0% VAT on solar panels & battery storage until 31 March 2027

Warranty & guarantees

Four layers of cover. End-to-end claim handling.

We don\'t just say “10-year warranty” on the front page and leave you guessing. Here\'s every layer of cover on every North 85 install, what each covers, and who you call when something needs fixing.

Equipment manufacturer warranty

5-25 years

Covers: Equipment failure under normal use

Each product has its own manufacturer warranty. Solar panels: 25-year performance + 25-year product (Jinko, LG, REC). Inverters: 10-12 years (SolarEdge, Solis). Batteries: 10 years (Tesla, Pylontech, SolarEdge). EV chargers: 3 years (Ohme, Zappi, Easee).

Who handles it: North 85 — you call us, we handle the manufacturer claim end-to-end.

Workmanship guarantee

12 months

Covers: Faulty installation work

Covers anything that goes wrong with the install (loose connections, incorrect commissioning, missed steps in handover) for 12 months from commissioning date. We return free of charge to rectify. No labour charge, no parts charge for installation faults. This is independent of manufacturer warranty.

Who handles it: North 85 direct

Independent Workmanship Warranty (industry-scheme backstop)

2-6 years (depends on service)

Covers: Industry-scheme cover required by installer registration

Every North 85 installation carries our 10-year workmanship guarantee, well above the industry minimum of 2 years. This is the cover that backstops you if North 85 itself ceased trading (very unlikely after 40 years).

Who handles it: Independent Workmanship Warranty insurance — backed by industry scheme, independent of North 85.

Statutory consumer protection

6 years

Covers: Your legal rights on every install

Every install is covered by the Consumer Rights Act 2015 — work must be carried out with reasonable care and skill, with up to 6 years to bring a claim in England and Wales. You have a 14-day cooling-off period after contract signing under the Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013, and if you pay any part by credit card, Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974 may give you additional protection for purchases over £100.

Who handles it: Your statutory consumer rights

Beyond the warranty

Optional and included aftercare

Annual service contract (optional)

£85 — £350/year depending on system count

Annual visit covering inverter and battery firmware, visual check of panels and cabling, EV charger test, consumer unit inspection and a performance audit. Extends manufacturer warranty to maximum length on most equipment.

24-hour emergency callout

Included on service contracts; £150 first hour otherwise

Emergency callout for warranty issues (power off, tripping circuits, EV charger faulted, system off, etc.). Direct phone line to our engineering team — never an offshore call centre. Typical response time: same-day or next morning.

Performance monitoring

Free for first 12 months on solar + battery

We watch your system generation/consumption data through the manufacturer portal (SolarEdge, Tesla, mySolarEdge). If we see something unusual (sudden performance drop, anomalous battery cycling), we contact you to investigate. Customer can opt out at any time.

Annual review call (free)

Free

12 months after commissioning we call to review your system performance, savings achieved vs projected, any operational questions, and to recommend any tariff switches or system upgrades that have become economically attractive in the intervening year.

Our accreditations

Accredited, certified, and backed by independent standards

NICEIC Approved

D124458

Electrical contractor

Part P

Building Regs

Domestic electrical

SafeContractor

Approved

H&S accredited

ISO 9001

2015

Quality management

ISO 14001

2015

Environmental management

ISO 45001

2018

OH&S management

Established

1985

Family run for 40 years

NICEIC Approved

D124458

Electrical contractor

Part P

Building Regs

Domestic electrical

SafeContractor

Approved

H&S accredited

ISO 9001

2015

Quality management

ISO 14001

2015

Environmental management

ISO 45001

2018

OH&S management

Established

1985

Family run for 40 years

Every accreditation listed is independently verified. We carry the registration numbers — ask for any on request.

Common questions about warranties

What's the difference between manufacturer warranty and workmanship warranty?
Manufacturer warranty covers equipment failure (panel degradation, inverter failure, battery wear-out beyond spec). Workmanship warranty covers installation faults (loose connections, incorrect commissioning, missed steps). Both apply simultaneously. We handle both claim processes for you.

What happens if North 85 goes out of business?
Two protection layers plus your statutory rights: (1) Independent Workmanship Warranty insurance backstops you for 2-5 years after install (independent of North 85). (2) Equipment manufacturer warranties pass through to you directly — you contact the manufacturer for those claims if North 85 ceased trading. Deposits paid by credit card may also be protected under Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974. After 40 years of trading the risk is extremely low, but the protections exist.

Do I need to register the warranty myself?
No — we handle all warranty registrations on commissioning day. Solar panel warranty registered with the manufacturer, inverter registered with SolarEdge/Solis/Tesla, battery registered with Tesla, Sigenergy or Fox ESS, EV charger registered with the manufacturer. You get copies of everything in your handover pack.

Can I extend the equipment warranty?
Yes, on most products. Many inverter and battery manufacturers extend cover when the system is registered and serviced. We register everything on commissioning day and tell you what the extension terms are.

What invalidates the warranty?
Common warranty invalidation reasons: third-party tampering (someone else opens the equipment), missed annual services (where mandated by manufacturer), incorrect tariff settings (e.g. running battery aggressively outside spec), physical damage from accident or weather (covered by your home insurance, not warranty), running equipment outside operating limits. Our handover walkthrough covers all of these so you know what to avoid.

How do I make a warranty claim?
Call our office on 0191 535 2711. We diagnose the issue (often by phone or remote app access), determine which warranty applies (manufacturer, workmanship, industry scheme), and either fix it on a scheduled visit or coordinate the manufacturer claim. You never need to contact the manufacturer directly — we own the claim process end-to-end.

Is the workmanship warranty extended on service contracts?
Yes — service contract customers receive an extended workmanship warranty of up to 7 years (vs the standard 12 months). The service contract pays for the annual service visit, software updates, and consumables. The extended workmanship is a bundled benefit, not a paid-for extra.

Does the warranty cover SEG export tariff issues?
The export tariff itself is between you and your supplier (Octopus, British Gas, EDF, etc.) — not something we warrant. But we warrant the install's technical compliance with the SEG application requirements (smart meter, install certificate, DNO notification all in order) so any tariff supplier accepts your application. If your SEG application is declined for technical reasons, we resolve at no charge.

Want clarity on cover before you commit?

We’ll walk you through every layer of cover during the survey. No fine-print surprises after you sign.

Free, no-obligation survey Fixed-price written quote Fully-certified installation
Book a free survey Call 0191 535 2711
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