Blog post

Hail and Your Solar Array: What Billings Storms Actually Do to Panels

Billings sits in the heart of hail alley, where summer storms rolling off the Rims and Beartooth Front can drop golf-ball-sized stones on rooftops from the South Side to the Heights in under fifteen minutes.

If you’ve got panels mounted on your roof, that kind of impact raises an obvious question: does hail damage to solar panels actually happen here, or are these systems tougher than they look?

The short answer is yes, hail damage to solar panels is real in Billings, but most standard residential panels survive hailstones up to 1 inch in diameter without cracking.

The bigger risk comes from larger stones, which is exactly what Billings sees most summers along Yellowstone County’s storm corridor.

What Billings Hail Actually Does to a Solar Array

Yellowstone County averages several severe hail events per year, with the worst clustering in June and July when supercells push through MetraPark and the Billings Heights.

Hailstones in the one-inch-plus range are the threshold where solar panel hail damage moves from theoretical to likely.

Here’s what typically happens depending on stone size:

Under one inch: Usually leaves nothing but a faint smudge on the glass surface.
One to two inches: Can chip the tempered glass, bend aluminum frame edges, or knock connectors loose at the roof penetration.
Two inches or larger: Risks cracking cells internally even when the glass face stays intact.

A solar detach and reset becomes necessary when the mounting rails or the roof deck underneath take the brunt of the impact, rather than the panel itself.

Worried a recent storm left solar panel hail damage on your roof? Contact Wegner Roofing & Solar for a free inspection before small cracks turn into bigger repair bills.

Are Solar Panels Hail Rated?

Whether solar panels are hail-rated is one of the most common questions we hear after a Billings storm rolls through, and the answer is yes, to a point.

Every panel sold in the U.S. must pass the UL 61730 hail test, which fires 25mm ice balls at roughly 23 meters per second directly at the glass surface.

A few facts worth knowing about that rating:

It’s tied directly to tempered glass panel thickness, which sits at 3.2mm on most residential modules.
The glass is built to flex and absorb impact rather than shatter, similar to a car windshield.
UL testing caps out around one-inch hail; anything larger can exceed the panel’s certified tolerance.

Since Billings regularly sees hail above that one-inch threshold, real solar panel hail damage is more common here than in milder climates.

The Hidden Problem: Cracks You Can't See

Here’s where things get tricky. A panel can take a hard hit and look completely fine from the ground, yet still suffer internal solar panel hail damage.

Microcrack detection after hail requires more than a visual walk-around; it typically calls for an electroluminescence scan or a production monitoring check to catch fractures in the silicon cells.

Warning signs your panels may have hidden damage:

A sudden drop in daily production of 10% or more after a storm.
Uneven output between panels on the same string.
Error codes or performance flags in your monitoring app.

Left unchecked, microcracks slowly reduce output over months as moisture works into the crack lines.

Our team at solar repair in Billings runs full diagnostic checks after every major storm to catch exactly this kind of damage.

Don’t let a quiet production drop turn into a warranty headache; schedule a post-storm solar diagnostic with Wegner Roofing & Solar today.

Insurance, Warranty, and What Happens Next

Most Montana homeowners policies treat solar arrays as an extension of the dwelling, meaning solar panel insurance coverage for hail typically applies the same deductible as your roof claim.

Documentation matters; stamped photos and a production log from before and after the storm strengthen any claim significantly.

Before filing a claim, it helps to have:

Photos of visible panel damage taken as soon as it’s safe after the storm.
A production log comparing output before and after the hail event.
A written inspection report from a certified solar or roofing technician.

Manufacturer warranties complicate things further.

A panel warranty hail exclusion clause is common when hailstone size exceeds the panel’s UL 61730 rating, which is exactly why professional documentation matters before you file.

Working with experienced Billings solar contractors who understand both roofing and solar systems helps close that documentation gap between your roofer and your insurer.

When Panels Have to Come Off for Roof Repair

If hail damage is severe enough to require shingle replacement underneath your array, the panels typically do need to come off first.

This isn’t optional; working around mounted panels risks damaging both the roof deck and the wiring harness beneath them.

What a professional detach-and-reset process typically involves:

Safely disconnecting the array and labeling all wiring connections.
Protecting panels off-site or on the ground during roof work.
Reinstalling and recalibrating the system once shingle repairs are complete.

Our Expert Solar Panel Detach and Reset in Billings, MT process follows exactly this sequence, ensuring performance isn’t affected once the roof work wraps up.

Key Takeaways

Billings hail under one inch rarely causes solar panel hail damage; stones over one inch are the real risk threshold.

Panels are UL 61730 rated for hail impact, but Montana storms can exceed that certified tolerance.

Microcracks often hide behind intact glass; production drops are the clearest warning sign.

Insurance typically covers hail-damaged arrays, but warranty exclusions can apply above certain hailstone sizes.

Roof repairs after hail usually require professional panel detach and reset, not just a quick reinstall.

Don't Let a Quiet-Looking Panel Fool You

The scariest thing about solar panel hail damage in Billings isn’t the cracked glass everyone can see; it’s the silent efficiency loss from microcracks nobody notices until the power bill climbs.

After any hailstorm with stones larger than a quarter, treat a professional inspection as non-negotiable, not optional.

Catching solar panel hail damage early is the difference between a small fix and a full panel replacement.

Ready for peace of mind after the next storm? Call Wegner Roofing & Solar or visit us on Google to book your free hail damage inspection today.

FAQs About Solar Panel Hail Damage

Does my homeowners policy cover hail damage to an array?

Usually yes. Most Montana policies treat solar arrays like an extension of the roof, applying the same deductible.

Documentation with photos and production data strengthens your claim significantly.

How do I tell if panels were damaged if the glass looks fine?

Check your monitoring app for sudden output drops of 10% or more.

Hidden microcracks reduce efficiency without visible glass damage, so a professional electroluminescence scan is the only reliable confirmation.

Do panels have to come off for a hail roof replacement?

Yes, in most cases. Roofers need clear access to the deck and shingles beneath the array, so a professional detach-and-reset service protects both the panels and the roof during repairs.