When something goes wrong with your solar panels, it’s definitely not the kind of thing you want to just ignore and hope it fixes itself. These things are supposed to work for like 25+ years, but you know how it is, storms happen, hail shows up out of nowhere, tree branches decide to take a dive, or stuff just wears out over time.
As a roofing contractor with over five years of dealing with solar installations and all the weird problems that can pop up, we’ve pretty much seen every type of solar panel damage you can think of. Finding reliable solar energy system service in Katy, TX means getting someone who actually understands both the technical stuff and how to deal with insurance companies when things go sideways.
At Roofing Technologies Unlimited, we’ve been fixing solar panels for Katy families since we started messing around with solar work. Whether you’ve got storm damage from one of our absolutely crazy Texas weather events or just normal wear-and-tear issues, we know how to get your system back up and cranking out power efficiently.
Insurance Coverage for Solar Damage
Does homeowners insurance cover solar panel damage? Usually yeah, but it depends on what caused the damage and how your specific policy’s written. Most homeowners insurance treats solar panels the same way they treat other stuff that’s attached to your house, like your roof or deck.
Storm damage, hail damage, and falling tree damage are typically covered under standard policies. The trick is documenting everything right and working with adjusters who actually know something about solar systems instead of just staring at them like they’re from Mars.
Wind damage is super common around here, especially during storm season. High winds can lift panels right off, mess up mounting hardware, or send debris flying into your array. This type of damage almost always gets covered.
Some insurance companies want you to tell them when you get solar panel installation done, and a few might bump your premium up a little bit. But most of them treat solar panels as an improvement that increases your home’s value without making it way more risky.
Solar Panel Damage Response Procedures
What is the recommended procedure if a solar panel is damaged? First thing, don’t try to be a hero and fix it yourself. Solar panels are carrying electrical current even when it’s cloudy, and messing with them wrong can seriously hurt you. Start by taking a bunch of photos of the damage from different angles. Get pictures of the busted panels, whatever debris caused the damage, and how the whole array looks. This documentation stuff is super important for insurance claims.
Turn off your solar system at the main disconnect if you think there’s electrical damage or if panels are physically messed up enough that you can see wiring. Most systems have clearly marked disconnect switches somewhere near your electrical panel. Call your solar installer or a qualified repair service like us to check out the damage and give you repair estimates. Don’t wait around forever, some types of damage can get way worse if you just leave them alone.
Solar Panel Service Frequency
How often should solar panels be serviced? Most home solar systems need professional servicing every 2-3 years, though it really depends on your specific conditions and what equipment you’ve got. Regular solar panel maintenance includes cleaning panels, checking electrical connections, testing how well the system’s performing, and making sure mounting hardware’s still tight. Here in Texas, dust and pollen can really cut down on panel efficiency if you don’t clean them regularly.
Solar system design affects how often you need maintenance too. Systems with good airflow and minimal shade usually need less frequent service than systems in challenging spots where stuff accumulates. Solar inverter repair & replacement is probably the most common service thing you’ll run into. Inverters typically last 10-15 years, while panels can go 25+ years. Regular monitoring helps catch inverter problems before they really mess with your system’s performance.
Individual Panel Replacement Options
Can you replace just one solar panel? Yeah, you can usually replace individual panels, but there’s some stuff to think about. The replacement panel should match your existing panels as closely as possible, or you might run into performance issues. Mixing different panel types or ages in the same string can actually hurt your overall system performance. Ideally, replacement panels should be the same brand, model, and wattage as what you already have.
If your exact panel model isn’t made anymore, we can usually find compatible replacements with similar electrical specs. The key is matching voltage and current characteristics so everything plays nice together. Solar Battery installation systems might need extra considerations when replacing panels, since the charging parameters need to stay consistent for optimal battery performance.
Single Panel Failure Impact
What happens if one solar panel breaks? How much it affects things depends on how your system’s wired and what type of inverters you have. Most home systems are designed so that one dead panel won’t shut down the whole thing. With string inverters, panels are wired in series, so a failed panel can reduce production for that entire string. With power optimizers or microinverters, each panel does its own thing independently, so one failure doesn’t really mess with overall system performance much.
Modern solar systems include monitoring that’ll alert you when individual panels fail. You’ll usually see a drop in overall production and might get notifications from your monitoring system telling you something’s wrong. Even with one busted panel, your system will keep making power. But it’s important to fix failures pretty quickly to keep optimal performance and prevent potential safety problems.
Professional Katy, TX Solar System Repair
At Roofing Technologies Unlimited, we handle all kinds of solar panel repairs, from simple maintenance stuff to major storm damage restoration. Our experience with both roofing and solar means we can tackle underlying issues that might be contributing to panel problems. We work directly with insurance companies to make the claims process less of a headache for storm damage repairs. We know how to document damage properly and talk to adjusters in a way they actually understand. Our repair services include panel replacement, mounting hardware fixes, electrical troubleshooting, and performance optimization. We keep common replacement parts in stock to cut down on downtime when repairs are needed.
We also coordinate repairs with other work that might be needed. If roof damage contributed to your solar panel problems, we can fix both issues efficiently instead of making you deal with separate contractors. Emergency repairs are available when weather damage creates immediate safety risks or when system failures create electrical hazards. We put safety first while working to get your system back to peak performance as quickly as possible.
Ready to get your solar system working right again? Call us at (832) 479-1211 today and let’s check out your repair needs. We’ll give you honest estimates and work with your insurance company to get your system back to peak performance without all the runaround.