Solar Warranties Explained: What a 20-Year Workmanship Warranty Covers in Perth

When Perth homeowners compare solar quotes, they usually focus on price, panel brand and system size. The warranty gets a quick glance. But a solar system is a 25-year asset, and most of the things that go wrong happen well after the installer has left your roof.

The catch is that “warranty” means different things on the same quote. A 25-year panel warranty from the manufacturer covers something very different from the installer’s workmanship warranty. This guide explains who covers what, what a 20-year workmanship warranty includes, what happens when something fails, and the questions to ask before you sign. If you already have a fault and need to make a claim, go straight to our step-by-step guide to claiming a solar warranty.

What Are the Three Types of Solar Warranty?

The three types are product, performance and workmanship. Each comes from a different party and covers a different part of your system. Mixing them up is the most common mistake homeowners make when comparing quotes.

1. Product warranty (from the manufacturer)

The product warranty covers manufacturing and material defects: delamination, cell failure, frame corrosion or a faulty junction box on a panel. The Victorian Government’s solar consumer guide notes product warranties are “usually 10 years or so”, with some manufacturers offering 25 years or more. Your inverter and battery each carry their own product warranty from their own manufacturer, so in practice you hold four or more warranties, not three.

2. Performance warranty (from the panel manufacturer)

The performance warranty guarantees your panels will still produce a minimum share of their rated output over time. The same Victorian guide says a high-quality panel should still produce at least 80% of its original rating after 25 years. Check whether the guarantee is linear (a set maximum loss every year) or stepped (only checked at milestones such as year 10 and year 25). Linear gives you protection in between.

3. Workmanship warranty (from your installer)

The workmanship warranty covers how the system was installed: mounting and racking, roof penetrations and waterproofing, DC and AC cabling, inverter and battery connections, switchboard work and commissioning. It is entirely the installer’s obligation. This is the warranty that varies most between companies, from a few years to 20.

What’s Covered by Whom? Workmanship vs Product vs Performance

The short version: the manufacturer covers the parts, the installer covers the work. Use this table to work out who to call when something goes wrong.

Warranty	Who provides it	What it covers	What it doesn’t cover	Typical term
Workmanship	Your installer	Mounting and racking, roof penetrations and waterproofing, DC and AC wiring, inverter and battery connections, switchboard work, commissioning	Faulty components, storm or hail damage, third-party changes to the system	Varies by installer; 20 years with Talk Energy
Product (panels)	Panel manufacturer	Manufacturing and material defects in the panels	Installation faults, power output decline within spec	Around 10 years, up to 25+ on some ranges
Performance (panels)	Panel manufacturer	Minimum power output as panels age	Shading, dirt, installation faults	Usually 25 years (around 80% output or better)
Product (inverter)	Inverter manufacturer	Inverter defects	Wiring or connection faults made at install	5 years is a suggested minimum; many offer longer
Product (battery)	Battery manufacturer	Battery defects and capacity retention over the warranty term	Installation faults, use outside the conditions in the warranty	Commonly 10 years, with conditions

Typical terms for panels and inverters are from the Victorian Government’s solar warranty guide. Always read the actual warranty document for your products, because terms differ between brands and models.

Australian Consumer Law also applies on top of any written warranty. Products and services must be of acceptable quality and fit for purpose, and a manufacturer must honour the warranty it advertises.

What Does a 20-Year Workmanship Warranty Cover?

A 20-year workmanship warranty covers any fault caused by how your system was installed, for 20 years from installation. If the cause traces back to the installation, the installer fixes it at no cost to you, including labour.

What’s typically covered

• Panel mounting and racking: brackets, rails and fixings installed by the installer’s team
• Roof penetrations and weatherproofing: every point where the installation goes through or attaches to your roof
• DC and AC wiring: all cabling, conduit and isolators installed as part of the system
• Inverter and battery connections: the physical installation and connection of those components (the components themselves carry the manufacturer’s product warranty)
• Switchboard work: electrical work done at your switchboard during installation
• Commissioning: faults caused by how the system was set up and configured at installation

What’s typically not covered

• Storm, hail, lightning or flood damage (usually a home insurance matter)
• Damage from someone else modifying or interfering with the system
• Defects in the panels, inverter or battery themselves (covered by the manufacturer’s product warranty)
• Normal panel output decline within the manufacturer’s performance warranty
• Faults unrelated to the installation, or damage from not maintaining the system as recommended

Your warranty certificate is the final word on what’s included, so keep it with your installation paperwork. If an exclusion isn’t clear, ask for it to be explained in writing before you sign.

Why 20 years matters

Installation faults don’t always show up early. A roof seal can perish after many Perth summers of UV and heat. A loose DC connection can work for years before corrosion turns it into a fault. Coastal suburbs such as Scarborough, Fremantle and Rockingham add salt air to the mix. A short workmanship warranty can expire just as these problems start to appear. A 20-year term covers most of the working life of your panels.

