Do you have a question about SunMaxx or solar thermal systems? Just take a look at the list below…each question has been submitted by one of our solar thermal dealers, installers or clients, and answered by our team of professionally trained technicians and engineers.

Can’t find your solar thermal questions on the list below? No problem, just use the link below and submit your solar thermal question for our team to answer and post on the site.

Do I have to run the piping through the roof?

No, you do not have to. You can, and should, use flexible stainless steel piping which allows you to direct the piping anywhere you want with very little trouble. Many installers will choose to send the piping the ;ong way around just to avoid a roof penetration. While this works well for ensuring that there is no leakage, it does however waste a bit of solar energy. But if you can avoid going through your roof, then do it! Click here to view our flexible stainless steel piping

Do I need any experience in electricity to install a solar water heater?

No, you do not. In fact, if you purchase a pre-packaged kit from Sunmaxx, the pump station (which is has the controller and pump built in) simply has a 3-prong plug that you insert right into a 110v wall outlet. The only thing that you would need to do is to insert the sensor wire into the appropriate location on the controller. Luckily the sensor wire is non-polar so you can't mess it up (knock on wood).

How do I know if my system is performing the way it should be?

First of all, your system performance will be measured by BTU'S produced, NOT by temperature achieved. The simplest way to accomplish this is by following this method: 1- Record your solar tank temperature first thing in the morning, before the solar pump turns on. 2- be sure that no one uses hot water during this day. 3-Record your solar tank temperature at the end of the "solar" day 4-Perform this calculation to determine total btu's produced Change in tank temp Deg F x Total gallons in tank x 8.3 = total btu prod/day 5-View the SRCC certificate for estimated performance or call you SunMaxx sales rep to get an expected performance number

What is NABCEP and why is it important?

The North American Board of Certified energy Practitioners is a standard of excellence for Solar Installers. Anyone who meets the criteria for NABCEP certification meets the most rigorous demands for competency in the US. Being NABCEP certified allow you to gain eligibility to a broader market through incentive based-programs that require NABCEP certification. It will also allow you mobility to move from state to state. Please view the following link to learn about NABCEP certification.

How do I decide between Flat plate and Evacuated tube?

This will be a debate well in to the future. For an more in-depth review please watch this Click here to watch this 1/2 hour webinar. Your decision should be based primarily on the following considerations:

1- Temperature demand- What is you existing application? EVT's will outperform FP's at higher temp load.
2- Climate location- In a general sense, flat plates have more value than evacuated tubes in warmer climates and EVT's will do better in cold, cloudy climates.
3-Aesthetics appeal- This is where there is no "right" answer. Instead, each person has their own personal view. We recommend that you go with it. If they prefer flat plates for that reason then you install flat plates and if they prefer evacuated tubes for their aesthetic appeal, then by all means, you should install Evacuated tubes.

The point is, you really CANT GO WRONG. Each type will yield significant value and in the end, the differences will be negligible.

How do I size a solar hot water system for my household?

Typically, an american average consumption of 20 gallons of hot water per day per person can be used to size systems. There are some variations in that however so we need to be careful about just using rules of thumb. For most of the Sunmaxx TitanPower Flat plates and Thermopower Evacuated tubes will yield about 2 gallons of hot water per FT2 of collector. Therefore, we can say that for a family of 3, we would recommend about 30 ft of collector. This estimate will vary depending on the part of the world you are from. If you live in the northern climates, this system example would replace existing fuel by over 50%. In mid-latitudes, you could expect a 60-70 % reduction and in southern climates, as much as 85% reduction

How do I attach solar panels to my shingle roof without causing leaks?

Our ConnectMaxx roof hooks are designed for any roof. We suggest that each be attached directly into a rafter using two Simpson Strong-Drive screws. Roof caulk can be used to seal these penetrations. (One installer we know used butyl rubber.) Our concave X-mount flashing then fits securely over the roof hook and under the shingles for a weatherproof connection. All of our collectors can be mounted using these roof hooks.

How well will my collectors perform if they are not positioned perfectly?

Fortunately, solar thermal collectors are not nearly as sensitive to light conditions as PV collectors. As for performance, you have roughly a 60 degree window of opportunity to mount the collectors toward south before you begin losing a small bit of total production. In other words, your house can be situated 30 to the east of true south or 30 degrees to the west of true south and your performance will still be at or above 95%. As far as tilt angle goes, this window opportunity is slightly smaller but still you can have a roof pitched about 20 degrees plus or minus of your particular latitude angle and you will still see results at or above 95% of expected. Ask a Sunmaxx rep to run a Polysun report for your particular conditions to be sure, you will be happy you did and pleasantly surprised.

Can I tie a solar thermal system into my existing system?

Yes, you sure can. There are very few systems in the US that will not accept a solar thermal upgrade, The only exception would be a steam system. Whether you have forced hot air, boiler with baseboard, sub-floor radiant, in-floor radiant or wall heaters you can very easily integrate a solar thermal system upgrade. We have systems that are designed for every possible option for you, the only question is- are you ready to start saving money and lower your carbon footprint?

Simulating Performance of Solar Thermal Systems

Solar thermal systems will behave differently depending on a few variables such as, the obvious, location but also angle of tilt (slope off horizon), orientation angle, temperature of inlet fluid and also daily ambient temperature. We can calculate the efficiency of collectors for various times throughout the day but given the dynamic nature of production vs. consumption, it is better to use simulation software to accomplish this. At Sunmaxx, we use Polysun Simulation Software . By using this software, we can very easily ascertain the estimated performance during the course of the year. If you are looking to get some general idea regarding BTU output for various sized solar thermal systems you can view the ratings section of SRCC at: http://bit.ly/hs5ADx

Frequently Asked Questions