First you should investigate the local building codes to see what is allowed, and what is not. You may need a permit to install a solar water heating systems, and some homeowner associations may not permit them at all. State, county, and city codes may have jurisdiction over your site as well. A qualified construction contractor should be consulted to see if the roof will support the weight of a solar collector.

Next you should determine the economics of installing a solar water heating system. How much hot water you use and the cost of that hot water are the first things you should find out. That will tell you the size of the water heater you need and from that you can determine the type of hot water heater you should purchase. Once all this is known, the cost of the solar water heating system can be determined. Compare the cost and expected life of the unit to your estimated annual savings over the life of the system. If the expected savings are greater than the cost of the system, then it will probably pay off to have it installed.

Next you will need to evaluate your home’s site. Is there sufficient sunlight to provide the heat you need. In general, you should have sunlight between the hours of nine o’clock in the morning until three o’clock in the afternoon. A southern exposure is the best, as this will expose solar collector to the most sunlight for the longest period of time. A professional solar water heater installer should be able to provide a good site analysis for you.

Once all these steps have been completed, you will need to find a competent contractor to install the solar water heating system. These systems are complex and should not be attempted by the homeowner unless they are skilled in construction and plumbing techniques. You will need to know if the contractor is experienced in installing solar hot water systems, how long they have been in business and if they are certified. Some states require either a plumbers or solar contractor license to install solar hot water systems.

The installation of a solar hot water system can save you money on your energy bill. But research should be done before installing a system. Investigation of your local building codes, calculation of the economics and an evaluation of your home’s site are all very important steps to be taken. A good solar contractor can help you with these steps and will install the system properly as well as provide you with advice on running and maintaining the system. Asking the right questions will help you find the right contractor for your installation. Only after fully researching the project should a solar hot water system be installed in your home.