Home Solar Panels Hail Damage

First because the panels are installed at an angle they usually only receive a glancing blow from hailstones.

Home solar panels hail damage.

Study your situation. Installing smaller solar panels can reduce the damage caused during a hail storm. Many solar electric modules and solar hot water collectors are made. Because solar panels are installed on the roof they are specifically designed to cope with hail and the likelihood of damage is extremely rare.

While hail certainly could damage some types of solar panels the likelihood is very small and occurrences are extremely rare. Solar panels are designed to withstand weather including hail and thunderstorms. Any solar panel you install on your home today is rated to withstand severe hail but there are extreme hail events that can damage even the strongest panels. 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. Poor quality solar panels are particularly susceptible to damage. 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. The solar cells that conduct the energy are covered with protective glass which can break under certain conditions including hail storms.

When it comes to home use the pv panels usually sit on the roof where they remain exposed to the elements. In most cases solar panels are tested and certified to withstand hail of up to 25 mm one inch falling at 23 meters per second approximately 50 miles per hour. This is because if one part of a solar panel is damaged the energy output loss is considerable and almost as if you lost the entire panel. Solar panel manufacturers test their products to ensure that they are capable of withstanding hail storms.

However just like your car windscreen can sometimes get damaged by extreme hail the same can happen to your panels. If a thunderstorm starts spitting baseball sized hail from the sky there are few structures that will escape unharmed including solar panels. Before you decide to go with solar panels you should do some research.