For context, a common benchmark is a minimum five-year whole-of-system warranty that includes quality of work. Victoria, for example, makes it a condition for retailers in its Solar Homes program. Twenty years is four times that benchmark.

What Happens If Something Goes Wrong? Four Real-World Scenarios

The answer depends on the cause. If the fault comes from the installation, the workmanship warranty applies. If a component is faulty, the manufacturer’s warranty applies. These four common situations show how it plays out.

1. Water leaks through the ceiling after winter rain

A roof penetration wasn’t sealed properly, and water gets in during heavy rain. That is a workmanship fault. The installer repairs the penetration under the workmanship warranty. If the leak came from storm damage to the roof itself, that is an insurance matter instead.

2. Your monitoring app shows zero output

Output drops to nothing on a sunny day. An electrician finds a DC isolator was wired incorrectly at installation. That is a workmanship fault, so the installer fixes it. Your monitoring app is often the first place you’ll spot a problem, well before your power bill shows it.

3. The inverter stops working in year three

If the inverter failed because of a manufacturing defect, it is a product warranty claim with the inverter manufacturer. If the failure traces back to how it was installed or connected, the workmanship warranty applies. A good installer works out which one it is, so you aren’t stuck between two companies blaming each other.

4. A bracket corrodes and the panels shift

Mounting hardware that was installed incorrectly, or wasn’t suited to the site, corrodes and lets the array move. That is a workmanship fault, and the installer rectifies the mounting.

How Do Battery and Inverter Warranties Work?

Battery and inverter warranties are product warranties from the manufacturer, and they usually come with conditions you need to meet to keep them valid. The term on the box is only half the story.

Battery warranties are commonly 10 years and often include a capacity guarantee, a minimum share of usable storage the battery should keep over that time. Some also cap the total energy the battery can cycle through, with the warranty ending at whichever limit comes first. Inverter warranties vary widely between brands; the Victorian Government’s guide suggests five years as a minimum.

As an example, Sigenergy, the battery brand Talk Energy installs, offers a 10-year factory limited warranty on its SigenStor battery and energy controller in Australia. To keep that cover, the system needs to stay connected to the internet so it can receive firmware updates, and it must be installed by a trained installer.

Common conditions that can affect a battery or inverter warranty

• Registration: some manufacturers require the product to be registered within a set time after installation. Ask your installer to confirm this is done at commissioning.
• Internet connection: many batteries need to stay online for monitoring and firmware updates.
• Installation location: temperature range, ventilation, sun exposure and distance from the coast can all be conditions.
• Throughput limits: heavy daily cycling can reach the energy limit before the year limit.
• Who installs it: installation by an accredited, trained installer is a standard condition.

If you’re adding a battery under the WA Residential Battery Scheme, the battery also needs to stay connected for the scheme’s virtual power plant (VPP) requirement. See our solar battery installation page for how battery systems are set up.

What Happens to Your Warranty If the Installer Goes Out of Business?

If your installer closes, its workmanship warranty usually goes with it. The manufacturers’ product and performance warranties stay valid, but they only cover the parts, not faults in the installation.

• Product warranties: still valid. You claim with the manufacturer or its Australian importer. The warranty may not cover the labour to remove and refit a faulty part.
• Performance warranty: still valid, but harder to claim without your installer’s records and support.
• Workmanship warranty: gone, in most cases. With no business to honour it, you pay for installation repairs yourself.

The real cost of a short warranty

Picture a 10 kW system with a five-year workmanship warranty. In year seven, a wiring fault shuts the inverter down. The workmanship warranty has expired, and the inverter manufacturer says the fault is installation-related, not a product defect. You now pay for an electrician’s call-out, diagnosis and rewiring, and lose generation while you wait. Under a 20-year workmanship warranty, that same repair is the installer’s cost.

The “phoenix company” problem

Some businesses close and reopen under a new name, leaving old warranty obligations behind. A long warranty from a company with a short trading history is a gamble. Before you sign, check the company’s ABN on the Australian Business Register and its WA electrical contractor licence, and look for a physical local office and a long review history.

Do You Need an Extended Solar Warranty?

Usually not, if your installation already has a long workmanship warranty from an established installer and your components carry solid manufacturer warranties. Extended cover makes more sense when one of those pieces is weak.

You’re probably already well covered if:

• Your workmanship warranty runs 10 years or more, in writing, from the company you signed with
• Your panels carry a 25-year performance warranty from a manufacturer with an Australian presence
• Your inverter and battery warranties are registered and you’re meeting their conditions
• Your installer is an established local business that uses its own electricians

Extra cover may be worth a look if:

• Your workmanship warranty is short or has already expired
• Your inverter has a short base warranty and an extension is offered by the manufacturer
• Your original installer has closed, been sold or left the market

6 Warranty Red Flags to Watch for When Comparing Quotes

The biggest red flag is a warranty that only exists verbally. Here are six to check on every quote.

