Check out our Frequently Asked Questions in these other SunMaxx Solar Hot Water Topics:
Q: Can I Install my SunMaxx Solar Hot Water Heater Myself?
Generally, if you have some basic plumbing knowledge, are comfortable working on the roof, and can handle some minor tasks, it is likely that you could install your SunMaxx Solar Hot Water System yourself. In fact, assembly and installation of a SunMaxx Solar Hot Water System requires the following skills or experience:
- Assembly of Pre-facbricated Hardware
- Basic Plumbing Design and Installation
- Sweating Copper Pipe or PEX Tubing
- Connection of AC Controller and Pump
Despite the relative ease of installing a SunMaxx Solar Hot Water System, SunMaxx still recommends that a trained plumber or solar installer install your solar hot water system, particularly if your system is for radiant heating, or a particularly large domestic hot water system.
Q: Who Can Install my SunMaxx Solar Hot Water System for me?
Generally speaking, any plumber can install a SunMaxx Solar Hot Water System. If you have a particular local plumber that you work with and trust, we can assist that plumber in installing your SunMaxx Solar Hot Water System. Additionally, we can arrange your installation through our growing network of SunMaxx Solar Hot Water Installers across the United States. Or, any trained solar energy installer in your area would be happy to perform your installation.
Q: How do I Become a SunMaxx Certified Installer?
There is a rigorous training process and evaluation period for becoming a SunMaxx Certified Installer. If you are interested in becoming one, please contact our sales team today.
Q: What Size SunMaxx Solar Hot Water System do I Need?
This varies by every job and application. Here are some basic guidelines for sizing your SunMaxx Solar Hot Water System:
- Domestic Hot Water: The average person uses 20 gallons of hot water per day. Multiply this by the number of people who live in your home - this is the total hot water use of your household per day. Each SunMaxx 20 Evacuated Tube Solar Collector will heat approximately 40 - 50 gallons of hot water each day. You can do the math from there.
- Solar Pool Heating: The typical rule of thumb is to take 50 - 100% of the area of your pool. Your total collector area for your solar pool heater should be within this range. For more information, please see our Sizing Solar Pool Heaters Page on our sister site.
Q: What is the Best Angle to Install my SunMaxx Solar Collectors at?
The general rule of thumb is to install your SunMaxx Solar Collectors at your Latitude plus 15 degrees. However, if your roof's pitch falls within 5 - 10 degrees of this measurement, you can still simply flush mount your solar collectors to your roof without any loss of efficiency. Additionally, there are special installation angles designed to balance the performance of your systems between summer and winter operation. View these instructions here.
Q: What Direction Should I Install my SunMaxx Solar Collectors?
You should install your solar collectors according to the following directions:
- Northern Hemisphere: Install facing South
- Southern Hemisphere: Install facing North
You should also know that your collectors should be installed facing "True South" not "Magnetic South" - this is know as your Azimuth, and a quick search online can tell you how many degrees plus or minus you need to move from magnetic south to true south.
