What to do first
- Keep people away from damaged panels, fallen wires and anything that smells hot or is smoking. If there is smoke or fire, call 911 and tell the dispatcher the house has solar panels.
- Shut the system down if you can do it safely: turn off the solar breaker in your main panel and the solar disconnect or rapid shutdown switch near the meter, if you have one (it is usually labeled). Shutting down stops the system from feeding the house, but damaged panels can still carry voltage in daylight, so don’t touch them.
- Photograph the damage from the ground: the roof, the panels, the inverter and whatever hit them.
- Call your insurer to open a claim, and a solar repair company to secure the system. If the system is leased or on a PPA, call the company you pay as well.
What a repair visit involves
- Phone triage: a good company asks what you see and walks you through shutting the system down.
- Safety check: on site, the technician checks for live wiring, loose panels and heat damage before anything else.
- Making it safe: damaged panels are disconnected, and loose ones are secured or removed.
- Damage report: the technician tests the panels, wiring and inverter, and writes up what failed and why. Insurers usually want this report.
- Repair: replacement panels, wiring or an inverter are ordered and installed, and the system is tested before it is turned back on.
Cost factors
| Factor | Impact on cost |
|---|---|
| Extent of damage | Several broken panels or a bent racking system cost far more than one cracked panel. |
| Parts | Inverters and matching replacement panels are the largest parts costs. Older panel models may no longer be sold. |
| Timing | After-hours and weekend calls usually cost more. |
| Access | Steep or damaged roofs may need extra safety equipment. |
| Insurance and warranty | Storm damage is often covered by homeowners insurance minus the deductible; a failed inverter may be covered by its manufacturer’s warranty. |
When to call right away
- Physical damage: panels shattered by hail or a branch, or racking bent or lifted by wind.
- Signs of heat or fire: a burning smell, smoke or scorch marks near the inverter, a junction box or the wiring.
- Exposed or sparking wires, including cables chewed by rodents.
- Water in the electrical equipment after heavy rain or flooding.
- A system at zero on a sunny day that a breaker reset doesn’t fix. This isn’t dangerous by itself, but every day it is off is lost production. See the troubleshooting guide first.
If the company that installed your system has closed
Don’t wait for a company that may not answer: in an emergency, call any licensed solar installer or electrician to make the system safe. If the system is leased or on a PPA, call the company you pay each month as well, because most contracts make it responsible for repairs. Storm damage to the panels usually goes through your homeowners insurance, and a failed inverter through its manufacturer’s warranty, which survives the installer. See what still works when an installer closes and the closed installers listed on your city’s repair page.
Questions to ask the repair company
- How soon can a technician come, and what does the visit cost?
- Do you work on my inverter and panel brands?
- Will you write a damage report I can give my insurer?
- Can you make the system safe today even if the repair needs parts?
- Are you licensed for electrical work in this state, and insured?
What to watch out for
- Storm chasers. After major storms, unsolicited contractors go door to door. Check the license and look for a local address before hiring anyone.
- Contracts with your insurer’s money. Read carefully before signing anything that lets a contractor deal with your insurance claim directly.
- Handyman fixes. Damaged solar wiring needs someone trained in DC systems, not a general handyman.
- Waiting too long. A cracked panel can let water in, and insurers expect damage to be reported promptly.