1. The workmanship warranty sits with a subcontractor. It should come from the company you sign the contract with.
2. “25-year warranty” with no detail. Ask which warranty that is. It is often the manufacturer’s performance warranty, not workmanship.
3. No defined response time. “Reasonable endeavours” protects the installer, not you. Look for a specific commitment in writing.
4. Labour and call-outs not included. Some warranties cover parts but charge for the visit. A workmanship warranty should cover the full cost of rectification.
5. Vague exclusions. Watch for broad wording such as “improper use” or “extreme weather” without a clear definition.
6. A trading history shorter than the warranty. A 10-year promise from a business that started last year is hard to rely on.

Questions to Ask Every Solar Installer Before You Sign

A good installer will answer these clearly and put the answers in writing.

• Who provides the workmanship warranty, and how long is it?
• Does it cover labour, call-outs, parts and roof repairs caused by the installation?
• What is your guaranteed response time if something goes wrong?
• Are your electricians employees or subcontractors?
• Who registers the inverter and battery warranties, and when?
• If a component fails, will you help with the manufacturer claim?
• Does the warranty transfer if I sell my home?
• Does full warranty service, including site visits, apply at my address?

The last question matters most outside the metro area. Whether you’re with Synergy or, in regional WA, Horizon Power, your electricity retailer doesn’t change what a workmanship warranty covers. What changes is whether the installer will actually send someone to your property, so get service coverage for your address confirmed in writing.

You can also check that the electrician working on your roof is accredited. Installer accreditation is now held by individual electricians through Solar Accreditation Australia (SAA). Ask for the accreditation number of the person doing your installation.

How Talk Energy’s 20-Year Warranty Works

Talk Energy gives every installation a 20-year workmanship warranty, backed by a 48-hour fix-or-replace guarantee. Here is what that means in practice.

• In-house SAA-accredited electricians: no subcontractors. The company you sign with is the company that does the work and stands behind it.
• 48-hour fix-or-replace guarantee: if a covered fault comes up, we commit to fix it or replace the faulty part within 48 hours. Read what the 48-hour guarantee covers for the details.
• Help with manufacturer claims: if the fault is a component defect rather than workmanship, we help you lodge and follow up the claim with the manufacturer.
• Service and maintenance: our service team looks after the systems we installed. See our solar maintenance and servicing guide for what a service checks and when to book.

Talk Energy has been installing solar and batteries in Perth for 7+ years, with 5,000+ installations and a rating of 4.8 stars from 300+ Google reviews. We’re based at 16 Ogilvie Rd, Mount Pleasant (WA electrical contractor licence EC15564).

Comparing quotes? Get a free, no-obligation quote and ask for our warranty terms in writing, or call (08) 6255 5914.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between a workmanship warranty and a product warranty?

A product warranty comes from the manufacturer and covers defects in the panels, inverter or battery. A workmanship warranty comes from your installer and covers how the system was installed: mounting, roof penetrations, wiring, switchboard work and commissioning. If the fault is in a component, you claim on the product warranty. If it comes from the installation, the workmanship warranty applies.

What does a 20-year solar workmanship warranty cover?

It covers faults caused by the installation for 20 years. That includes panel mounting and racking, roof penetrations and waterproofing, DC and AC wiring, inverter and battery connections, switchboard work and commissioning, with the labour to fix them. It does not cover faulty components, storm or hail damage, or changes made by someone else. Your warranty certificate sets out the exact terms.

Does a solar warranty cover storm or hail damage?

No, storm, hail, lightning and flood damage are generally not covered by workmanship or product warranties. This kind of damage is usually a home insurance matter, so check your policy covers your solar system. If water gets in through a roof penetration that wasn’t sealed properly during normal rain, that is a workmanship fault.

What happens to my solar warranty if the installer goes out of business?

The workmanship warranty usually ends when the installer closes, because no business is left to honour it. Manufacturer product and performance warranties stay valid, and you claim through the manufacturer or its Australian importer. Choosing an established installer that employs its own electricians reduces this risk.

What is Talk Energy’s 48-hour fix-or-replace guarantee?

It is a commitment to fix a covered fault, or replace the faulty part, within 48 hours. It sits alongside Talk Energy’s 20-year workmanship warranty and is delivered by in-house SAA-accredited electricians. It applies to systems Talk Energy installed.

How do I make a solar warranty claim?

Contact the company that installed your system and describe what you’re seeing. Have your installation paperwork, warranty certificate and a screenshot of your monitoring app ready. The installer works out whether it is a workmanship fault or a component fault and fixes it or helps with the manufacturer claim. Talk Energy customers can call (08) 6255 5914.