Solar panel and inverter warranty claims in Perth: what you need to know

When something goes wrong with a Perth solar system — a panel stops producing, an inverter fails, a mounting bracket corrodes — the warranty claim process depends on what failed and when. Two different warranties apply: the product warranty (manufacturer) and the workmanship warranty (installer).

Two types of warranty

Product warranty (manufacturer)

The manufacturer warrants their product's materials and performance:

Panel product warranty:

• Duration: typically 10–15 years (materials/workmanship)
• What it covers: manufacturing defects, delamination, cell failure, glass cracking under normal use
• What it doesn't cover: physical damage (hail, impact), incorrect installation, modifications, or use outside specifications

Panel performance warranty:

• Duration: typically 25 years (linear performance warranty)
• What it guarantees: that the panel retains a specified output percentage (usually 80% at year 10, 80% at year 25 for better-quality panels). If measured output falls below the guaranteed level, the manufacturer replaces or compensates for the underperforming panel.

Inverter warranty:

• Duration: typically 5–10 years (some extend to 15yr for premium brands)
• What it covers: electronic component failures within the inverter
• What it doesn't cover: damage from installation errors, incorrect input voltage, lightning surge (check your policy)

Workmanship warranty (installer)

The installer warrants the quality of their installation work:

• Duration: typically 5–10 years under Consumer Law (CEC code requires minimum standards)
• What it covers: installation defects — water ingress from improperly sealed penetrations, cable failures from incorrect terminations, bracket failures from incorrect mounting
• What it doesn't cover: manufacturing defects in the equipment (that's the product warranty)

Who to contact for each type of claim

For product defects (panel stopped producing, inverter failed, physical defect in the panel): → Contact the manufacturer's Australian support line or warranty email first. Major brands operating in Perth:

• Fronius (inverters): Australian service network
• Sungrow: Australian support via distributor network
• BYD (batteries): Australian support
• Most tier-1 panel brands: regional AU distributors handle warranty

For installation defects (water leak from roof penetration, cable fault, bracket failure): → Contact your installer first. If the installer is unresponsive, escalate to CEC (Clean Energy Council) via their complaint process.

Documentation you need before making a claim

Before contacting anyone, gather:

1. Installation documents: the original commissioning certificate / Certificate of Electrical Compliance
2. System specifications: quote or invoice showing panel model/serial numbers and inverter model
3. Proof of purchase: invoice from the installer with date of installation
4. Evidence of the problem: your inverter monitoring app showing the performance drop, photos of visible damage, an error code from the inverter display
5. Generation history: your monitoring app's historical data shows what was normal before the issue

What happens when an installer company folds

The Perth solar industry has seen installer companies close, particularly after the rapid growth phase. If your installer has gone out of business:

For product warranties: The manufacturer's warranty remains valid regardless of installer status. Contact the manufacturer's Australian distributor directly. Panel serial numbers and your commissioning documents are sufficient — you don't need the installer.

For workmanship warranties: A workmanship warranty from a company that no longer exists is difficult to enforce. Options:

• Claim against the Australian Consumer Law (ACL) protections — goods must be fit for purpose and durable for a reasonable period. The supplier/manufacturer of the panels or inverter may carry some liability even if the installation company has closed.
• Some insurance products (Extended Warranty products from third-party insurers) cover installer company failure — check if your installer offered this.
• The Australian Consumer Law has provisions through ACCC and state fair trading bodies for goods/services that didn't meet reasonable expectations.

Practical step: if your installer has closed, engage a new licensed solar installer to assess the issue. An independent written assessment confirms whether the fault is a product defect (manufacturer to fix) or an installation defect (more complex to recover from a closed company).

Common warranty claims in Perth

Inverter failure within warranty period: This is the most common claim. Most inverters come with manufacturer's warranty of at least 5–10 years. If the inverter fails within this period, the manufacturer typically provides a repair or replacement. Response times vary — some manufacturers have local stock, others source replacements from Brisbane/Sydney (2–4 week wait in some cases).

Panel delamination: Delamination (the EVA encapsulant separating from the cells) reduces generation and is a manufacturing defect. Legitimate claim against the panel product warranty. Requires panel model and serial numbers.

Roof penetration leak: If water is entering through a solar mounting penetration, this is an installation workmanship issue. Contact the installer. If the installer has closed, a licensed roofer and a licensed electrician to assess the mounting are the first step.

Before making a warranty claim

1. Check whether the problem is a fault or a settings/configuration issue — many "performance problems" are resolved by a remote diagnostic from the inverter manufacturer's support team
2. Verify you haven't made unauthorised modifications (adding appliances to inverter output circuits, reconfiguring settings — these can void warranties)
3. Document the problem with timestamps and screenshots from your monitoring app — this is the evidence base for any claim

Australian Consumer Law protections apply regardless of manufacturer warranty terms. Contact Consumer Protection WA or the ACCC if you believe your statutory rights aren't being upheld.