Does Hail Damage Solar Panels

You can take preventative steps when installing the panels if you live in a climate that usually sees a lot of hail.

Does hail damage solar panels. 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. Hail may be an impressive physical force but solar panels are well equipped to withstand impacts even from large hailstones. However the chances of hail actually damaging panels is slim to none. 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.

Can hail damage your solar panels. Solar panels and hail damage can happen in the blink of an eye. The whole solar panel is covered in a layer of tempered glass. In may of 2017 a particularly intense hail storm tore through the front range.

While hail certainly could damage some types of solar panels the likelihood is very small and occurrences are extremely rare. Most panels are tested according to the moderate hail damage test comprising 25mm hailstones that weigh 7 53 grams. Hail storms can wreak havoc on your home and solar panels. Many solar electric modules and solar hot water collectors are made.

There s a severe hail damage resistance test which tests panels for cricket ball sized hailstones. In short yes hail can damage solar panels and most home insurance policies cover that damage. Here s a video of what that testing looks like. Solar panels are designed to withstand one inch hail flying at 51 miles per hour.

However just like your car windscreen can sometimes get damaged by extreme hail the same can happen to your panels. 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. For the most part no. This glass is a key component of the panel as it ensures as much light as possible is filtered into the silicon cells.

Solar panels are designed to withstand weather including hail and thunderstorms. Solar panels are rated using two class systems.