Hail Damage & Solar Panels
Hail can damage solar panels, and it can damage the roof under and around them. Panels are tested to withstand roughly one-inch hail at terminal velocity, so large or wind-driven North Texas hail can crack glass or create micro-cracks in cells that reduce output without any visible damage at all.
What hail actually does to an array
- Shattered or spidered glass, which is obvious from the ground or a drone
- Micro-cracks in the cells, which are invisible but show up as reduced string output
- Damaged junction boxes, connectors and conduit
- Dented or bent racking and flashing, which can affect water shedding
- Damage to the roof surface around and beneath the array
The invisible category is the one that costs homeowners money. A panel with micro-cracks looks perfect and produces less. Without monitoring data or panel-level testing, it goes unclaimed and you simply live with lower production for the rest of the system's life.
Why the roof under the panels matters too
Panels shield the roof directly beneath them, which sounds like an advantage until you file a claim. It creates a roof with different levels of exposure on the same slope, and it makes accurate scoping harder. Adjusters cannot inspect roofing under an array without the panels coming off, and how that is handled varies by carrier and adjuster. Documenting the array and the roof at the same time gives you a much stronger file.
What to do after a hailstorm if you have solar
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1. Check your monitoring app
Compare output before and after the storm. A single underperforming string is meaningful evidence.
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2. Do not climb up
Photograph from the ground and from windows. Wet panels and roofs are dangerous and glass may be compromised.
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3. Get both systems inspected
A roofer alone may miss panel damage; a solar tech alone will not evaluate the roof.
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4. Document before repairs
Date-stamped photos, monitoring screenshots and the storm date create the record your claim depends on.
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5. Report promptly
Texas policies contain notice requirements, and late reporting is a common reason claims get complicated.
Frequently asked questions
- Can hail damage solar panels?
- Yes. Most panels are certified against roughly one-inch hail impacts, and North Texas regularly produces larger and wind-driven hail. Damage ranges from shattered glass to invisible micro-cracks that only show up as reduced output.
- Does homeowners insurance cover solar panel hail damage?
- Roof-mounted solar is often covered under the dwelling portion of a homeowners policy, but coverage depends on your specific policy, endorsements, and whether the system is owned, leased or under a power purchase agreement. Confirm with your carrier rather than assuming.
- How do I know if my panels were damaged if they look fine?
- Compare monitoring output against pre-storm performance, string by string if your system reports at that level. Persistent underperformance on one string after a hail event is the most common signal of hidden cell damage.
- Can the roof under my solar panels be inspected without removing them?
- Only partially. Edges and surrounding areas can be evaluated, but the surface directly under the array cannot be properly assessed until panels come off. That is worth raising with your adjuster early.
Keep reading
Storm hit your neighborhood?
Schedule an inspection covering both the roof and the array.
Or call (972) 999-8388