Where can I install solar water heaters and solar air heaters?
Solar water heaters can be installed on a roof, a wall or a ground mount. The best direction for them to face in Nova Scotia is due south, although 20 degrees either way will make little difference. For year-round use, they are best mounted at an angle, up from the horizontal, about equal to the latitude, which is 45 degrees from the horizontal in Nova Scotia. If they are to be used only in winter for space heating, then a steeper tilt is better (anywhere from 55 to 90 degrees up from horizontal). If a south-facing wall is available, vertical mounting can be convenient and is fine for winter use, since the sun angle is quite low in winter. Solar air heaters, for example, are meant to be installed vertically on a wall as pictured here. If the mounting place is not at the desired tilt angle, the collectors can be mounted on metal frames at the desired tilt angle.
