A solar system has two kinds of risk. A part can fail, or the installation can be faulty. Manufacturers cover the first. A workmanship warranty covers the second.
With Pier Solar, you get manufacturer product warranties plus an extended workmanship warranty arranged by us. Our vetted, MCS-certified partners carry out the work. This page explains what each warranty covers and what to ask before you sign.
Product warranty and workmanship warranty
A product warranty comes from the maker of the panels, inverter or battery. It covers faults in the equipment. It does not usually cover problems caused by poor fitting, such as a leaking roof penetration or a loose connection.
A workmanship warranty covers the installer's labour and fitting. For example, it may cover a fault in the wiring or a panel fixing that has come loose. Because the installer did the work, the installer should stand behind it.
The two work best together. If a part fails because of a manufacturing fault, the product warranty responds. If the same part fails because it was fitted badly, the workmanship warranty responds. A gap between them is where many disputes start.
Why extended cover matters
Solar panels should typically last 25 years or more, according to the Energy Saving Trust. A short workmanship term, however, leaves you exposed for most of that life. Installation faults can appear years after the work, so the length of cover matters.
The inverter is the other weak point. It usually needs replacing after about 12 years. Inverter warranties commonly start at five years and can often be extended up to 15. Our guide to how long solar panels last explains what ages first and what to plan for.
Extended workmanship cover therefore matters most in the middle years, once the first warranty has ended but the system still has a long life ahead.
What a good warranty should state
Read the document, not just the brochure. A strong workmanship warranty states:
- The length of cover, in years, and when it starts.
- What is covered, including labour, parts and call-out.
- What is excluded, such as storm damage or unapproved changes.
- How to make a claim, and who answers the phone.
- Whether it transfers if you sell the property.
Look closely at the exclusions. A long warranty with broad exclusions can be worth less than a shorter, clearer one.
How MCS and consumer codes fit in
MCS is the UK quality mark for small-scale renewables such as solar panels. Your installer should give you an MCS certificate within about ten working days of finishing. That certificate is also the standard proof for Smart Export Guarantee payments.
MCS installers who sell to homeowners also belong to a consumer code, such as RECC or HIES, that covers complaints. This gives you a route if something goes wrong. Our explainer on MCS certification covers what the certificate means and how to check it.
A warranty is only as strong as the company behind it. Therefore, ask who pays if the installer stops trading, and what happens to your cover then.
What a warranty does not do
A warranty is not an insurance policy. It does not normally cover damage from storms, fire or theft, so check your home insurance. It also does not promise a level of output.
Panels slowly lose output, typically around half a percent a year, and that is normal. Similarly, a cloudy summer will lower generation without any fault. A warranty responds to defects, not to weather.
Keep your records safe. Store the MCS certificate, the commissioning report and every warranty document together. If you add equipment later, such as an EV charger, note how it affects your cover. Our page on EV charger installation explains how a charger fits with a solar system, and our guide to charging an electric car from solar panels covers daily use.
How warranties connect to our other services
Warranty cover works best with regular checks. Our system health checks spot early faults while they are still covered. Meanwhile, MCS-certified installations give you the paperwork that most warranty claims rely on.
Warranty questions across the UK
The same principles apply wherever you live. For example, our page on solar installation in Leicester covers local conditions. Similarly, solar panels in Southampton and solar installation in Newcastle upon Tyne show how the regions compare.
Next steps
Ask us about warranty terms through the online enquiry form. We will set out the cover in your design and specification, so you can read it before you commit.
Frequently Asked Questions
- A product warranty covers faults in the equipment. A workmanship warranty covers faults in how it was installed.
- This depends on the terms. Ask for the answer in writing before you sign, because it affects the value of your home.
- Ask this before you buy. MCS installers who sell to homeowners belong to a consumer code, which covers complaints and gives you a route to escalate.
- Not normally. Panels slowly lose output, typically around half a percent a year, and weather changes generation. A warranty covers defects.