Should you install snow guards for solar panels?

Those of us who live in snowy climates have a cleanup checklist after a good snowfall: dig out the driveway, clear off the cars, and shovel the sidewalks. But what happens when we add solar panels to the mix?

Solar panels still work in snowy weather and snow tends to slide right off their sleek, glass surface to prevent sunlight blockage. Unfortunately, during heavy snowfalls, snow can pile up on your panels and later slide off all at once, creating a “snow panel avalanche” that endangers anyone and anything located below.

Installing snow guards for solar panels can prevent this issue, but they’re not a necessary investment for every homeowner. Let’s dive into what snow guards are and why you may or may not want to ask your solar installer about them.

Snow guards are barriers installed between or on the edges of solar panels designed to prevent the mini-avalanches that can occur when snow slides off your solar panels. 

Most North American residential roofs are made from asphalt composition shingles, which have a rough surface to help prevent snow and ice from catastrophically sliding off the roof all at once. Snow and ice accumulate and cling to the shingles, and, as it melts, water runs down the roof underneath the frozen mass into your roof gutter. Even then, depending on the pitch of your roof and the weight of the snow and ice pack, you may still get an occasional slide-off.

But when you install solar panels, you replace this high-friction roof surface with a smooth glass surface. As the snow starts to soften and melt, the frictionless surface will do little to prevent the entire snow load from sliding off all at once. This solar panel avalanche creates a dangerous situation; snow and ice could fall on a person or pet walking by below; cause damage to your gutters, landscaping, outdoor furniture, or vehicles; or even block doors or windows.

Solar snow guards are designed to either hold snow in place so that it can melt directly on the panel, or break up the snow so it’s released in smaller chunks as it falls off the roof and prevents a mini-avalanche. It depends on the type of snow guard you install.

Types of snow guards

There are two main types of snow guards: clamp-on and snow fences.

Clamp-on guards are usually installed between or on the edges of your solar panels with clamps to keep them in place. These guards are designed to either break up the snow for a slower, smaller release or hold the snow in place on the panel until it melts naturally. Companies like Alpine SnowGuards offer several styles of clamp-on guards to match your aesthetic preferences.

Snow fences attach to your roof rather than your solar panels, and are designed to hold back the snow as it starts to slide off. These types of guards aren’t necessarily designed for homes with solar panels—homeowners with metal roofs typically have them too—so they can be added after your solar installation.

You can also consider something like the SnowBreaker from Snoblox, a plastic guard you can fasten to your panels or attach using an adhesive. The appropriately named SnowBreaker will break snow and ice into smaller pieces so they’re less likely to cause damage when sliding off the roof.

Most solar panel owners won’t need to worry about installing snow guards–only homeowners in areas that receive regular accumulating snowfalls. Even then, panel avalanches aren’t too common, as snow tends to melt or roll off solar panels quickly before getting too heavy.

That said, installing snow guards for solar panels may be a huge safety consideration for some homeowners in cold-weather climates. Solar snow guards are a relatively low-cost upgrade, costing between $1.50 and $3.00 per foot, plus labor costs that vary depending on your roof and ease of installation.

Ensuring your system and property are safe may be incentive enough to install snow guards, but you should heavily consider them if you resonate with any of the following factors:

We read some Reddit posts about whether or not installing snow guards for solar panels was worth it and found mixed opinions:

“Panel avalanches are pretty rare (I'm in Calgary). About 2-3 times a year, and I only had one which caused a noticeable accumulation on the ground.” -hcbland

“I'm in New England. We had our install completed in 2022, did our first winter, then had snow guards installed... I will tell you, the power of the snow avalanches from panels is nothing to ignore. They will be more expensive if installed later.” -SeriouslyNon-serious

Installing solar snow guards is generally a good investment if you live in the northern U.S., midwest, or mountain areas and frequently experience snowstorms. If you’re on the fence, ask a reputable solar installer for recommendations based on your specific roof setup and local weather conditions.