Can Solar Panels Handle the Wind in the Kittitas Valley?

What You Need to Know About Installing Solar Panels in Windy Areas

Can solar panels handle the wind in the Kittitas Valley? The risk severe weather could pose to solar panel durability in Central Washington is a common concern among our customers. Fortunately, you can safeguard your investment with the right solar panels and mounting configuration for high winds.

 

How solar panels stand up to wind:

• A wind-resistant profile and tempered glass for durability

• Professional solar array designed to improve wind resistance

• Solar panel mounting customized to withstand wind speeds in your area

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Can Solar Panels Handle the Wind in the Kittitas Valley?

Yes, solar panels hold up well in high Kittitas Valley winds. Professionally designed and installed solar panel systems are designed and tested to resist uplift during high wind speeds. Solar panels themselves are rarely the weakest link. How do they survive high winds?

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Solar Panel Wind Load Rating and Construction

Solar panels are designed for specific wind ratings and include tempered protective glass that resists high pressure and impact damage from wind-driven debris. However, design alone doesn’t protect your solar panels against wind.

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Professional Solar Energy System Design

Proper design and installation are key to solar panel wind resistance and durability. Building aerodynamics, roof zone, row spacing, panel height, and tilt all impact how wind pressure affects solar panels. Our Kittitas Valley solar installation experts use these factors to calculate your solar wind loads, creating aerodynamic, low-profile designs that maximize sun exposure and reduce the impact of wind.

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Solar Panel Mounting Systems for High Winds

Solar panels should never be left sitting loosely on the ground or roof. To ensure strength in high winds, you need the right mounting system for your site conditions and a sturdy surface to hold solar panels firmly in place, which makes roof replacement before installing solar panels essential. Standard racking systems work well in up to 140-mph winds, and reinforcements are available for particularly windy locations in the Kittitas Valley. Solutions include:

 

Ballasted solar panels

Ballasted systems resist uplift using weights based on zone-specific uplift pressures when ground or roof penetration is not possible or permitted.

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Mechanically attached solar systems

Diagonal bracing, knee braces, and X-braces transfer wind loads to the structure and must be installed with the primary framing to be effective. Clamping and wind-deflector skirting may also be used in higher-wind edge and corner zones for added uplift resistance.

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What You Should Ask Your Solar Installer About Reinforcement for High Wind Zones

Don’t settle for a simple verbal statement that solar panels are rated for high winds. During your initial solar energy system design and installation consultation, before signing the contract, be sure to ask the solar installer:

 

• What site-specific wind data do you have for my address?

• Do these plans include the necessary height, spacing, and mounting equipment required for these wind loads?

• Have you checked my roof to ensure it can carry these loads without reinforcements?

• Will these plans and calculations be reviewed by my local city and county for code compliance before installation?

• What does my solar panel warranty cover if wind damages my panels, mounts, or roof?

Ensure a Lasting Solar Investment

Can solar panels handle the wind in the Kittitas Valley? Yes, with the right hardware and proper installation, solar energy systems can survive hurricane-force winds. Protect your investment with system design and installation from Ellensburg Solar, the region’s trusted solar energy provider. Contact us at 509-929-2728 to schedule a solar panel system assessment in Cle Elum, Ellensburg, Grandview, Granger, Kennewick, Kittitas, Moxee, Naches, Pasco, Prosser, Richland, Selah, Sunnyside, Toppenish, Wapato, White Swan, Yakima, or Zillah today.