Solar panels are gaining popularity for their ability to harness the sun’s energy to power your home. Solar energy can be collected in both sunny and not so sunny conditions—but what happens when it snows?

Believe it or not, your solar panels will still collect energy on a snowy day, but if heavy snow builds upon those panels, they’ll not only be blocked from doing their job, they can also become a danger to you, your family and your property.

Light snow generally melts off quickly as the solar panels reflect the sun, but in the north where several inches of snow can fall in a short period of time, that snow can accumulate, blocking your panels and causing dangerous snow slides.

Dangers of Snow Accumulation on Solar Panels

Most roof types are textured to allow friction to hold snowfall and release it slowly and safely; they shed snow naturally and without incident. It’s after the panels are installed that most homeowners notice a problem. But when solar panels are installed on the roof, those large panels of glass diminish friction and are rather slippery. As snow collects on your solar panels, it may become compacted. And, as melted snow slowly begins to run between your solar panels and that compacted snow, it can slide off in dangerous avalanches.