Does Hail Damage Solar Panels

Hail storms can wreak havoc on your home and solar panels.

Does hail damage solar panels.

In may of 2017 a particularly intense hail storm tore through the front range. Hail may be an impressive physical force but solar panels are well equipped to withstand impacts even from large hailstones. You can take preventative steps when installing the panels if you live in a climate that usually sees a lot of hail. Many solar electric modules and solar hot water collectors are made.

However just like your car windscreen can sometimes get damaged by extreme hail the same can happen to your panels. However extreme weather can damage the glass. In short yes hail can damage solar panels and most home insurance policies cover that damage. Poor quality solar panels are particularly susceptible to damage.

Solar panels and hail damage can happen in the blink of an eye. One inch hail about the size of a quarter is considered severe by the nws so your panels should survive even severe hailstorms just fine. Solar panels and hurricanes with high wind speeds and heavy rain solar panels may be at risk of being dislodged from their spot or damaged by high volumes of water. There s a severe hail damage resistance test which tests panels for cricket ball sized hailstones.

Most panels are tested according to the moderate hail damage test comprising 25mm hailstones that weigh 7 53 grams. While hail certainly could damage some types of solar panels the likelihood is very small and occurrences are extremely rare. However the chances of hail actually damaging panels is slim to none. Can hail damage your solar panels.

Unfortunately there s little you can do to protect your solar panels from the damaging hail when a storm hits. Solar panels are designed to withstand weather including hail and thunderstorms. Solar panels are rated using two class systems. The whole solar panel is covered in a layer of tempered glass.

This glass is a key component of the panel as it ensures as much light as possible is filtered into the silicon cells. One minute the sun is shining bright across the lone star state then suddenly debris the size of golfballs rattles down and wreaks havoc that s often expensive and stressful to repair.