A custom-designed solar PV (photovoltaic) system, and the renewable energy that it generates for your home, is an environmentally friendly asset that should last for decades. If you are considering installing solar panels on your home, wouldn’t you want to know that your new energy assets will be protected against the unpredictable?
The technicians here at Boston Solar are responsible for over 4,000 solar installations throughout Massachusetts from the North and South Shores, the greater Boston area, and Central Mass over the last 8 years. We regularly get questions like, “Do we need insurance when installing solar panels?” and, “Do solar panels affect your house insurance?” So, here are the things you need to know about home solar panel insurance before you make the decision to switch to renewable energy for your Bay State home.
As we mentioned, solar panels are an asset that should last for decades — but we aren’t pulling that number out of thin air. The industry-standard solar panel warranty covers solar panels for 25 years. At Boston Solar, we offer one of the strongest warranty package in Massachusetts at no additional cost to the customer. Our solar panel warranties cover 25 years, and we extend the warranty for inverters to 25 years and include a 10-year workmanship guarantee. But you’re probably wondering, “What exactly does that warranty cover?”
Most solar panel warranties lean more towards solar panel performance as opposed to any damage your solar panels will incur. This means your solar panels are guaranteed to perform to the manufacturer's specified efficiency over time. For example, after 10 years of converting the sun to energy, your solar panels should lose no less than 10% of their overall output efficiency. If they do, the manufacturer will replace the panels under the warranty coverage (this, of course, will vary depending on the make, model, and manufacturer).
Solar panels are designed to withstand all kinds of weather without taking any damage, including:
Hail
Snow
Rain & ice
Extreme heat & cold
However, there are unforeseeable circumstances that can cause damage to your solar panels — most notably from weather-related causes like large wind debris and fallen trees. This is where your standard homeowners insurance can pick up the slack left by your solar warranty!
There is no one single answer when it comes to covering your solar panels with your homeowners insurance — it will depend on your insurance company and your current plan. In general, because a rooftop solar panel system is considered a permanent structure on your home, you shouldn’t need to take out an additional policy. But there are a few questions you should ask your individual insurance agent when you are getting your solar panels covered, like:
What is the claim limit for my solar panel system?
Are ground-mounted solar panels covered by my plan?
Will adding solar panels affect my premium?
How do I file insurance claims for any damage to my solar panels?
If you are looking to make solar energy a part of your home, you should know your rights as a homeowner, as well as your options for gaining the peace of mind that your renewable energy assets are covered.
If you still have questions about the details of solar panel installation for your home, we are here to answer them. The team at Boston Solar is primarily focused on educating homeowners on the benefits of solar, instead of just selling solar panels to meet a quota. Schedule your free quote today, and see what solar can do for you!
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You have a grasp on how solar works — but what about the other details? That’s where Boston Solar comes in. Schedule your free solar quote by calling 617-858-1645 or get in touch here.
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