It’s a scenario that fills any homeowner with dread. You have a 25-year warranty protecting your solar investment, but the company you bought the system from has shut its doors. Their phone number is disconnected and their website is gone. Is that warranty now just a worthless piece of paper?
In most cases, the answer is a resounding NO. Your most valuable warranties are very likely still active and enforceable, but you need to understand who is actually responsible for honoring them. When you are trying to make a solar panel warranty claim after a company closes, the key is to know exactly who to call. This guide will explain the different warranties you have and the steps to take to get your system serviced.
The Two Warranties: Understanding Who Is Responsible
The most critical concept to grasp is that your solar system is protected by at least two different types of warranties, issued by two different companies.
1. The Installer’s Workmanship Warranty (The Bad News)
This warranty covers the quality of the labor performed by the installation crew. It protects you from issues like:
- A leaking roof caused by improperly sealed roof mounts.
- Faulty wiring and electrical connections.
- Racking that has come loose.
- Any other damage to your home caused by the installation team.
Unfortunately, since this warranty was provided by the installation company that is now out of business, it is almost certainly void and unenforceable. There is no longer a legal entity to hold responsible for the labor guarantee.
2. The Manufacturer’s Equipment Warranty (The Good News)
This is the warranty that truly protects your investment. The physical hardware of your system—the solar panels and the inverters—are covered by separate, long-term warranties directly from the manufacturers of those components.
Companies like Enphase, SolarEdge, Qcells, Canadian Solar, and others provide warranties on their products that are completely independent of the company that installed them. If an inverter dies or a panel fails, its manufacturer warranty is still 100% valid, regardless of what happened to your installer.
A Step-by-Step Guide to Filing a Manufacturer’s Warranty Claim
So, how do you actually use this warranty? Here’s the process:
- Step 1: Identify Your Equipment. Look at your original solar contract or sales proposal. It should list the exact make and model number of both your solar panels and your inverters (or microinverters). This is the essential first piece of information you need.
- Step 2: Document the Problem. Use your solar monitoring app to gather evidence of the failure. This could be screenshots showing zero production from a specific panel, an error code from a malfunctioning inverter, or a complete system outage. The more data you have, the stronger your claim will be.
- Step 3: Contact the Manufacturer. Go to the website of the equipment manufacturer (e.g., Enphase.com). Find their “Support” or “Warranty” section. Most have a clear online process for starting a warranty claim, or a dedicated phone number for support. Provide them with your equipment’s model numbers, serial numbers (if you have them), and the evidence of failure.
- Step 4: Find a Certified Service Partner. The manufacturer will not send their own employees to your home. Instead, they work with a nationwide network of independent, certified solar installers who are authorized to perform warranty service work. Once the manufacturer approves your claim, they will often help you find a certified service partner in your area to handle the physical replacement. The manufacturer typically covers the cost of the new equipment and may also provide a labor reimbursement for the service company.
What If the Manufacturer Gives You the Runaround?
While most reputable manufacturers have a streamlined process, sometimes claims can be unfairly denied. If you have a clear equipment failure and the manufacturer is refusing to honor their written warranty, the situation may require legal intervention.
At SolarDispute.com, we specialize in helping homeowners navigate this exact scenario. We can analyze your system’s data and documentation to build a powerful evidence file for your warranty claim. If the manufacturer refuses to cooperate, we can connect you with a specialized attorney to ensure your rights as a consumer are enforced.