Who should you contact first if your solar system has a problem?

If one business sold you both the solar products and the installation, the ACCC says that business is generally responsible for helping provide a remedy when consumer guarantees are not met, even if it used a subcontractor for the installation.

That is usually the simplest starting point. You should not automatically be bounced between the panel manufacturer, inverter manufacturer and electrician simply because several warranties exist.

Your Australian Consumer Law rights exist separately from warranties

Manufacturer and workmanship warranties are extra promises. They do not replace the automatic consumer guarantees that apply to eligible products and services under Australian Consumer Law.

For solar installation services, those guarantees include that the work is provided with due care and skill and is fit for a disclosed purpose where the law applies. A written warranty cannot contract those rights away.

Panel product warranty versus panel performance warranty

A panel product warranty deals with faults or defects in the panel itself, subject to the written terms. A performance warranty describes how much of the panel's rated output the manufacturer promises it will retain over time.

These are not interchangeable. A long performance warranty does not necessarily mean the same length of comprehensive product protection. The Australian Government notes that performance warranties can also be harder to enforce than a straightforward product warranty.

When comparing panels, read both documents and check who the Australian warranty contact is.

What does an inverter warranty cover?

An inverter warranty is normally a manufacturer product warranty covering the inverter subject to its conditions. Check the full term, whether parts and labour are treated separately, what monitoring or installation requirements apply and whether an optional extension changes the cover.

Do not assume that a replacement inverter automatically includes the electrician's labour or every access cost. Ask what the retailer will do if the manufacturer approves a replacement unit.

Compare current inverter warranty terms in plain English ↗

Battery warranties can use time, retained capacity and throughput

Battery warranties often include more than a simple number of years. They can also specify minimum retained usable capacity, cycle limits, energy throughput, operating-temperature conditions or required system settings.

A ten-year headline warranty can therefore mean different things across products. Compare what the battery is actually promised to deliver over that period and what use could reduce or exclude coverage.

Compare current home battery warranties in plain English ↗

See the battery sizing guide for usable kWh and output kW ↗

What is a workmanship warranty?

A workmanship or installation warranty deals with problems caused by the installation work rather than a manufacturing defect. Examples can include installation-related leaks, cable or mounting issues and other faults caused by how the system was fitted.

The Australian Government notes that workmanship warranties are commonly offered separately from product warranties. The exact term and inclusions depend on the retailer or installer, so obtain the current written document instead of relying on a salesperson's summary.

Retailer, installer or manufacturer: who is responsible?

ProblemUsual first contactWhy
System sold and installed under one contractThe business you paidACCC guidance says it generally remains responsible for consumer-guarantee remedies even when installation was subcontracted.
Product defect under manufacturer warrantyRetailer first, or manufacturer where appropriateThe retailer can often manage the claim; manufacturer warranties provide an additional route.
Installation problem where product and labour were bought separatelyThe installer for installation issuesResponsibility can be split when separate businesses supplied the product and service.
Electricity retailer or distributor billing/export disputeEnergy retailer or distributor, then EWOV if unresolvedThis is an energy-service issue rather than a solar product warranty.

What happens if the original solar retailer or installer is no longer trading?

It can become harder to obtain a remedy from the original supplier. That is one reason business history and after-sales capacity matter when choosing a provider.

For a product fault, a manufacturer or Australian importer may still have obligations or a valid manufacturer warranty. Consumer Affairs Victoria notes that consumers can in some circumstances seek remedies from either a supplier or manufacturer for product problems.

If the business is insolvent, Consumer Affairs Victoria provides separate insolvency guidance. Keep your invoice, contract, model numbers, serial numbers, Certificate of Electrical Safety, warranty documents and installation records because they can make a later claim much easier.

What should you check before accepting a solar quote?

  • Panel product warranty and panel performance warranty as separate documents.
  • Inverter warranty and any optional extension terms.
  • Battery product, retained-capacity, cycle or throughput conditions.
  • Written workmanship warranty and the business responsible for it.
  • Who pays labour, freight or access costs for a warranty replacement.
  • Australian manufacturer or importer support details.
  • The process for lodging a claim and expected evidence such as monitoring data or serial numbers.

Open the plain-English warranty comparison hub ↗

Use the quote comparison table to record these terms side by side ↗

Sources and further reading

Editorial references checked: 12 October 2026

Source labels identify who published each reference, not an independent endorsement. Confirm current requirements and exact product terms before purchasing.