
6 – Part 3: Solar water heater system installation – Installation check list
The Contractor shall obtain all required permits and approvals for installing the solar system. The installation shall conform to
all federal, state and local regulations governing solar water heating system installations. The contractor shall adhere to sound
building safety and trade practices. Special consideration must be given to building code requirements for the penetration
of structural members and fi re rated assemblies. Before beginning with the installation, the contractor shall inspect the
condition of the roof and notify the homeowner of any existing roof damage or necessary repairs.
Installation check list
Collector location:
South facing within 45 degrees of due south
Roof pitch is between 15–60 degrees of horizontal
Collectors are located in an unshaded area
Collectors are located as close to tank as possible
Roof and roofi ng material are in good condition
Storage tank location:
Suffi
cient room to service water heater
Provisions made to protect area from water damage
Centrally located to fi xtures
Protected from freezing temperatures
Area free of fl ammable vapors
Potable water supply:
All related piping is free from leaks
Thermal expansion tank installed
Water heater and fi xtures have been
properly purged of air
Relief valve:
Temperature and pressure relief valve properly installed
and discharge line runs to open drain
Discharge line is not exposed to freezing temperatures
Discharge line is constructed of copper
Wiring systems with back-up electric element:
Power supply voltage agrees with the water heater
rating plate.
Branch circuit wire fusing or circuit breaker properly
sized.
Electrical connections tight and unit properly grounded
Wiring systems with boiler back-up:
Water heater control is secure in control well
Boiler back-up control is wired back to the boiler control
or relay center
Solar heat exchanger to solar panel
Anti-Freeze is added and is rated as non-toxic with copy
of MSDS sheet for homeowner
Solar heat exchanger is completely purged of air
Expansion tank and pressure temperature gauge are
operating properly
Solar control shows circulators operating properly on
the solar panels
Boiler heat exchanger; boiler back-up systems:
Heat exchanger is completely purged of air
Expansion tank and pressure temperature gauge are
operating properly
Boiler control is operating circulator for the boiler back-
up heat exchanger
Anti-freeze fl uid:
Make sure freeze protection fl uids are certifi ed as non-
toxic
Glycol percentage must be calculated per local area
freeze level
Provide glycol MSDS sheet to end user
Pump station / Controller
Air bled from pump
System arrangement selected
OCX setting is set
OREC setting is set
Part 3: Solar water heater system installation