Product Warranties vs. Performance Guarantees: What’s the Difference?

Installing a residential solar system is a big investment in your home. Naturally, you want to be sure the equipment you purchase is reliable and that the installer will do a thorough job and stand by their work. This is where warranties and performance guarantees come into play. As you shop around for different equipment and installation companies, you’ll notice lots of different warranty types. What you might not know, however, is what each of them covers. For example, do you know what difference between products warranties, power warranties, and performance guarantees are? If not, you aren’t alone. Things can get complicated once you start to look at the term lengths and fine print. This is why we wanted to clear some things up and help you make a smarter investment for your home.

Product Warranties

Product warranties are designed to cover any flaws or defects in the materials or craftsmanship of the equipment. For example, if one of your solar panels stops working because it was constructed poorly, you will be covered under your product warranty.

Power Warranties

Just like all materials, your solar panels will start to degrade over time and their power output will slowly diminish. A power warranty guarantees that your panels will produce a minimum amount of power throughout the terms of the warranty. If the power output is lower than what is guaranteed, the manufacturer will cover the expense of repairs, replacement, or reimbursement.

Manufacturer Warranties vs. Installer Warranties

The difference between manufacturer warranties and installer warranties is fairly simple. A manufacturer warranty covers issues that are related to equipment or material failures. You might get several different manufacturers warranties if your system is composed of parts from different manufacturers. For example, your inverters, your panels, your cables, and your hardware could all come from different manufacturers that provide different warranties. Installer warranties are designed to provide coverage for errors made or damage done during the installation process. This is a separate warranty from the one you will get from the manufacturer.

Performance Guarantees

A performance is guarantee is similar to, but different from, a power warranty. While a power warranty is related to the equipment, a performance guarantee is related to the operation and maintenance of your system. Since manufacturers do not have control over how their equipment is installed, you’ll have to ask your installer about this one – and they will only be able to provide a performance guarantee if they are a manufacturer-approved vendor and if they are contracted to perform operations and maintenance.

Solar Optimum’s 25-Year Bumper-to-Bumper Warranty

Solar Optimum offers one of the best warranties available as a premiere solar installer with a 25-year “bumper-to-bumper” warranty on the solar panels, inverter, workmanship, roof and performance guarantee. We use the industry’s most trusted and leading-edge tools to not only design your system but to also analyze and monitor your home’s energy potential. And unlike other solar companies, we’ll guarantee this AND put it in writing before giving us your full commitment to go solar. So what does this mean for you? If your solar system over-performs, the savings are yours to keep. But if your system falls under our production estimates, we’ll resolve the issue immediately and compensate you during the annual reconciliation period. Download our free guide to learn more about purchasing your first solar energy system for your home!