What Can Void Your Solar Panel Warranty?

Understanding How to Protect Your Solar Investment: When homeowners install solar panels, they often take comfort in knowing the system comes with a 20–25-year warranty.

However, not all warranties are the same. 

Many contain fine print that can make or break your protection.

If you’re dealing with underperforming panels, leaks, or wiring issues, it’s important to know which warranty applies and what actions (or inactions) might void it.

Below, we explain the main types of solar warranties and the common reasons they can be voided. This knowledge helps you protect your rights and understand your legal options if something goes wrong.

To read more about the differences between a manufacturer warranty and workmanship warranty, read our article here.

Manufacturer (Equipment) Warranty

This is the warranty most homeowners think of when they picture solar coverage. The manufacturer (or equipment) warranty protects you if the panels themselves have defects, degrade faster than expected, or fail under normal use. It’s issued by the company that made the panels (not the installer) and typically lasts between 10 and 25 years.

While this warranty can provide long-term peace of mind, it’s also one of the easiest to void if certain conditions aren’t met. Manufacturers usually have strict installation, maintenance, and repair standards, and even minor deviations can invalidate coverage.

For example, if your installer doesn’t follow the manufacturer’s official mounting or electrical specifications, the company can deny a claim for premature failure or poor production. The same applies if a homeowner or third party performs repairs without written approval. This is something many people don’t realize when calling a local electrician or maintenance provider.

Environmental events are another gray area. Some manufacturers exclude “acts of God,” including hail, wind, or lightning damage, even though solar panels are marketed as durable.

And finally, documentation matters: if you can’t provide maintenance or inspection records when filing a claim, the company may consider the system neglected and refuse replacement.

In short, a manufacturer warranty only holds up if the system has been installed, operated, and serviced exactly as the manufacturer prescribes.

Manufacturer (Equipment) Warranty Overview

Covers: Defects in materials, panel degradation, or equipment failure

Typical Length: 10–25 years

What Can Void It:

• Improper installation: If the installer didn’t follow the manufacturer’s specifications or used unapproved components, coverage can be denied.
• Unauthorized repairs: Using a third party to fix or modify the system without manufacturer approval can void the warranty.
• Environmental damage: Most warranties exclude damage from hail, fire, lightning, or other “acts of God.”
• Lack of maintenance records: If the manufacturer requires periodic inspections and you can’t show proof, the warranty may be invalidated.

Even when a manufacturer’s warranty is voided, other forms of protection may still apply. Examples include financing or workmanship warranties.

Inverter and Battery Warranties

Inverters and batteries each carry their own manufacturer-issued warranties. These warranties protect you against defects or failures in those specific components, separate from any workmanship or installation warranty your solar contractor may have provided.

Covers: Failures of the inverter, battery, or related electronics.

Typical Length: 5–15 years (inverter); 10 years (battery).

What Can Void It:

• Improper system pairing: Using a non-compatible inverter or battery model.
• Exceeding design limits: Overloading storage capacity or connecting unapproved devices.
• Temperature or installation issues: Batteries installed in unapproved environments (too hot, too cold, or humid) can lose warranty coverage.
• Improper installation: Inverters improperly installed in full sun can void the warranty.

Because inverters and batteries often come from third-party manufacturers, it’s important to keep those warranty documents separate from your panel warranty.

Workmanship (Installation) Warranty

The workmanship warranty is the second major layer of protection. This warranty is issued by the installer, not the manufacturer, and it covers labor and installation errors. This includes issues like faulty wiring, roof penetration leaks, or panels not securely mounted. It generally lasts 1 to 25+ years (lifetime), depending on the contractor.

While the manufacturer’s warranty covers what you bought, the workmanship warranty covers how it was installed. 

Unfortunately, it’s also one of the most fragile protections in the solar industry. It’s also the one that often disappears when installers shut down or change names.

A common cause of voiding this warranty is unauthorized modification. If a homeowner adds batteries, replaces an inverter, or changes mounts through another company, the original installer can claim the system was “altered” and deny responsibility. 

Similarly, roofing work performed after installation can cancel the warranty if the installer wasn’t involved to properly detach and reinstall the panels. This includes things like replacing shingles or flashing. 

The third, and perhaps most frustrating, reason these warranties fail is company closure or bankruptcy. Once an installer ceases operations, there’s often no one left to honor the warranty, even if it’s still within the stated term. Homeowners in this situation may still have legal options, such as pursuing claims under state consumer-protection laws, but enforcement becomes far more complex.

Workmanship (Installation) Warranty Overview

Covers: Labor and installation errors by the solar contractor

Typical Length: 1–25 years, depending on the installer

What Can Void It:

• Unauthorized modifications: Adding batteries, changing roof mounts, or upgrading inverters through another company can cancel coverage.
• Roofing work after installation: If a roofing company removes or alters solar mounts without coordination with the original installer, workmanship protection might end.
• Installer bankruptcy or closure: If the company goes out of business, warranty enforcement becomes difficult. Legal remedies may exist under consumer-protection laws.

Homeowners often discover that this type of warranty is the hardest to claim once an installer disappears or refuses to honor service calls.

Roof Penetration Warranty

Many solar agreements offer a roof penetration warranty. Installing solar panels can affect your roof, particularly if holes or mounts are not sealed according to industry best practices.

What Can Void It:

• Unapproved installation methods.
• Failure to notify the solar installation company.
• DIY or third-party repairs.

If your solar installer didn’t adhere to industry best practices, you could lose coverage on leaks or structural issues around the mounting points.

Performance Warranty

Covers: The system’s energy production levels over time (for example, at least 80–90% of rated output after 25 years). This can also be referred to as a “production guarantee”. 

What Can Void It:

• Unapproved system changes: Adding panels, changing wiring, or using non-approved monitoring systems can interfere with warranty claims.
• Neglected maintenance: Dirty panels, shading from new trees, or inverter issues can cause output loss that’s not covered.
• Lack of monitoring data: If you can’t show consistent production data, it may be impossible to prove underperformance.

In many cases, performance warranties are backed by the manufacturer, but you’ll need documentation to prove compliance.

Protecting Your Warranty and Your Rights

To safeguard your coverage:

• Keep all contracts, warranty documents, and correspondence in one place.
• Get maintenance and service visits in writing.
• Don’t make unauthorized modifications to your system.
• If your installer or manufacturer is unresponsive, consult a consumer-protection attorney experienced in solar disputes.

Even when a warranty is voided or unclear, other legal options may remain. Examples include claims under the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, the FTC Holder Rule, or your state’s Deceptive Trade Practices laws.

When to Seek Legal Help

If you’re being told your warranty is void or you can’t get service because your installer is gone, a solar consumer attorney may be able to help determine who is still legally responsible.

Prevost Law Firm reviews contracts, identifies potential violations, and helps homeowners explore options for repairs, reimbursement, or loan relief. There is no up front cost for a claim review to review the details of your potential claim.

Get a No-Cost Claim Review

If your solar warranty has been denied, or you can’t reach the company that installed your system, you may still have rights.

 👉 Request your free claim review to find out your options.