How to File a Solar Warranty Claim in New York

Something has failed and you want it fixed under warranty. The first job is not to make a call — it is to work out which of three separate warranties applies, because they are held by different parties and they cover different failures.

The three warranties

1. The module product warranty, from the panel manufacturer. Covers manufacturing defects in the panel itself.

2. The module performance warranty, also from the manufacturer, and a different thing. It guarantees the panel will still produce at least a stated percentage of its rated output after a given number of years. A claim here is about degradation beyond the guarantee, not about a failure.

3. The workmanship warranty, from your installer. Covers the installation — mounting, wiring, roof penetrations, and the labour of putting right what they did. Terms vary enormously between firms, and this is the one worth comparing hardest when choosing an installer.

The inverter carries its own manufacturer warranty, separate again from the modules’.

Which one applies

• A dead or visibly damaged panel — module product warranty.
• Inverter failure or fault code — inverter manufacturer warranty.
• A roof leak at a mounting point — workmanship. This is squarely the installer’s, and it is the reason the workmanship term matters.
• Loose racking, a panel that has shifted, water in a connector — workmanship.
• Output below the performance guarantee, with no fault — module performance warranty, and expect to have to demonstrate it with data.
• Storm, hail or falling-branch damage — not a warranty at all. That is homeowners insurance.
• Damage from clearing snow off the panels — generally excluded from every one of them. This is the most common uncovered damage in New York and it is entirely self-inflicted.

The labour question

This is where warranty claims disappoint people. A manufacturer’s warranty typically covers the part. Getting someone onto your roof to diagnose the problem, remove the failed component and fit the replacement is labour, and unless your installer’s workmanship warranty covers it, that cost is yours.

So the practical value of a twenty-five year module warranty depends heavily on the length of the workmanship warranty sitting alongside it — and on whether the installer is still trading.

Start with your installer regardless

Even for a manufacturer claim. They have the serial numbers, the commissioning data, the manufacturer relationship, and the ability to diagnose. Going direct to a manufacturer as a homeowner is slower and usually gets referred back.

If the installer has gone out of business

Not unusual in this industry, and it is worth knowing the position rather than assuming you have nothing.

• Manufacturer warranties survive. They are with the manufacturer, not the installer. You will need the equipment details and proof of installation date.
• The workmanship warranty generally does not survive a company that no longer exists.
• Another installer will usually take on the diagnosis and repair as paid work, and many will handle a manufacturer claim on your behalf.

This is a strong argument for choosing an established firm over the cheapest quote, and for keeping your paperwork somewhere you can find it in fifteen years.

What to gather before you call

1. Installation date and the contract.
2. Equipment details — module and inverter make, model and, where you have them, serial numbers.
3. Monitoring evidence — a screenshot of the panel-level view on a clear day, and the month-on-month comparison.
4. The fault code, if the inverter is reporting one.
5. Photographs, if the problem is visible.
6. The warranty documents themselves. If you cannot find them, the manufacturer publishes current terms and your installer should hold a copy.

Keep a record

Note the date you first noticed the problem and every contact since — who, when, and what was said. Warranty claims that drag on are won on documentation, and a system installed today may be making a claim in 2040.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many warranties does a solar system have?

Three, plus the inverter's: the module product warranty covering defects, the module performance warranty guaranteeing output over time, the installer's workmanship warranty covering the installation itself, and the inverter manufacturer's own warranty.

Who fixes a roof leak caused by solar panels?

The installer, under the workmanship warranty — roof penetrations are the installation, not the product. This is why the workmanship warranty term is the one worth comparing hardest when choosing an installer.

Does a solar warranty cover the labour to replace a part?

Usually not. A manufacturer's warranty typically covers the part, while diagnosis, removal and fitting are labour. Unless your installer's workmanship warranty covers labour, that cost is yours.

What if my solar installer went out of business?

Manufacturer warranties survive, because they are with the manufacturer — you will need equipment details and proof of installation date. The workmanship warranty generally does not survive. Another installer will usually take on the repair as paid work and often handle the manufacturer claim for you.

Is snow damage covered by a solar warranty?

Damage caused by a homeowner clearing snow off the panels is generally excluded from every warranty and from insurance. It is the most common uncovered damage in New York, and it is avoided entirely by leaving the snow to slide off.

This article is general information, not tax, legal or financial advice. Incentive amounts, eligibility rules and deadlines change and depend on your utility, your tax situation and your property. Confirm current terms with NYSERDA, your utility and a qualified tax professional before making a decision.