Why "the warranty" is actually four warranties
Solar is one of the few home investments where a single system involves multiple manufacturers and one installer, each responsible for a different part of what happens if something goes wrong. Understanding this upfront means you know exactly who to call, and what to expect, if an issue comes up years from now.
1. Solar panel warranties — two kinds, not one
Panels carry two separate warranties that are easy to confuse:
- Product warranty (typically 12–15 years): covers manufacturing defects — a panel that fails, delaminates, or develops faults not caused by external damage.
- Performance warranty (typically 25–30 years): guarantees the panel won't degrade below a certain output percentage over time. It's normal and expected for panel output to decline gradually (often around 0.5% per year) — the performance warranty simply guarantees it won't decline faster than that.
If a panel is producing meaningfully less power than its performance warranty guarantees at a given year, that's a legitimate warranty claim — not something you need to just accept.
2. Battery warranties — cycles matter as much as years
Battery warranties (typically 10–12 years on the LiFePO₄ batteries we install) are usually tied to both a time period and a cycle count, plus a capacity retention guarantee — commonly that the battery will retain at least 70–80% of its original capacity within the warranty period. Read the fine print on cycle count specifically: a battery cycled twice a day reaches its rated cycle limit twice as fast as one cycled once a day, which matters if you're running a business with heavy daily use.
3. Inverter warranties — usually the shortest, for a reason
Inverters typically carry the shortest manufacturer warranty in the system — 5 years on our Core range, up to 10 years on Industrial models — because they contain the most active electronic components and work the hardest of any part of the system. This isn't a red flag; it reflects the component's role, not lower build quality. Extended inverter warranties are often available as an add-on, worth considering for commercial systems where downtime is costly.
4. Installation workmanship warranty — this one is on us, not the manufacturer
This is the warranty most people forget to ask about, and it's arguably the most important. Manufacturer warranties cover the equipment — they won't cover a leak from a poorly sealed roof mount, or a fault caused by incorrect wiring. That's what an installation workmanship warranty (2 years on every system we install) is for: it covers our own work, separate from anything the manufacturer is responsible for.
A quick reference table
| Component | What's covered | Typical length | Who's responsible |
|---|---|---|---|
| Solar panels (product) | Manufacturing defects | 12–15 years | Panel manufacturer |
| Solar panels (performance) | Output degradation limits | 25–30 years | Panel manufacturer |
| Batteries | Cycle life, capacity retention | 10–12 years | Battery manufacturer |
| Inverters | Manufacturing defects | 5–10 years | Inverter manufacturer |
| Installation | Wiring, mounting, commissioning | 2 years | Lumion Energy |
What voids a warranty (and what doesn't)
Warranties are generally not voided by normal use, gradual performance decline within guaranteed limits, or weather events the system was designed to withstand. They typically are voided by unauthorised repairs or modifications, physical damage from misuse, or installation by someone other than a certified technician — one more reason DIY panel or wiring work isn't worth the risk.
How to actually make a claim
- Check your installation date and product serial numbers — every system we install includes a warranty record tied to each component's serial number.
- Contact us first, even for a manufacturer-side issue — we handle the claim process directly rather than leaving you to deal with an overseas manufacturer alone.
- Use our serial number checker on the warranty page to confirm coverage status before assuming a repair is out-of-pocket.
Keep your documentation somewhere safe
At handover, you should receive a written record of every warranty on your system — component, serial number, install date and expiry. If you can't locate yours, contact us with your installation address and we can retrieve it from our records.
FAQs
Does moving house transfer my warranty to the new owner?
In most cases, yes, though it's worth notifying us of the change of ownership so our records stay accurate for any future claims.
What happens if a manufacturer warranty expires but the equipment still works?
Nothing changes day-to-day — the equipment continues operating. The warranty simply stops covering the cost of a repair or replacement should a fault occur after that date.
Is preventative maintenance required to keep the warranty valid?
Basic care (see our solar maintenance guide) is expected, but routine servicing isn't usually a strict warranty condition the way it is for a generator. Check your specific component's terms at handover.