After a Hurricane: How to Check Your Solar System Safely

Safety first: check solar panels from the ground

It is safe to check your solar panels from the ground, but not from the roof. Here is the part most people don't know: solar panels make electricity any time light hits them, even when the grid is down and your house is dark. A cracked panel or a torn wire can still be live, and fire-safety groups like the National Fire Protection Association train firefighters on this exact risk.

So before anything else:

• Stay away from downed power lines and anything touching them, as Ready.gov, FEMA's preparedness site, advises. Assume a fallen line is live.
• Don't touch broken panels, hanging wires, or an inverter or battery that has been under water.
• Don't climb onto a storm-damaged roof. Shingles, decking and the panels themselves may be loose.

Many newer systems have a rapid shutdown switch, often near the electric meter or the inverter, because the National Electrical Code requires it. If you know where yours is and you can reach it safely, it lowers the voltage on the roof. If you are not sure, leave it alone and call us. Never open the inverter or any electrical box.

Ground check: what to look for

Walk the yard and look up. Note anything like this:

• Panels that have shifted, lifted at the edge, or are missing.
• Cracked or shattered glass.
• Wires or conduit hanging loose.
• Tree limbs or debris sitting on the array.
• Damage to the roof around the panels, like missing shingles or exposed decking.

Then check your monitoring app. If the grid is back on and the sun is out but the system shows no production, or the inverter shows an error, something needs attention. Our guide on why solar panels stop producing covers the usual causes.

Also watch for birds and squirrels after a storm. Wind can bend or tear the edges around the panels and open gaps for nests. A solar critter guard closes those gaps with mesh and no drilling into the roof.

Storm damage records for your insurance claim

Do this before anything is moved or repaired:

• Take photos and video of the array, the roof and the equipment from several angles. Your phone dates them.
• Screenshot your monitoring app, showing production before and after the storm.
• Find your install paperwork, panel and inverter model numbers, and warranty documents.
• Keep receipts for anything you pay for, including tarping and debris removal.

Report the damage to your insurance company as soon as you can. Florida law sets deadlines for hurricane claims, and the Florida Department of Financial Services explains them on its consumer pages. Read your policy, check your hurricane deductible, and call your agent if anything is unclear. We explain how coverage usually splits between insurance and warranties in solar warranties and hurricane insurance in Florida.

Insurance or warranty: who covers storm damage

Storm damage is usually an insurance question. Panel and inverter warranties cover defects, not wind or flying debris. But storms can also expose an equipment failure that has nothing to do with the wind, like an inverter or optimizer that quits after a surge or an outage. That part may be a warranty matter.

That is where we help. We inspect the system with multimeters, thermal imaging cameras and panel testing equipment, so the damage report says what actually failed and why. We service Generac, Enphase, SolarEdge, SMA Sunny Boy, Chilicon, Tigo and Sol-Ark equipment, and when a part qualifies, we handle the whole warranty process with the manufacturer.

Roof repairs: what happens to the panels

If the roof was damaged under or around the array, the roofer can't fix it with panels in the way. We don't seal or repair roof leaks, and we will tell you so up front. What we do is remove the panels and reinstall them while your roofer does the repair, then make sure the system is working when it goes back up.

The order matters. Get the solar inspection and photos done first, so the claim has a clear record of what the storm did to the array. Then we take the panels off, the roofer works, and we put them back. If you are replacing the whole roof, read solar panels and a new roof before you sign anything.

After-hurricane service: when to call

Call if you see any damage, if your output has dropped since the storm or if the inverter shows an error. Call even if it looks fine but you want a record for your insurer. Service Solar Pros offers after-hurricane service across Central Florida, from Leesburg and The Villages to Ocala, Orlando and Clermont. We are fully insured, and we work on any brand from any installer.

Members of our solar maintenance plans also get lower travel and hourly rates on storm repairs. Call (407) 270-2542 or request a free quote.

Frequently asked questions