How Durable is a Solar Collector?

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As you are probably aware, the SRCC ( www.solar-rating.org) rates both efficiency and durability from the results of ASHRAE's ( www.ashrae.org) tests. Thankfully, durability is less of an issue when you're comparing solar collectors because the vast majority of manufacturers build their products to last.

Given that you're installing a solar thermal system with the intent of achieving 100% return on investment over a period of (normally) between five and ten years, it's not surprising that most manufacturers offer a 10-year warranty. Some are even extending this to a 15-year warranty, which is excellent news.

However, there are still some checks to make. The first and most obvious is to ensure that the collectors you want to install are SRCC certified. This guarantees that they've been tested properly and rated by an independent company.

Next, you should look into the manufacturer's history. Although modern solar power is still a fairly new technology, solar thermal is one of the oldest parts of it and there are companies who have produced solid, dependable equipment for 30 years or more! That doesn't mean that a newer, younger company won't produce reliable gear but the decision comes back to that long-term investment: a manufacturer with a history of reliability and dependability is often more attractive.

A final consideration that many people overlook is the manufacturer's location. Solar collectors and other renewable energy equipment are often bulky and heavy: if the company that makes yours is based fairly close to home, it'll be a lot easier to get parts and may cut down your shipping costs.

If the company's reasonably local, you could even consider calling them and asking if you can visit. A good manufacturer would love the opportunity to make a more personal contact with their customers, and it offers you a chance to see how their factory works and the kind of people you're dealing with.