Key Highlights
This page clearly explains the warranty policies for your Opera Solar Energy installed solar and/or battery system. It breaks down our 5-year installation workmanship guarantee, our roof safety guidelines, and the manufacturer’s warranties for your solar panels.
Read below to understand exactly what is covered, what is excluded, and how the claim process works.
Frequently Asked Questions: Workmanship Warranty & Roof Safety
What does the Opera Solar workmanship warranty cover?
It covers the physical installation of your solar system. This includes the wiring, panel mounting, and roof seals. We guarantee a CEC-accredited installer completed the work to Australian Standards.
How long is the workmanship warranty?
We provide a 5-year workmanship warranty. This starts on your exact installation date.
What is NOT covered under the workmanship warranty?
It covers our installation labour only. It strictly does not cover:
- Broken system parts (these fall under the manufacturer’s warranty).
- Damage from extreme weather, storms, lightning, or power surges.
- Damage caused by pests, mice, or vermin.
- System tampering by anyone other than us, or continuing to use the system after knowing it is damaged.
- Existing structural roof problem.
- Normal wear and tear, or minor cosmetic scratches.
- Systems with an unpaid invoice.
What if my system stops working?
Just give us a call. We will ask a few questions to see if it is an installation fault or a broken part. We will then book an “Initial Inspection Screening.” If it is an installation fault, we fix it for free. If a product has failed, we will refer the claim to the manufacturer for you.
How do I make a warranty claim?
You need to lodge it in writing. Email our support team with your name, address, system details, and a quick description of the fault. Photos are also very helpful.
What happens after I lodge a claim?
Our support team reviews your email and books an inspection. If a part has failed, we send the claim to the manufacturer. If it is an installation issue, we repair it.
Note: If we attend and find no fault (like the system was just switched off), we will charge a standard call-out fee.
How long does it take to fix the issue?
We schedule workmanship repairs quickly. If we need to replace a part under a manufacturer warranty, the timeline depends on their stock levels (usually 1 to 4 weeks).
Please note: Manufacturer warranties cover the cost of the part, but they may not cover the labour or travel costs for our technicians to physically swap it. If the manufacturer does not cover labour, this cost will be passed on to you.
Is there any cost to make a claim?
There is no cost for genuine workmanship faults. However, you will be charged a standard “Call-Out Fee” if we inspect the system and find no fault, or if the damage was caused by something outside our warranty (like a third-party electrician, pests, or Wi-Fi issues).
Who do I contact for support?
You contact Opera Solar directly. We are your main point of contact and handle the big manufacturers for you.
What if there is a roof leak after installation?
If a leak happens because of our mounting or roof work, it is fully covered under our 5-year workmanship warranty. We will come out and fix the seal.
Can I get someone else to repair the system?
No. If an unauthorised person or unapproved electrician works on your system without our written consent, it voids your Opera Solar workmanship warranty.
Is the warranty transferable if I sell my home?
No. The workmanship warranty does not transfer to a new owner unless we agree to it in writing before the house is sold.
What if my monitoring stops working?
Usually, this happens because your home internet changed—such as installing a new router, changing your Wi-Fi name, or updating your password. We can happily provide step-by-step PDF instructions or videos to help you reconnect it remotely.
Please note: Lost internet connection is not an installation fault. If you request a technician to visit your home simply to reconnect your Wi-Fi, a standard call-out fee will strictly apply.
Will solar installation damage my roof tiles?
Our installers take great care on your roof. However, walking on tiles always carries a small risk of breakage. This is especially true if the roof is old or weathered. Minor scratches can also happen on tin roofs.
Will you walk on my roof during installation?
Yes. Our technicians must walk on your roof to safely mount the rails and install the solar panels. Our team is highly trained to distribute their weight carefully and step on the strongest parts of the tiles to reduce the risk of breakages.
What types of roof tiles are more likely to break?
Terracotta, French Terracotta, and Decramastic roofs are very fragile and lightweight. Also, any old, loose, or brittle concrete tiles are much more likely to crack under foot traffic.
