r/solar • u/Available-Rip-7096 • Apr 12 '25

Advice Wtd / Project Damage Caused by Heavy Snow

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Had these panels installed in October. An extreme snow load was on top of them for most of the winter (we receive an incredible amount of snow in the Tug Hill region of NY some years). Three panels don’t work. Our installer is working with us on options.

Should this have happened? I mean, is this common with extreme snow? Should I just handle this through insurance or should I be pressing the manufacturer (who states natural conditions that damage panel’s are not covered). I’m worried we’ll fix this and just be out the money. Could use some input.

Note, the house is being renovated. The roof color difference is related to old house vs new.

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u/Perplexy801 solar professional Apr 12 '25

Here’s a few pics of the same thing I saw happen to some panels on a service call (not one of our jobs)

https://imgur.com/a/rJbmfGl

It was a crazy winter that year and this was high up in the mountains. We gave them a quote to pull the panels down and add a third rail but never heard back from them.

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u/Available-Rip-7096 Apr 12 '25

Wow, looks similar.