Solar Panel Warranties Explained
"25-year warranty" can mean very different things depending on which warranty you're talking about. A solar installation comes with several separate warranties from several separate parties — and the coverage they provide is not the same.
Last updated 2026-08-19
The warranties that come with a solar system
Product warranty
Covers defects in the panel itself, for a defined number of years. This is the manufacturer's promise that the panel won't fail due to a manufacturing defect.
Performance / output warranty
Guarantees the panel will produce at least a stated percentage of its original output after a set number of years (often 25). This is about degradation over time — not a guarantee that your roof produces a specific kWh amount.
Inverter warranty
Inverters have their own separate warranty, often shorter than the panel warranty. Microinverters and string inverters carry different terms.
Racking warranty
The mounting hardware carries its own warranty, typically covering the structural components that hold the panels to the roof.
Workmanship warranty
The installer's warranty on the labor — covering the quality of the installation itself, separate from the equipment warranties.
Roof penetration / leak coverage
Coverage for the areas where the system penetrates the roof. This is often part of the workmanship warranty, not the equipment warranty — read the terms carefully.
Labor coverage
Covers the cost of the technician visit when something needs to be fixed. This is the one most homeowners don't realize is separate.
The question most homeowners forget to ask
Here's the gap: a manufacturer may replace a failed panel under the product warranty. But getting a technician on the roof, removing the bad panel, shipping it, receiving the replacement, reinstalling, and re-commissioning the system all takes labor. If your installer doesn't cover labor — or if the manufacturer only covers parts — you can end up paying for the visit even though the part is free.
Why "25 years" can mean different things
- A 25-year performance warranty says the panel still makes ~80%+ of rated output at year 25 — it's a degradation curve, not a no-fail promise.
- A 25-year product warranty says defects are covered for that period — but exclusions apply.
- An inverter may only have a 10-15 year warranty, meaning it can expire long before the panels.
- Workmanship warranty length is set by the installer and varies — some cover 10 years, some 25, some less.
About AllSeason's CertainTeed approach
Ask for the written warranty documentation
We won't summarize coverage terms that belong only in the written warranty. The safest move, with any contractor, is to ask for the actual warranty paperwork before you sign — and to ask specifically whether labor is covered for the full warranty period, not just parts.
Next step
Common questions
Ask Charles for the actual warranty documentation applicable to your proposed system.
Equipment names and warranty paperwork matter — get the details before you sign.
About Charles Brogden
Charles Brogden works directly with homeowners through AllSeason Solar & Roofing, helping customers understand solar system design, equipment, roofing considerations and available solar options.
Serving homeowners throughout New Jersey and Pennsylvania.