If you are considering having a residential solar power system, be it a Magnolia Solar Energy Installation or from some other company, then it is extremely important to examine and consider all the implications of the durations and the types of warranty which are offered for these systems by solar system installers. It is important to understand the differences between these types of warranties before you begin looking around for a solar photovoltaic system to put in your home so that you do not receive any unpleasant surprises long after you have actually made your purchase and installed your system.

Solar panels themselves are generally considered to be the part of the solar photovoltaic system which is least likely to malfunction because they contain no moving parts and are thus unlikely to break down unless in the event of external factors such as hail or tornadoes. Just in case something does go wrong however, solar panels still always come with a workmanship warranty. A workmanship warranty, otherwise known as a product warranty or a materials warranty, can be anything from one to ten years in duration and covers all the components which make up the solar panels such as glass, the backing, laminate and on occasion even the silicon wafers (cells) which are contained within them. While damage to those parts of the solar panel is admittedly a fairly unlikely occurrence, if it does occur it could result in minor or possibly even major damage to the panel’s capacity for the production of electricity. These warranties exist precisely to cover such eventualities, regardless of how unlikely it may be that they will ever actually be needed.

When it comes to a product or workmanship warranty, it is important to take note of such factors as whether or not the warranty comes from the system installer or from the manufacturer of the materials. After all, if the warranty is that of the manufacturer rather than the company which you paid to install the system, in some cases this may require you shipping the panels overseas for servicing should there be any problems or damage. You need to know if you would have to pay for the cost of shipping and, either way, if this is something you would really be prepared and happy to do. Checking the reputation of the manufacturer and whether there any contractual requirements for maintaining the panels which you need to perform or risk voiding the warranty are also very important considerations.