1. Southern Orientation – Since the sun rises in the East, crosses over the horizon on the South and sets in the West, you want your collector to face as much to True South on your roof as possible. This is especially true for space heating where you need to be within 15 degrees of True South. Click Here: Homepower true south article.
Up to 45 degrees East or West of true South has very little effect on year round domestic water heating. While less desirable, a West or even an East facing water heating system can work well, especially with an additional collector. Orientations over 45 degrees, such as a home with a North-South ridgeline can tilt the collectors South with a tilt kit.
While most collectors are mounted on the roof, many have been mounted on the ground, or on an awning on the side of the house. Verticle mounting of collectors on the South roof is great for space heating. Naturally, it is important that there not be any shading where the collectors will go!
You will need a good tilt kit.
The collector angle is known as “tilt.” While a typical roof angle is 22 to 32 degrees, the tilt should be at least 15 degrees up from horizontal. Additional tilt usually has little effect on total year-round performance unless you are in an area with very sunny winters like Colorado.
A tilt angle equal to latitude is considered ideal for space heating because the winter sun is so low in the sky, great results have been obtained by having collectors flush on a vertical wall for space heating, which also prevents summer overheating.
You need space for your solar collectors.
Today’s solar collectors come in a variety of shapes and sizes. you can have near square collectors, to 8 inch thick x 6 feet long rectangle shapes. Some companies even over a variety of colors so the collectors will match the color of your house, or trim.
You need a good path for your solar lines from collectors to solar storage tank.
You need a good “path” for your two solar lines and wires to go from your tank to your South facing roof. It is desirable that this “path” be under 40 feet (one way), but up to 80 feet (if well insulated) is OK.
You will be running two 1/2″ outside diameter copper tubes with a minimum of 1/2″ thick high temperature insulation. You will also be running at least one wire set on the outside of the insulation for either power from a PV panel to the pump and/or a sensor wire for a differential controller. Horizontal lines need to be supported every six feet.
There are 3 different types of solar water heating systems!
You need to know the right System Type for your area!
With these systems the solar loop is open to water pressure. They are excellent where there is anywhere from no freeze potential (tropical) to where there is light freeze potential (temperate) when used with light freeze protection options.
-THE OPEN LOOP SYSTEM-.
Tropical Climate (GREEN) Systems are good for areas like the Florida Keys, Caribbean, Hawaii and all other areas with Absolutely No Freeze conditions or temperatures below 40°F.
Temperate Climate (ORANGE) Systems include light freeze protection options and are good for Central Florida, Southern California and other areas where the temperature rarely goes down to 30°F with absolutely No Hard Freeze. These systems must be drained and any remaining water in the collector lines blown out with air if a hard freeze may occur.
-CLOSED LOOP SYSTEMS-
Freeze Climates (RED)
The solar loop is separated from water pressure by a storage tank with an internal heat exchanger. These systems are not subject to freeze damage when properly installed. These systems are also used in areas where bad water quality may plug up or destroy the copper tubing in the collectors.
For the most professional installation make sure your plumber is a Solar Certified, like our own C.A. Trudeau.
We provide top quality plumbing information about services, free estimates, installations and repairs on all Rheem, Ruud, Bradford white, State, and A.O. Smith electric, gas, propane, Bock, Thermaflow/Everhot oil fired hot water heaters, Navien, Rheem, Noritz, and Takagi tankless water heaters, Ruud, Bock, and lochinvar oil fired water heaters, SuperStor storage tanks, Peerless, Laars, and Crown tankless coils, Solar water heating installations, and repairs on all hot water heater throughout the state of Connecticut including Bridgeport, CT- Bristol, CT- Cheshire, CT- Danbury,CT- Derby,CT- East Hartford,CT- East Haven,CT- Enfield,CT- Fairfield,CT- Hamden,CT- Hartford,CT- Meriden,CT- Orange,CT- Middletown,CT- Milford,CT- New Britain,CT- New Haven,CT- New London,CT- Norwalk,CT- East Norwalk,CT- Norwich,CT- Putnam,CT- Shelton,CT- Southington,CT- Stamford,CT- Stratford,CT- Southport,CT- Torrington,CT- Wallingford,CT- Watertown,CT- West Hartford,CT- West Haven,CT- Westport,CT- Wethersfield,CT- Willimantic,CT- all shore areas, and surrounding Connecticut areas.
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