What happens if tiles break during installation?
As a goodwill gesture, our team will replace any broken tiles on the day, provided you have spare tiles ready on site.
Is roof tile damage covered under the workmanship warranty?
No. We cannot control the age or condition of your existing roof. Because of this, broken fragile tiles and minor tin roof scratches are excluded from our workmanship warranty.
Do I need to provide spare roof tiles?
Yes. We strongly advise having a stack of spare tiles ready on installation day. This lets our team quickly and safely swap out any tiles that crack.
What if I don’t have spare tiles?
If a tile breaks and there are no spares, we will temporarily waterproof the crack using heavy-duty roofing silicone. You will then be responsible for sourcing a proper replacement tile.
Should I get my roof checked before installing solar?
Yes. If your roof is old or you are unsure about its condition, you should get an independent inspection. A licensed roofer can confirm if your roof is safe for solar.
What’s your commitment regarding my roof?
At Opera Solar, your roof’s safety is our priority. We promise to communicate honestly, use the proper safety gear, and install your system with extreme care to minimise any roof disturbance. If our mounting work causes a leak, we will return and fix it under our 5-year workmanship warranty.
How soon after installation do I get my solar incentives?
You get the government STC rebate immediately. We handle all the complex government paperwork and apply the discount directly to your upfront quote, so you never have to wait for a cheque in the mail.
Your Feed-in Tariff (the money you get for sending extra power to the grid) will start appearing on your very next electricity bill after your smart meter is configured by your energy provider.
Frequently Asked Questions: Solar Panel Manufacturer Warranty
What is the difference between a Panel "Product Warranty" and a "Performance Warranty"?
Solar panels have two different warranties.
- The Product Warranty covers physical hardware faults. This includes bad wiring inside the panel, water leaking in, or factory glass flaws.
- The Performance Warranty guarantees the panel’s power output. It ensures the panel will not lose its ability to make power faster than a set rate over 25 to 30 years.
How long are the warranties for brands like AIKO, Jinko, Trina, and LONGi?
We only use premium Tier 1 panels, so the warranties are very strong.
Product warranties range from 10 to 25 years, depending on the brand.
Performance warranties are generally 25 to 30 years across all our panel brands.
What exactly does the panel product warranty cover?
It covers factory defects that stop the panel from generating power. If the panel breaks down internally, peels apart, or has a short circuit from the factory, the manufacturer covers it.
What does the panel performance warranty guarantee?
It guarantees your panels will still produce a minimum amount of power as they age over the years. For example, many of our panels guarantee they will only lose about 0.4% of their power capacity each year.
Is labour and shipping covered if a panel needs replacing?
Usually, the manufacturer warranty only pays for the new panel itself. It often does not cover the labour cost for a technician to swap the panel, nor the freight cost to ship it. You will need to pay these costs unless the manufacturer offers a specific service rebate.
Does the manufacturer warranty cover damage from hail or storms?
No. Manufacturer warranties only cover factory faults. Damage from extreme weather, hail, lightning, or falling branches is not covered. You must claim this through your home insurance.
What happens if a solar panel manufacturer goes out of business?
If a manufacturer closes down, their warranty disappears. This is why Opera Solar only uses Tier 1 brands. These are massive, financially stable companies with local offices in Australia.
If one panel fails, will it stop my whole system from working?
On a standard string inverter setup, panels are wired together in a chain. If one panel completely fails, it can drag down the power of that whole chain until the broken panel is replaced.
How long do solar panels actually last?
High-quality Tier 1 solar panels are built to last decades rather than 3-5 years only. The premium panels we install (like Jinko, AIKO, and Trina) come with a 25 to 30-year performance warranty. Even after 25 years, they are guaranteed to still be producing over 80% of their original power.
Can I add more panels to my system in the future?
This depends on your inverter. If you start with a small number of panels but have a large inverter, you can usually add a few more panels later. However, if your inverter is already maxed out, you cannot just plug more panels in. If you plan to expand later, tell us upfront so we can install a larger “expansion-ready” inverter today.
