What You Should Know Before Starting a Residential Solar Heating Retrofit Project

If you want solar heating without having to worry about new construction, then retrofitting your home with a solar space heating system may be a great solution that will also add value to your home's market value.

Your first decision will be to choose which type of solar system you want to retrofit your home with. The two main types are an active system, which does require the use of mechanical energy and hardware including pumps, controls, and fans to distribute the heat throughout your home. The other system is called a passive system, which does not use any mechanical energy but relays on natural circulation to move the heated fluid throughout your home.

Before you begin interviewing contractors, you should be aware that retrofitting a solar heating system that will provide all of your heating requirements will be extremely expensive. In addition, depending on the age of your home, how well it is weatherized, and your geographical location, it may also be impractical. The reason for this is that many solar heating systems are designed to only provide 30% to 80% of the heating requirements, with the remaining heating requirements being met through passive solar heating design. In other words, does your home face true south, and receives the maximum amount of direct sunlight for the majority of the day or is your home mostly shaded and in an easterly or westerly direction? Other factors that will affect the cost of the system are the type and size of the system and how easily it can be efficiently integrated into the existing heating system.

The climate in your area will also play a major role in how much your system will cost as well as which design will best work for you. Active solar heating systems are more economical in climates, which have extended heating seasons countless sunny days. They are also better in areas that have increased utility rates. In areas of the country and world where there are many cloudy days, such as in the coastal Northwest region of the United States, as well as in areas with short heating seasons, like Southern California and the lower Southeast, or in any area that have low energy cost, these systems are less cost-effective.

Passive solar heating systems are best for areas where there is a significant temperature difference between the daytime and nighttime hours. However, the condition and structure of your home will have more of a determining factor on whether or not you should proceed with a specific passive retrofit than on the climate in your region.

Before you begin your retrofitting project, take the time to have an energy audit performed on your home by either your utility company if they offer this service or a licensed professional. By taking the needed steps to ensure your home is energy-efficient, will both increases the effectiveness of any heating system and could save you money in deciding the size of the system you truly require. The main reason for high energy bills is inadequate insulation in your home. In addition to having adequate insulation, you should also caulk around windows, doors, joints, electrical and plumbing wires, pipes, and any penetrations into the attic, make sure that the weather stripping around windows and doors is in good shape and if not replace it. Install storm doors and windows, or have double- or triple-glazed windows installed in your home. While you are properly weatherizing your home, consider also installing an energy efficient water heater or solar water heating system. If this is impossible at this time, then properly insulate the hot water tank and pipes.

Another very important step you need to do before starting your retrofitting project is check your local covenants, zoning ordinances, and building codes as they may restrict or even prohibit the installation of a solar system on your property. Believe it or not, there are countless homeowners associations that care more about appearances than they do about the environment or the rising cost of energy bills. You have to research these issues before you invest any additional time and money in a solar system as violations of these covenants could cost you legal fees, penalties, and in some communities even your home as the homeowners association has the right to seize your home if you do not comply with their covenants.

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