How to Protect Your Rooftop Solar Panels From Hail Damage

As the US heads into peak hailstorm season, homeowners that have installed solar power face the prospect of chunks of ice damaging their panels.

“Those instances of damage are rare, but the more extreme weather gets with climate change, it’s hard to know what the future brings,” says Lauren Martin, head of marketing at Freedom Solar Power, a Texas-based solar installer. Last year, the company was called in to repair about a dozen solar systems in Austin pummeled by baseball-sized hail.

Hail caused more economic losses for solar-panel owners than any other hazard, according to the latest data available from GCube Insurance, an underwriter that insures more than 100 gigawatts of renewable energy assets worldwide. While less than 2% of the total claims the company recorded from 2018 to 2023 had to do with hail, they accounted for more than half of insured damage associated with solar projects.

Hailstorms can happen in any part of the US, but they most commonly occur in the central and southern plains states, stretching from Texas to the Dakotas, a region known as “Hail Alley.” Part of that overlaps with areas that have seen substantial growth in solar installation. Take Texas. Its residential solar adoption increased nearly 650% from 2017 to 2022, according to a report published last year by Frontier Group and Environment Texas Research and Policy Center.

Here’s what you need to know about protecting your rooftop solar systems from hail damage.

Before installing panels on your roof

Today, solar panels are able to withstand the impact of hailstones roughly the size of a quarter coin (1 inch in diameter) at the speed of 50 miles per hour — as long as you purchase the right products.

Consider shopping for solar panels with a UL 61730 rating, says Evelyn Butler, vice president of technical services at Solar Energy Industries Association, a trade group. The rating, provided by Illinois-based safety-standard company UL Solutions, signals the panels passed hail testing, she says. Other organizations such as the International Electrotechnical Commission also issue their version of safety standards for solar panels that can operate in rough weather.

As soon as you decide to install solar panels, inform your insurance company, says Jason Kaminsky, chief executive officer of kWh Analytics, a firm that specializes in risk analytics for renewable-energy projects. Many carriers will extend homeowners insurance to include the solar equipment, he says. If your panels are mounted on the ground rather than attached to the house structure, confirm with your carrier if the system is eligible for homeowners’ insurance or if you need to purchase an add-on.

Homeowners who get their solar panels through a lease or a Power Purchase Agreement should check with their equipment provider to clarify who will insure the solar system, Kaminsky says. Typically, the equipment provider is responsible for that.

How to tell if your solar system is damaged

As climate change brews more extreme weather, destructive hailstorms will likely become more common. Large hailstones (above 1 inch in diameter) or smaller ones that are paired with strong winds can potentially crack or shatter solar panels.

But not all damage hampers a system’s performance, says Butler of SEIA. Some of it can be merely a cosmetic issue. If you’re concerned, call your solar installer after a severe hailstorm to schedule an in-person inspection.

Homeowners should also pay attention to red flags such as changes in power generation, says Martin of Freedom Solar Power. Many installers allow homeowners to monitor their solar power outputs real-time through an app or an online portal. If the monitoring tool shows that one panel no longer operates, or fails to produce as much electricity as it used to, it’s time to call your solar installer.

Who pays for hail damage?

In most cases, hail damage falls into the category of the “act of nature,” which isn’t covered by solar-panel warranties, according to Martin. (Though, do check your product warranty because different manufacturers may have different terms.) But hail damage is covered by homeowners insurance, she says.

When you call your solar installer for a post-hail inspection, make sure your insurance provider is involved in that process, Martin says. This way, the insurer knows how extensive the damage is and what repair work is needed. The insurer typically would ask the solar installer to take pictures of the damage and provide a quote for the repair. Don’t pursue any repair work until you sort out the claim with your insurer.

Those who rent solar panels, or get them through a Power Purchase Agreement, don’t need to do anything other than notifying their equipment provider about the damage.

Copyright 2025 Bloomberg.