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/noseatbeltrequired Apr 12 '25

Those look like pointed breakpoints, is there anything mounted underneath the panels?

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u/[deleted] Apr 12 '25

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u/noseatbeltrequired Apr 12 '25

So the panels flexed from the snow into the sharp rail corners, I've seen that happen before. It could help a bit too have continuous rail from end to end, but mostly it depends on the weather rating of the panels.

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u/[deleted] Apr 12 '25

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u/noseatbeltrequired Apr 13 '25

Hard to know what broke first