Let’s talk about hail…
As a solar installer based in one of the biggest hail states in the United States, we’ve witnessed firsthand the challenges that can arise for homeowners in the event of extreme weather. In this blog we’ll go over everything you need to know about hail as it pertains to your solar panels.
How Durable Are Our Solar Panels?
At Klick, we only work with Tier 1 products that are built to take a beating. For more information on the products we use, check out our products page here. What we’ve seen time and time again is that the panels actually work as armor for your roof. Most of the time the solar panels and roof underneath the panels incur no damage, and it’s the areas that aren’t covered by panels that end up needing to be replaced. Bottom line, rest assured that if you’ve been installed with a Klick system, you don’t have much to worry about when it comes to hail.
What Happens If A Panel Does Crack From Hail?
Although we have some of the toughest panels you can get, we won’t ever tell you that any panel is break-proof. So, let’s talk about what happens when the mother of all hail storms rolls through and you know for a fact you either have damage to the roof, or to the solar panels themselves.
It’s honestly a lot easier than you might think. Our extensive warranties cover just about everything, but where they reach their limits your homeowners insurance steps in. Hail is considered an act of god, similar to fire. So, if you think you have any hail damage up on that roof at all, it’s going to be the same protocol as normal – you call your homeowner’s insurance company.
They will send a representative to come assess your roof. In the event that you do need a roof replacement due to hail damage, you’ll file that insurance claim and then give us a call to let us know what’s going on. We’ll coordinate with the roofing company that you and your insurance company pick to deinstall the solar panels shortly before that new roof goes in.
While we deinstall the system, our highly trained team of professionals will be checking all of the equipment to make sure that everything is in good condition. If we do find any necessary repairs, we’ll coordinate with your homeowner’s insurance company to get those panels repaired or replaced under that hail claim.
While the roof is being replaced, your utility provider will step in and keep you powered on. Keep in mind that you will still have your solar payments, so be sure to stay on top of your insurance and roofing company to make sure they are working as fast as possible. We want to keep that window in which the panels are off your roof as tight as possible.
After the new roof goes on and an inspector gives it the green light, our team will come and reinstall the system for you and get you Klicked back on. It’s as easy as that!
What Do I Need To Know About Homeowner’s Insurance With My Solar System?
Now, there are a few things to be aware of when it comes to your insurance policy to make sure the process is seamless for you. Let’s go through them:
First, we advise that all of our clients add their solar panels onto their homeowner’s insurance policy. Every insurance company insures panels differently – some will include it in the total replacement cost for the home, others will add a solar rider. You’re going to want to talk with your insurance company once you’re installed to make sure that the solar system is being properly insured.
Here’s the fine print though – you want to make sure to tell your homeowner’s insurance company that, in the event of a hail claim, they are responsible for the cost of deinstallation and reinstallation of the solar panels. Making sure that they insure the system in this way will save you a good amount of money down the road in case a re-roof due to hail was ever needed.
Will My Solar System Increase My Homeowner’s Insurance Premium?
Now, whenever we talk to homeowners about their homeowner’s insurance policy, the first question we always get is “Will our insurance premium go up by adding solar?”. This is a fantastic question! Every insurance company is different, so be sure to talk with yours to get the final say. That being said, with most major insurance companies we see a very nominal increase to the premium, if any. Yep, you heard us right, very often our homeowners incur no premium increase to insure their solar systems.
And that’s all there is to it! Pretty easy in the end. Just add it onto your homeowner’s insurance policy and we’ll coordinate the rest!
