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Solar Heating Panels Orientation and Tilt
Solar panel orientation and tilt makes a difference in the amount of sunshine converted to heat. A site assessment shows the best placement for solar heating panels.
Solar Heating Panels Orientation
Solar heating panels can be sited adjacent to a building to obtain the best exposure to the Sun. Siting solar heating panels this way increase the efficiency of the solar heating panels.
Solar panel orientation and tilt makes a difference in the amount of sunshine converted to heat. Generally, the optimum direction is due south in the northern hemisphere.
However, the solar heating panels orientation can range from 60 degrees east or west from true south and not drastically affect panel performance. About 90 percent of the solar energy is available.
If the building orientation is east to west about 80 percent of the solar energy is available to the panels. In both situations, the assumption is made that panels have the correct tilt and no shading.
Your site may not be suited for a southern orientation of panels. Typical situations might include excessive shading from trees, or other buildings. The layout of the building to the street, aesthetics or building codes affects the amount of sunshine reaching the solar heating panels. An experienced solar professional can make recommendations that will meet your needs.
You can evaluate your site solar potential by using solar site analysis tools. The Solar Pathfinder and Solmetric SunEye are commercially available products used for site evaluation.
Solar Heating Panels Tilt
Today, most solar heating panels are mounted flat on the roof. The collector lays at the same angle as the roof slope.
This is more aesthetically gratifying than rack mounted panels. Rack mounting has panels stick up from the roof at odd angles.
This has been a criticism of older solar heating systems.
The optimum tilt falls between 30 to 36 degrees or an angle equal to the sites latitude.
If the roof orientation doesn’t allow for a southern exposure or aesthetics many solar panel’s placed on a ground rack at the ideal tilt.
The ideal tilt angle for a solar heating panel is an angle equal to geographical latitude. For example, the latitude in Phoenix Arizona is about 33 degrees.
The ideal angle of the panel would be 33 degrees. Not having the panels at the exact latitude only minimally affects the performance of the panels.
Again, the analysis by a solar professional can provide the best possible solution for conditions at your site.
Take the time to conduct and understand your site assessment. It will make a difference in the performance of your solar heating panels.
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Today, most solar heating panels are mounted flat on the roof. The collector lays at the same angle as the roof slope. 
