your system. Call us today.
