Does Hail Damage Solar Panels

The whole solar panel is covered in a layer of tempered glass.

Does hail damage solar 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. Here s a video of what that testing looks like. Hail storms can wreak havoc on your home and solar panels. 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.

Most panels are tested according to the moderate hail damage test comprising 25mm hailstones that weigh 7 53 grams. Hail may be an impressive physical force but solar panels are well equipped to withstand impacts even from large hailstones. There s a severe hail damage resistance test which tests panels for cricket ball sized hailstones. While hail certainly could damage some types of solar panels the likelihood is very small and occurrences are extremely rare.

Can hail damage your 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. Solar panels are designed to withstand weather including hail and thunderstorms. Solar panels are designed to withstand one inch hail flying at 51 miles per hour.

Solar panels are rated using two class systems. In may of 2017 a particularly intense hail storm tore through the front range. Solar panels and hail damage can happen in the blink of an eye. This glass is a key component of the panel as it ensures as much light as possible is filtered into the silicon cells.

However extreme weather can damage the glass. For the most part no. However just like your car windscreen can sometimes get damaged by extreme hail the same can happen to your panels. Poor quality solar panels are particularly susceptible to damage.

In short yes hail can damage solar panels and most home insurance policies cover that damage. However the chances of hail actually damaging panels is slim to none.