Damage Assessment
Hail Damage to Rooftop Solar Panels: What Texas Homeowners Should Check After a Storm
By the UrgentHomePros editorial team · Published October 10, 2026 · 4 cited sources
Most quality rooftop solar panels are built to pass an industry hail test using 1-inch hailstones at about 52 mph (the IEC 61215 standard), so hail at or below that size rarely causes visible damage - but larger or denser hail, which this site's own hail-corridor data shows isn't rare in parts of Texas, can crack panel glass, damage cells, or leave broken glass on the roof and in gutters. The catch specific to Texas homeowners: being physically attached to your roof doesn't automatically mean your panels carry the same wind/hail coverage as the rest of your roof - some Texas insurers sell a separate endorsement specifically for windstorm and hail coverage on solar equipment.
Direct Answer
Most quality rooftop solar panels are built to pass an industry hail test using 1-inch hailstones at about 52 mph (the IEC 61215 standard), so hail at or below that size rarely causes visible damage - but larger or denser hail, which this site's own hail-corridor data shows isn't rare in parts of Texas, can crack panel glass, damage cells, or leave broken glass on the roof and in gutters. The catch specific to Texas homeowners: being physically attached to your roof doesn't automatically mean your panels carry the same wind/hail coverage as the rest of your roof - some Texas insurers sell a separate endorsement specifically for windstorm and hail coverage on solar equipment.
What to check after a hailstorm if you have rooftop solar
This is the solar-specific half of storm-damage assessment - distinct from this site's other damage-assessment guides on shingles, gutters, and the attic, because a solar array is electrical equipment, not just roofing material, and carries its own safety and coverage questions.
- Treat a suspected-damaged solar system as a safety issue first, not a cosmetic one - damaged cells or wiring can still carry live voltage in daylight even when the glass looks cracked but intact, and broken glass on the roof or in gutters is a real cut and fall hazard.
- Look for the obvious signs from the ground first: shattered or spider-cracked panel glass, glass fragments on the roof or in gutters, and panels that look visibly shifted or lifted from their mounting racks.
- Damage isn't always visible - a sudden drop in output from one or more specific panels on your monitoring app or inverter display after a hailstorm, even with the panels still looking intact, is a real sign of hidden cell damage worth having inspected.
- If the hail reported in your area was larger than roughly 1 inch - the size most quality panels are tested to withstand at about 52 mph - treat your system as worth a professional inspection even if nothing looks obviously wrong from the ground.
- Don't assume your homeowners policy automatically covers wind/hail damage to the panels the same way it covers your shingles - some Texas insurers require a separate endorsement specifically for windstorm and hail coverage on solar equipment, so check your own declarations page or ask your agent directly rather than assuming either way.
- A licensed solar installer or electrician - not a general roofer - should be the one to inspect the system and clear it before it's reconnected or left running; this is electrical equipment, not a shingle repair.
Before you file a claim or climb up for a look yourself
- Photograph everything you can safely see from the ground - cracked glass, visible debris, shifted panels - before any cleanup, the same documentation standard this site's other insurance-claim guides recommend for roof damage generally.
- Call your insurer and ask specifically whether wind/hail damage to your solar panels is covered under your current policy as-is, or whether it requires the separate endorsement some Texas insurers sell for this - get the answer in writing if you can rather than assuming either way.
- If you have any doubt about the system's safety and it's still generating power, don't wait on an insurance answer before shutting it down - follow your installer's posted shutdown procedure or call them directly.
- Get the roof itself inspected at the same time as the panels - hail large enough to crack solar glass is large enough to also affect the shingles underneath and around the array, and this site's other hail-damage guides cover what to look for there.
Sources
The data above is cited directly from these publishers - follow the links to read the original reporting.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does my regular homeowners policy cover solar panel hail damage?
It depends on your insurer and policy. Many policies include attached solar panels under standard dwelling coverage, but some Texas insurers sell a separate endorsement specifically for windstorm and hail coverage on solar equipment - check your declarations page or ask your agent directly rather than assume either way.
Can small hail still damage solar panels?
It's less likely. The industry test standard most quality panels are built to pass uses roughly 1-inch hailstones at about 52 mph; hail smaller than that rarely causes damage, though panel quality, age, and impact angle all matter.
Should I inspect my own solar panels after a storm?
A visual check from the ground - looking for cracked glass or debris - is reasonable. Climbing onto the roof or handling equipment you suspect is damaged is not; treat it as an electrical-safety issue and have a licensed solar installer or electrician inspect and reconnect the system.