Roofs & Panels
Will Hail Damage My Solar Panels? A Guide for Ontario Homeowners
Worried about hail? See how solar panels are tested, what protects them, how installation angle helps and what to check in your insurance and warranty.
Worried about hail? See how solar panels are tested, what protects them, how installation angle helps and what to check in your insurance and warranty.
Ontario weather can be tough, and one of the questions we hear from homeowners again and again is whether a hailstorm could ruin a new solar array. It is a fair concern: panels are a significant investment and they sit on your roof all year. In this guide, Terawatt Solar looks at how panels stand up to hail, what you can do to protect them, and what to confirm with your insurer and installer.
Solar panels are built to live outdoors for decades, and that includes surviving storms. The short answer is that modern panels are quite resilient, and the risk of serious hail damage is low.
Panels are tested against international standards before they are certified. A common one, IEC 61215, includes a hail test that fires ice balls at the panel at high speed to simulate hailstones. To be certified, a panel must withstand the impact without losing performance beyond allowed limits. Ask any installer for the panel datasheet and certifications, so you can see what standards a specific model meets.
The top layer of a panel is tempered glass, the same type of strengthened glass used in demanding applications, which can take substantial impact without cracking. The aluminum frame and backing materials are engineered to absorb shock and resist damage as well.
Improvements in glass, framing and structural support continue to make newer panels more durable against impacts.
Panels are designed to capture sunlight efficiently, but their angle and position also affects how hail hits them. When hailstones strike at an angle, they are more likely to bounce or glance off and spread the force over a wider area, rather than hitting head-on. The best angle depends on your location, your roof and local weather, which is why design should be done by an experienced installer. In Ontario, most roof pitches already work well for both production and weather resistance.
In regions with frequent, severe hailstorms, some owners add protective covers or mesh guards over panels. These are usually made of hardened plastics, specialized fabrics or mesh, and they can absorb or diffuse impact. They are generally not needed for typical Ontario conditions, and they can block sunlight or affect your warranty if installed incorrectly, so check with your installer and panel manufacturer before adding anything.
If you are planning a system, or want to protect an existing one, learn about your local weather. Historical records from Environment and Climate Change Canada and other meteorological services can show how often severe hail has occurred in your area and whether the trend is changing. Look at the data across several years rather than a single storm.
A solar professional can recommend the right mix of design, angle and protection for your property. Our team at Terawatt Solar can walk you through options during your free site assessment, whether you are in Toronto or elsewhere in the GTA.
Most home insurance policies in Ontario cover solar panels as part of the dwelling, but you should always confirm this with your insurer. Solar is a significant investment, and you want to know it is covered.
Policies differ, so ask what types of damage are covered, such as weather, theft or electrical malfunction. Look at your deductible, the amount you pay before coverage starts, because it affects your real protection. Also check for exclusions or limits, for example on certain natural events or total coverage amounts, and decide whether supplemental coverage makes sense.
Separate from insurance, your equipment and installation come with warranties. Terawatt Solar provides a 25-year panel warranty and an 8-year workmanship warranty. Read the terms for what is and is not covered, and keep your documents somewhere safe.
After a severe storm, inspect from the ground first. Look for visible cracks, shattered glass or debris on your panels, and check your monitoring app for sudden production drops. Do not climb onto the roof or touch damaged panels, since broken panels can still produce electricity. If you suspect damage, contact your installer and your insurer, and take photos for your claim. If wiring or other electrical equipment looks damaged, the Electrical Safety Authority offers safety guidance.
Large, damaging hail does occur in Ontario, most often in summer thunderstorms, but it tends to be localized and short-lived. Rooftop solar is installed in many parts of the country that see far more frequent hail than southern Ontario, and certified panels are designed for those conditions. Roofing materials, windows, vehicles and siding are usually damaged long before a properly rated glass panel is, which is one reason insurers generally treat solar as part of the building rather than an exceptional risk.
Even a tough panel can underperform if it is poorly mounted. Secure racking, correct spacing and proper wiring all help a system ride out storms, wind and snow load. That is why we use in-house, ESA-licensed crews and design every system for the specific roof it is going on, rather than using a one-size-fits-all layout. A careful design also lets us check the roof's structure before anything is attached to it. See our roof suitability checklist for what we look at first.
Hail can damage panels, but with certified equipment, thoughtful design and proper coverage, the likelihood is low. Join the move to clean energy with confidence. To learn more about durable, well-designed residential solar, contact Terawatt Solar today.
It is uncommon. Certified panels are tested against ice-ball impacts, and tempered glass is designed to handle them. Very large or extreme hail can still cause damage.
Most Ontario policies cover panels as part of the home, but confirm directly with your insurer, including deductibles and exclusions.
Usually not in typical Ontario conditions. If you are considering covers or mesh, ask your installer and manufacturer first, since they can affect production and warranty.
