01-29-2012, 02:58 PM
Whatever company you decide to go with you may want to make sure to identify (in writing preferably) which side of the roof it will be located on and if there will be additional brackets added to tilt the panels toward the sun- particularly for winter. Many houses in HPP are oriented with the corners facing south, and the roof pitch to solar angle may be within Hawaii State standards but that does not mean you will get much benefit in winter.
As you drive around Puna and look at solar installations you will see that most collectors are mounted flush to the roof (cheaper) but every now and then you see some where the collectors are raised up and tilted for better solar gain.
As far as the warranty goes our 80 gal SunEarth tank began to leak after a couple of years and it was replaced under warranty but we had to pay the installers over $200 more for labor, even though it looks like the manufacturers website implies they reimburse the installers for labor.
If I had to do it over again I would probably get at least 3 bids and ask for sketches showing exactly how the installation will be performed in relation to solar pitch and angle of orientation to the sun.
As you drive around Puna and look at solar installations you will see that most collectors are mounted flush to the roof (cheaper) but every now and then you see some where the collectors are raised up and tilted for better solar gain.
As far as the warranty goes our 80 gal SunEarth tank began to leak after a couple of years and it was replaced under warranty but we had to pay the installers over $200 more for labor, even though it looks like the manufacturers website implies they reimburse the installers for labor.
If I had to do it over again I would probably get at least 3 bids and ask for sketches showing exactly how the installation will be performed in relation to solar pitch and angle of orientation to the sun.