Let the sun do the shoveling
Colorado sun clears most panels faster and safer than a rake.
Should I clear snow off solar panels?
Usually not. Dark, tilted glass warms in the sun and sheds snow on its own, often in the first clear afternoons. Raking a roof risks the glass, the roof and you, for a few days of winter output.
When does it land?
November to April
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
What should I watch for?
Zero on clear days
Your app reads near zero on a bright morning after a storm.
Slabs sliding off
Snow letting go in sheets onto the roof below, the walk or the driveway.
Ice at the edge
A ridge of ice along the bottom frame after melt and refreeze.
One row lagging
Most panels recover after the melt, but one row or string stays low for days.
What does it do to output?
A panel under snow makes little or nothing, and a partly covered one acts like shade on a string, dragging down more than its share. Winter output is low anyway, with short days and a low sun, so a few snowy days cost less than they look. The real watch point is a panel that stays low after the snow is gone.
What can I do myself?
Do
- Wait for a clear afternoon, then check your app the next day.
- Keep people, cars and pets away from the drip line where slabs land.
- On a ground mount, push light snow off with a soft foam snow broom.
- Note any panel still low after three clear days past the melt.
Don’t
- Don’t rake snow off a roof array; rakes scratch glass and pull on frames.
- Don’t pour hot water on cold glass; the shock can crack it.
- Don’t climb an icy roof or lean a ladder on a snow-filled gutter.
- Don’t chip ice off the frame or the glass.
What does our crew do?
No roof raking
We never remove snow from rooftop arrays. The sun does it without the risk.
Snow days marked
The monitoring desk tags snow days, so a dip is not mistaken for a fault.
Lagging panels flagged
If one string stays low after the melt, we tell you and point you to the installer.
Monthly plain note
A short read of your winter numbers against what short days should produce.
What do owners ask about snow and ice?
Will snow damage my solar panels?
Rarely. Panels are built to carry snow, and Front Range snow usually slides off soon after the sky clears. The risks come from people: rakes scratching glass, hot water cracking it, and boots on modules. Sliding slabs can also bend gutters, so keep the area under the roof edge clear.
How long does snow stay on solar panels?
On the Front Range, often only until the first sunny afternoons after a storm. Dark glass warms in direct sun, a thin layer of melt forms underneath, and the slab slides. North-facing roofs, shallow tilts and long cold spells can hold it longer. Steep ground mounts usually clear first.
Can I use a roof rake on solar panels?
No. A roof rake drags grit across the glass, catches on frames and clips, and puts you on a ladder in ice. Panasonic’s EverVolt manual asks for a sponge, microfiber cloth or soft brush, and a rake is none of those. Wait for the sun to do it.
How do I know a dip is snow and not a fault?
Watch the days after the melt. A Solar Energy method from UTS, UNSW and Diagno Energy flags major underperformance when output stays below 60% of expected for three non-cloudy days. If clear days return and a panel or string stays that low, call your installer. Output watch reads this for you.
Seeing this on your glass?
Send a photo from the ground or a screenshot of your app, and we will say whether it needs us.