When hail hits Milliken, it doesn’t hold back, and neither should you when it comes to protecting your solar investment. After the latest hailstorm swept through the area, many homeowners wonder if their solar panels took a hit. Even small pieces of hail can cause cracks, dents, or deeper internal issues. Hail damage to solar panels may not be obvious at first glance, but it can impact performance and long-term reliability.
Remove and Replace Solar is here to help. Based in Colorado, we specialize in fast, professional repair and reinstall services for solar panels after hail damage, especially for Milliken homeowners recovering from recent storms. Whether you need a complete removal, panel inspection, or help working with your insurance provider, our team is trained, local, and ready to act fast.
In this guide, we’ll explain what to do about hail damage to solar panels, including the most important first steps, how to handle your insurance claim, and when to repair vs. replace your panels.
Safety Comes First
After a storm, your first instinct might be to rush outside and inspect your solar panels’ hail damage, but pause and proceed cautiously.
Power Down the System If You Suspect Damage
If you notice any signs of broken glass, strange noises, flashing inverter lights, or performance issues, shut down your solar system immediately. Hail damage to solar panels can pose electrical hazards that are dangerous for your home and your safety. Turning off the system reduces the risk of electrical shorts or surges.
Don’t Climb on the Roof Yourself
After a hailstorm, it might be tempting to grab a ladder and inspect your solar panels up close, but that’s dangerous.
Walking on your roof without proper training or safety equipment increases the chance of personal injury. After a storm, roof surfaces may be slick, unstable, or structurally compromised. Loose shingles, water pooling, or unseen hail impact damage can make footing unreliable.
Beyond physical risks, stepping on solar panels or their wiring can cause further damage. Solar arrays are designed to be handled by professionals who know where to walk, how to disengage the system safely, and how to assess damage without worsening it.
Most importantly, climbing onto your roof may void a manufacturer’s or workmanship warranty tied to your solar system. Insurers may also question a claim if there’s evidence of non-professional tampering after the hail event.
Document Everything
Evidence is essential when it comes time to file an insurance claim or schedule repairs. Using your smartphone or camera, take clear photos of your roof and panels from multiple angles. Even from ground level, you may be able to capture signs of hail damage, like shattered glass or dents.
Look for:
- Spider-web cracking on the panel surface,
- Chips or fractures in the tempered glass,
- Bent or dented frames from hail impact, and
- Water intrusion or discoloration under the panel surface.
You should also make note of any drops in your system’s output on your monitoring app, which could signal internal damage even if the panels appear fine on the outside.
Contact a Local Solar Professional
Once you’ve safely documented the damage, your next step is to call in a qualified solar expert.
Hire a Certified Installer with Solar Panel and Hail Damage Experience
Not every installer can properly assess hail damage on your solar panels. You’ll want to work with a professional who understands roofing and solar systems and is licensed to remove, inspect, and reinstall solar panels. If repairs are necessary, your installer should be able to recommend replacements compatible with your current system.
Why Milliken Homeowners Trust Remove and Replace Solar
Our team at Remove and Replace Solar has years of experience handling hail-damaged solar panels across Colorado, including Milliken and the greater Weld County area. We’re not just solar experts. Our team understands the local weather, roofing conditions, and insurance claim process. We handle everything from safe panel removal to documentation and reinstallation, always with transparency, speed, and care.
File an Insurance Claim Promptly
Many homeowners are unsure what to do with their insurance after hail hits their panels, but timing is everything.
File Right Away to Stay Within Policy Deadlines
Homeowners’ insurance usually covers solar panel damage caused by hail, but filing delays can complicate your claim. Every insurance provider has deadlines for reporting storm damage, so don’t wait weeks or months to act.
Use a Professional Inspection Report
Insurers often require proof that the damage occurred due to a storm. A formal inspection by a certified solar technician will help support your claim. Remove and Replace Solar provides detailed damage assessments, photos, and documentation that strengthen your case and speed up approval.
Decide on Repair vs. Replacement for Hail Damage on Solar Panels
Not all hail damage is the same. After a professional inspection, you must decide whether your system can be repaired or needs a full replacement.
Factors that help you decide include the following:
- Damage severity. A cracked panel or two may be repairable, while multiple shattered panels may justify a full replacement.
- Age of the system. Replacements might make more sense if your solar panels are over 15 years old.
- Cost comparison. Sometimes, the cost to repair exceeds the value of replacing with newer, more efficient panels.
- Efficiency loss. Even small cracks can reduce output and affect overall system performance.
Our technicians will explain your options clearly to help ensure you make the best decision for your home and budget.
Contact Remove and Replace Solar
Dealing with solar panels and hail can feel overwhelming, but you don’t have to handle it alone. At Remove and Replace Solar, we make the process simple, safe, and stress-free by offering:
- Local expertise from a Colorado-based team;
- Fast turnaround times for inspection and reinstallation;
- Transparent, upfront pricing with no surprises;
- Support for insurance documentation and claims; and
- Compatibility with all major panel brands and systems.
Whether you need emergency removal, system repairs, or a complete reinstall, our professionals are ready to help. We’re proud to serve Milliken and the surrounding areas with high-quality, customer-first solar solutions.
Don’t wait for a small crack to become a big problem. Contact Remove and Replace Solar today for your free quote and let us get your system back to peak performance.
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