Storm Damage to Your Solar Panels? What to Do After an Arizona Monsoon
A monsoon can lift panels, crack glass, and knock a system offline in a few minutes. Here's what to do first, what to leave alone, and how to get it fixed without getting taken advantage of.
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First, stay off the roof
Arizona monsoon storms aren't gentle. The National Weather Service in Tucson notes that the strongest straight line wind gusts can exceed 100 mph and can produce damage as severe as a tornado. Wind like that can peel panels off their rails, throw branches and roof tiles across an array, or bend the racking that holds everything down.
After a storm, look from the ground or from a window. Don't climb up to check. Two reasons:
- ▸The panels are still making power. A PV array will always generate electricity during daylight, even when cloudy or raining. Turning off the inverter doesn't stop the panels themselves from producing voltage.
- ▸Broken equipment is unpredictable. Fire-safety guidance from Duke Energy says to consider all PV equipment and wires to be energized and not to touch or cut into modules, conduit or equipment.
If a panel is hanging, wires are exposed, or you smell burning, keep people and pets away from that area. If you see sparking, smoke or fire, call 911. If a utility line is down, call your utility.
Shut the system down the safe way
Most systems have a labeled AC disconnect or a solar breaker in your main electrical panel. If you can reach it from the ground without touching damaged equipment, switching it off stops the system from sending power into the house. Your installer's paperwork or the labels on your equipment should show where it is.
Don't open the inverter, unplug panel connectors, or pull on wiring. That's work for a licensed electrician or solar technician.
Document everything before anything gets cleaned up
Your insurance company, your lease company or your installer's warranty team will all want to see what happened. Before debris is moved or anything is repaired, take:
- ▸photos and video of the roof and array from the ground, from several angles
- ▸close-ups of anything on the ground: broken glass, panels, rails, roof tiles
- ▸a photo of the inverter screen and any error code
- ▸screenshots of your monitoring app showing when production dropped
- ▸the date and time of the storm
Write down what you noticed, such as a loud bang, a power flicker, or the system going offline. Keep receipts for anything you spend to prevent further damage, like a tarp over a roof leak.
Call the right people in the right order
1. Your insurance company. The Arizona Attorney General's advice after this year's storms is direct: talk to your insurance company first and verify what your policy covers. Ask how they want the damage documented and whether they need to inspect before repairs start.
2. Whoever owns the system. If you own your panels, that's you, along with your installer's workmanship warranty if one applies. If the system is leased or on a PPA, the solar company owns the equipment, so check your contract and call them before you hire anyone.
3. A licensed solar company to assess the damage. An adjuster can see a missing panel. They may not be able to tell you whether the panels next to it have hidden cracks, whether the wiring was stressed, or whether roof penetrations are now letting water in. A solar assessment gives you a written picture of what failed so your claim covers the real repair.
Watch out for storm-chasing contractors
Every monsoon season brings door knockers offering fast repairs. The Attorney General's office warns that scam artists might also pretend to be safety inspectors, government officials, or utility workers. A few rules keep you out of trouble:
- ▸Check the license. Arizona law requires most contractors to be licensed through the Arizona Registrar of Contractors (ROC). You can check the license using the free contractor search at www.roc.az.gov.
- ▸Get it in writing. A legitimate contractor will provide a written contract outlining the scope of work, cost, and timeline. Get several estimates in writing.
- ▸Don't pay it all upfront. Do not pay in full up front, and never pay anyone who demands payment by gift card or cryptocurrency.
- ▸Make sure they actually work on solar. A general roofer may be able to fix shingles but not rewire an array. Ask who will handle the electrical side.
What the repair usually involves
Every storm is different, so the fix depends on what failed. Common situations include:
- ▸Cracked or shattered panels. Damaged glass lets moisture in, and a cracked panel should be replaced, not patched. Matching an older panel can take some searching, which is where a panel replacement specialist helps.
- ▸Panels or racking that shifted. Loose clamps, bent rails or lifted mounts need to be re-secured and checked for roof leaks at each attachment point.
- ▸Damaged wiring or connectors. Wind and debris can pull wires loose or crush conduit. These need a qualified technician.
- ▸An inverter that won't come back online. A lightning strike or power surge can knock out an inverter or monitoring device even when the panels look fine. Our solar repair page covers how we trace those faults.
- ▸Roof damage under the array. If the roof itself needs repair, the panels may have to come off first. That's a removal and reinstall job, and it's worth coordinating with your roofer and insurer so both pieces are in the same claim.
Check your system a week later
Some storm damage doesn't show up right away. A week or two after the storm, open your monitoring app and compare daily production to the same days before the storm. A drop you can't explain by clouds is worth a call, even if the panels look fine from the ground.
If you're not sure what you're seeing, or your installer is no longer around to help, SolarFIX can take a look at the whole system and tell you what it needs.
FAQ
Is it safe to turn my solar back on after a storm?+
Not until someone has looked at it if anything is visibly damaged. Panels make power whenever light hits them, so cracked glass, loose wiring or a panel hanging off the rack can stay live even with the inverter off.
Does homeowners insurance cover solar panels?+
Coverage depends on your policy. Call your insurance company before you sign any repair contract and ask what your policy covers.
My system is leased. Who fixes it?+
Start with your lease or PPA contract. The solar company that owns the equipment usually handles repairs to it, but the contract spells out who pays and who you call.
Related: Solar repair · Solar assessment · Solar panel replacement · Removal and reinstall for roof repairs
Did the storm hit your solar?
Tell SolarFIX what you're seeing. Photos of the array, the inverter screen and your monitoring app are a good place to start.