Replies

1. 
   David_Thomas | Sep 18, 2001 09:23pm | #1

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   Andy: I installed about 80 solar systems for domestic hot water in Massachussests which is pretty close to your lattitude. They were glazed panels with copper absorber plates and 1/2" copper riser pipes and worked fine. We'd install a second 80 or 100-gallon solar tank that fed the existing tank so that during long cloudy periods, the existing tank was available for boosting the temperature. A co-worker slightly oversized his own system (4 panels instead of 3 for a family of four) and turned off the breaker to the HWH. Went all winter without running out of hot water.

   The steeper your roof the better. We'd try for at least 90 degrees minus the lattitude (about 40 degrees) but more if the homeowner would let us put it up on legs. 55-60 degrees would be ideal for you because you want more input in the winter when the sun is low. In the summer, you'd have lots of excess hot water in any configuration. That said, flush-mount looks a lot better than raising the back and if you have a 10:12 or 12:12 roof, great.

   There are solar systems that have lower preformance and lower cost that are better for southern climates or heating the pool in the summer. Would you DIY, or have it installed? If the later, call around locally for installers and CHECK REFERENCES. -David

2. 
   Andy_W | Sep 18, 2001 09:23pm | #2

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   I am considering this system for our 2500 s.f. home near Toronto. It will supply heat for the forced air system plus domestic hot water. Has anyone out there had experience using or installing these units? And is there any sort of solar system I could use here (on a large south facing roof) to boost my hot water.
   Many thanks
   Andy