Will Hail Affect My Solar Panels?

With hail insurance claims averaging $8-14 billion a year in the United States, homeowners understandably ask how hail could affect their solar panels. (1) Luckily, this answer to this commonly asked question is very positive. After a hail storm, solar panels are often one of the few undamaged parts of your home.

Solar panels are surprisingly resistant to damage.

Resilience is crucial when building solar panels. During the design process, manufacturers thoroughly test their strength against severe weather outcomes. In fact, you can find hail impact studies dating back to 1978 (2). With researchers constantly improving panel resilience, hail has become only a minor risk. One of the most impressive examples of this was a hailstorm in 2017 that hit the Denver metro area. This storm tore through car windows, battered homes, and caused roughly $1.4 billion in damages, with hailstones reaching up to 2.75 inches in diameter (3). Yet, after the storm, The National Renewable Energy Laboratory, home to over 3,000 solar panels, walked away with only one damaged panel (4). This story shows that hail damaging your solar panels is relatively uncommon.

What should you do after a hailstorm?

Although it is unlikely hail will damage your system, it is always a good idea to inspect your solar array after a storm. The Solar Pathways team can provide a thorough inspection to rule out any hail damage. Customers can also use system monitoring apps to identify changes in energy production. In the event of a hailstorm, reach out as soon as possible to guarantee everything is working effectively.

On the rare occasion your panels get damaged, is it covered under insurance?

Your home insurance should generally cover solar panels (5). However, this does depend on your specific provider, and it is always a good idea to call your agent and discuss the different home policy implications. Since the panels are a permanent installment on the property, they should generally be covered under events such as fire, wind and hailstorms, vandalism, lighting, and broken tree limbs as long as the total value of the home includes the price of the array (5). For more information on the specifics of your homeowner’s insurance, reach out to your insurance agent and have a conversation surrounding the effects of adding solar to your home.

What if my roof gets damaged with an array in place?

Although hail damaging your solar panels is unlikely, the roof surrounding the array could still incur damage. In this case, it will be necessary to remove your solar panels, have the roof repaired, and then have panels re-installed. Our installation team at Solar Pathways would be happy to help remove and re-install the panels if your roof is damaged by hail. Furthermore, your homeowner’s insurance should cover the cost should these particular events occur.

When considering a solar investment, it’s wise to consider all possibilities weather might have on your solar system. However, hail poses much less of a threat than you might have initially thought. Solar systems are designed to endure harsh weather outcomes and have continually proven to withstand hailstorms. Solar Pathways is here to make the installation process easy for you. If you have any more questions or are interested in setting up a free consultation, do not hesitate to reach out to our team.

Author: Brooke Banning

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