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Green Collar Careers - System Installation

Once materials are on site solar heating systems installation take the following actions, not necessarily in this order:

1. Mounting of the solar collectors (and Solar PV panel if equipped)
2. Aligning the solar collectors to the elevation and azimuth (usually Solar Noon of the Spring/Fall Equinox)
3. Removing existing water heater (90% of the time, 10% may maintain their existing heaters)
4. Disposal of the existing water heater (most installers should take care of this)
5. Installing and connecting the storage tank to the house water system
6. Installing and connecting the water heater to the house water system
7. Connecting the AC to the water heater, and replacing the circuit breaker at the power panel - Optional
8. Routing the plumbing for the Closed Loop system between the solar collector and the storage tank
9. Installing the pump, valves, gauges, and expansion tank
10. Pressure testing the Closed Loop system (usually with air and waiting about an hour for pressure drop)
11. Mounting, connecting, and testing controller
12. Fill system with antifreeze
13. Insulating Closed Loop plumbing
14. System test and commissioning
15. Final inspection

Typically two installers are required for a system with an 80 gallon tank, 3-4 installers may be required for a 120 gallon tank.  Labor hours from one installation crew and system installation site will vary between about 16 - 40 hours.  With an experienced two person crew most systems can be installed in the same day although the crew will have installed 3-5 systems before reaching that efficiency level.  Installation crew supervision is a must - at all times they have access to the inside of the home, lunchtime included.  Plus you can lend a hand at times where an extra person will shorten the installation time.

As tempting as it may be to eventually hire your own employees for installation, you'll almost always be better off using contracted installers.  That doesn't prevent you from training your own crew and pay them via 1099.  See the IRS Independent Contractor Definitions to understand the federal government position on this.  As an independent contractor they will have higher hourly rates with no other costs, less liability to you, and they will have the freedom to work other jobs.

For the homeowner, installers will have access to their home and will need to be very trustworthy individuals with good morals and ethics.  They need to be responsible, preferably with a clean shaven professionally dressed appearance.  That doesn't mean business informal;  that means work boots, clean clothing, and the less exposure of tattoos the better.  Some people just don't trust others based on a sloppy appearance to enter their homes.

System installation is a major inconvenience to the home owner.  You should insist they be home during the installation, even if it means a weekend installation.  That will discourage any subsequent disputes after the job is done.  The homeowner will be without water during the installation.  If the job cannot be finished in one day be sure to make plans for reconnecting the home water system before leaving for the day.  This is another great reason for a dual purpose tank - an experienced installation crew can swap out the hot water heater with a Solaraid HE and have the home water restored in as little as two hours.

The ideal crew consists of:

• One Jr level plumber with basic electrical wiring skills
• One entry level plumber
• General laborer with limited carpentry skills and a strong back