Hot water use:

-  Every home is a viable candidate for a solar thermal system.

Roof structure and type:

-  Standing seam roof: only 2 roof penetrations for solar loop .

-  Asphalt shingled roof: 2 penetrations for solar loop; 4 for collector mounting.

-  Flat roof: panels must be mounted at an angle, requiring additional racking.

Tax liability:

-  In order to take advantage of federal and state tax incentives for solar thermal, one must have a tax liability. In other words, one must owe the government money.

Site-specific:

-  Adequate roof space for collectors -adequate storage space for the solar hot water tank(s) -roof pitch -plumbing configuration based on system design

Ideal site conditions include:

-  At least 5 full hours of sun on the collectors. -minimal shading from trees and nearby structures. -ability to face collectors between 30 to 45 degrees west or east of magnetic south.

System maintenance:

-  There are very few moving parts associated with solar thermal systems. -the system should be checked monthly to ensure performance during the first year of operation.

Life expectancy of system:

-  Solar thermal systems have a design life of 20-25 years – and in most cases the system will outlast the design life.