WARRANTY
Level Of Importance #4
Why Is It Important ?
A solar panel's warranty is becoming an ever more important issue which unfortunately is typically ignored by most consumers. Most solar panel manufacturers offer a 25 year power production warranty. There are several important things to consider when discussing a solar panel manufacturer's warranty.
1. Never take for granted the financial strength of the company that's backing a solar panel's warranty. Hundreds if not thousands of U.S. consumers purchased solar panels this Summer that were manufactured by tiny non name brand overseas manufacturers that probably will not have enforceable warranties in the next 3 to 5 years.
2. If your dealer is trying to sell you a solar panel that offers less than a 25 year warranty while almost every other manufacturer offers 25 years, ask your dealer why his manufacture only offers 20 years. When you consider that a solar panel should offer a 30 to 40 year life expectancy, and a 25 year warranty is considered standard why would a manufacturer only offer a 20 year warranty.
Is there something that they're not telling you about the life expectancy of their solar panel ? You would be surprised at how many people in your neighborhood bought solar panels this Summer with only a 20 year warranty when they could have easily paid less for higher performance, name brand solar panels that offer 25 year warranties, simply because they never asked.
The bottom line here is, always ask your dealer to show you a copy of the manufacturers written warranty policy. Never assume that you're receiving a 25 year factory warranty.
3. Who is actually providing the warranty for your solar panels ? You would be surprised at how many dealers are selling factory defective solar panels that offer no factory warranty whatsoever. These small dealers, many of whom are home based businesses are private labeling factory reject solar panels that have no U.L. approval and are actually printing their own 25 year dealer warranties. A non U.L. approved solar panel cannot legally be installed on an occupied dwelling which also means that you cannot apply for a rebate.
Again, always ask your dealer to show you a copy of the manufacturers written warranty policy. Never assume that you're receiving a factory warranty.