If hail or a storm has damaged your solar panels, the order matters: make the site safe, record the damage from the ground, contact your insurer, and have an accredited installer inspect the system and write a damage report. Only then should panels be replaced, and the replacements must be matched electrically to the rest of the system, not just by wattage. Cracked panels still produce dangerous voltage whenever there is daylight, so none of these steps involve you going onto the roof.

Step 1: Make it safe

A damaged panel can expose live parts, let water into connections and create a fire or shock risk. Do this first:

1. Stay off the roof, and keep children and pets away from fallen debris and broken glass.
2. If you can reach the switchboard or inverter safely and see no sign of burning, follow the shutdown procedure on the label there. That procedure is written for owners. Don't touch anything that looks damaged, wet or scorched.
3. Never touch, move or unplug panels, cables or roof isolators.
4. If you see smoke or sparks or smell burning, leave the area and call emergency services.
5. Arrange an urgent make-safe visit from an accredited solar installer or licensed electrician.

Shutting down the inverter stops it supplying your home and the grid, but it doesn't stop the panels generating voltage in daylight. That is why only qualified people should work near the array.

Step 2: Document the damage

Insurers want evidence. Gather it without climbing anything:

• photos taken from the ground, from upstairs windows or from a neighbour's yard with permission;
• the date and time of the storm, and anything you noted about hail size or wind;
• monitoring app screenshots showing production before and after the storm;
• photos of any error codes on the inverter display;
• your original invoice, system specification, panel model and installation date.

Damage isn't always visible. Hail can cause micro-cracks inside cells that only show up later as lower output or hot spots. A drop in production compared with similar sunny days before the storm is a useful clue, so keep watching your monitoring even if the glass looks intact.

Step 3: Contact your insurer and get a damage report

Building insurance often covers roof-mounted solar as part of the home, but policies differ, so read your policy wording on storm, hail and electrical damage. Lodge the claim promptly and ask the insurer exactly what they need. A useful damage report from an accredited installer includes:

• the cause of the damage and the date of the event;
• the number of damaged panels, with serial numbers and photos taken on the roof by the technician;
• electrical test results for affected strings, such as insulation resistance and voltage readings;
• checks of the racking, roof penetrations, cabling, isolators and inverter;
• whether damaged components can be repaired or must be replaced;
• a replacement quote, plus the cost of any make-safe work already done.

Manufacturer warranties generally exclude storm and impact damage, so the warranty route rarely applies; our warranty guide explains what each warranty does cover. Keep copies of every report, quote and invoice, both for the claim and for any future buyer of your home.

Step 4: Match the replacement panels electrically

Panels wired in the same string share current, so a poorly matched panel can drag down the output of the panels around it. The exact model on your roof may no longer be sold, which is common after a few years. A good replacement plan compares these datasheet values:

If a close match isn't available, the installer may recommend placing the new panels on a separate inverter input, replacing a whole string, or, for an older system, replacing the full array. Ask for the reasoning in writing, because it affects both future output and what the insurer is asked to pay. Our guide to panel brands helps if the insurer proposes an equivalent rather than identical panel.

Step 5: Judge the replacement quote

• Does it name the replacement panel model and show how it matches the existing panels?
• Does it include scaffolding or roof safety equipment where required?
• Are removal and disposal of the damaged panels included?
• Will the whole system be tested and recommissioned afterwards, with results provided to you?
• What workmanship warranty applies to the new work?
• Will the inverter be checked, particularly if there was water entry or a surge?

If the storm also damaged tiles or roof sheeting under the array, the roof should be repaired before panels go back on. Our maintenance checklist lists the checks worth doing after any major storm, even when nothing looks broken.

While you wait for the repair

Replacement panels and insurer approval can take time, particularly after a widespread storm when many homes are claiming at once. In the meantime:

• leave the system in the state the technician advised, whether fully shut down or partly isolated;
• if unaffected parts are still running, keep an eye on the monitoring app and note any new error messages;
• ask your insurer whether make-safe costs are covered, and keep the invoice;
• ask the installer for an estimated date for replacement panels, and keep a written record of every update;
• don't let anyone who isn't accredited or licensed work on the system, however quick the fix they offer.

Next steps

If your system has storm damage, stay off the roof and arrange a qualified inspection. For a damage report and replacement quote, request a free assessment from Blue Energy Solar. The energy market lists Solar Repairs from $299 per visit, including storm damage make-safe, Solar Panel Replacement from $450 per panel (minimum charge $650 per site attendance) with electrical matching and insurance reports, and an Electrical Safety Inspection at $299. These prices are indicative and are confirmed after a site assessment.

Frequently asked questions

Can I keep using the system if only one panel is cracked?

Not until it has been inspected. A cracked panel can let moisture in and create a fault that trips the system or, less commonly, causes overheating. An accredited installer may be able to isolate the damaged panel or string so the rest of the system runs safely while you wait for parts. Until then, leave the system shut down if advised, and don't reset tripped switches yourself.

Is it worth claiming on insurance for one or two panels?

Compare the replacement quote with your policy excess before lodging. If only one or two panels are damaged, the repair may cost little more than the excess. Remember that hidden damage can appear later, which is why an inspection report is worth having even if you decide not to claim straight away. Your insurer or broker can explain how a claim might affect future premiums.

Can storm damage to solar panels be prevented?

Not entirely, but some choices reduce the risk. Panels are impact-tested as part of certification, and racking rated for your wind region and correctly installed holds up better in strong winds. Periodic professional inspections catch loose clamps and worn cable ties before a storm finds them. Surge protection at the switchboard can also reduce the risk to electrical equipment from lightning-related surges, although no device removes that risk entirely.