How a Thermal Scan Can Catch a Failed Panel Before Warranty Expires
Why a FLIR inspection during a routine cleaning is often the only way to catch a silently failing panel in time.
Most panel failures are silent — production drifts slowly while the module overheats internally. A thermal scan during a routine cleaning is often the only way to catch it while the manufacturer warranty still applies.
What a failing panel looks like on thermal
A healthy panel reads as an even, uniform surface on a FLIR camera. A failing module typically shows a distinct hot zone — sometimes a full panel running 20–40°F above its neighbors, sometimes a single cell or sub-string lit up against an otherwise cool background. Visual inspection from the ground almost never shows anything; the failure is internal.
Filing a warranty claim with documentation
When we flag a hot panel, we send the homeowner a written report with the thermal image, panel position, and a short explanation suitable for the manufacturer. Tier-1 manufacturers generally accept claims supported by thermal imagery and ship a replacement, provided the system is still inside its product warranty (typically 10–12 years, with performance warranties out to 25).
Why timing matters
Replacing a single residential panel out of pocket — module plus labor — typically runs several hundred to over a thousand dollars depending on access. A thermal scan included with a routine cleaning costs nothing extra, and it's the difference between a warranty replacement and an out-of-warranty repair if the panel fully fails later.