If you live in Brisbane, you know that the weather can often be harsh and unpredictable. The Solar Panels on your home are especially susceptible to hail damage, so how do you know if the recent hail storm has damaged your system?
This guide will help you understand how to check for damage on your solar panels, who to call, and what your insurance or rebate options might be.

How to Check for Hail Damage
After a hailstorm has occurred, it is necessary to assess whether your solar panels have been damaged. If the hail was minor you probably have nothing to worry about but it’s always good to check.
The first thing you should do is check your inverter screen. If the system indicates a ground fault, that could mean that the hail has cracked or damaged your solar system. Another common error code that may show up after hail damage is a fault to earth.

Even if you do not see one of these errors on your system right away, your solar panels may still be damaged. It may take some time for the fault to appear, so keep an eye on your inverter for several weeks to ensure that it is working properly.
Another option is to watch the performance of your system on your energy providers app, most solar power systems these days are connected by WIFI so you can watch the consumption and the production from your system and this is reported back to you via your app. If you notice that you have a noticeable decrease in production this is another tell tale sign your system may need repairing.

It might be tempting to climb on your roof to see if the hail damaged your solar panels yourself, but refrain from doing so. This is dangerous and the resulting fall could leave you severely injured, please leave this to professionals.
When hail smashes a solar panel, it will break like a windscreen, so you should be able to see it from a distance, this way you will be safe from any leakage voltage or shattered glass.

The best course of action is to call the experts at Solahart to perform an inspection for you and determine the extent of the hail damage. They will also help you understand any error codes you may be seeing on your inverter.

Will My Panels Be Replaced?
The extent of the hail damage will determine how much of your solar panel system needs to be replaced. If any panels are cracked or shattered, they will need to be removed. In many cases, it can be difficult to find the correct fixtures to add a mismatched solar panel to your existing system, so it may be more cost-effective to replace the entire system, especially if it’s an older system.

Solar Panels and Insurance Coverage and Rebates
The solar rebate, or STC, does not apply if you simply swap out one or two solar panels. However, you may be eligible to claim the rebate once again if you replace the entire system due to hail damage.

As a result of this rebate, most insurance providers will be willing to replace the complete solar panel system so that you can obtain a new warranty and an upgraded product. To confirm this, contact us,  Solahart are industry professionals and we have been doing this for a very long time. We will help you  assess the damage and determine the extent of your eligibility for future rebates.

Solahart Can Help with Hail-Damaged Solar Panels
At Solahart, we can perform a thorough home assessment and determine if your solar panels sustained damage in a hailstorm. Our expert technicians will help you understand your options and identify what the best course of action is.

We have over a decade of experience in supplying, installing, and maintaining the best solar products in Brisbane, and our goal is to help families save on their energy bills. Customer service is our top priority, and we will make sure that you have an efficient and seamless experience working with us.

Contact us today to learn more about how to fix your hail-damaged solar panels!