Snow Guards for Solar Panels: What You Need to Know
Last Updated: Feb 8, 2025Solar 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.
Table of Contents
- Install Snow Guards WITH Your Solar Panels
- Solar Panel Snow Guard Options
- What Do Snow Guards Cost?
- Bottom Line
Twelve inches of snow weighs about 9.39 pounds per square foot. And while the average solar panel is equipped to support as much as 800 pounds, the typical solar panel array of about 144 square feet can collect more than 1,300 pounds of snow. You certainly don’t want that much weight sliding off in one large sheet!
Heavy sheets of compacted snow sliding off your roof can:
- Block doors
- Catch in window wells
- Dent your car or break the windshield
- Snap and bend rain gutters and downspouts
- Damage hot tubs, outdoor furniture, decks and fences
- Injure friends, family, and animals walking around your house
- Severely damage your landscape and crush plants and trees
Install Snow Guards WITH Your Solar Panels
If you live in an area where snow falls and accumulates to several inches, like the north or in the mountains, you should absolutely install snow guards during the initial installation of your solar panels.
Why? Installing snow guards with your new solar panels will save you a lot of money and headache. Snow guards are easy to install and are a great addition when the installer is already up on your roof and the solar panels are clean. Installing the snow guards is simply an extra step. If you already have solar panels installed and are ready to add snow guards, they can also be installed after the fact.
Your chosen installer will also help you better plan your solar installation, taking into consideration the angle and surface area of your roof and multiple tiers. If your roof happens to be fairly flat, your installer may wisely suggest installing them at a steeper angle to encourage snow shedding. Hiring a solar installer that is already familiar with the weather in your area will set you up for the best result come winter. If your installer isn’t from the area, consider including a contractor who is.
Installing your snow guards when the solar panels are installed will also eliminate costly repairs to your rain gutters, fences, landscape, and vehicles and keep your loved ones safe from falling sheets of snow.
Solar Panel Snow Guard Options
There are a variety of designs available to help safely shed snow from your solar panels. As you choose your new solar panels, be sure to talk to your provider about complimentary snow guard options for the best result.
There are two general types of snow guards: Clamp-on guards and snow fences.
The Solar Snow Pad
The Solar Snow Pad “allows snow and ice to build up, slump and slowly slide off a panel’s surface in an orderly fashion.” These snow guards prevent solar panel shading and use a T-nut clamp installed in the horizontal joints between panels for solar arrays that are installed close together. These snow guards are an excellent choice for tiered roofs and larger solar installations.
Laura Bourland
Laura grew up in the California suburbs, far removed from environmentalism, but nature always has a way. She uprooted her life in 2015, moving to the countryside of Washington to live a more sustainable and simple life on 12 acres. She and her fiancee are learning on the job as they attempt everything from gardening and natural pest control to eco-friendly building and home improvement.
