What Do Solar Hot Water Installers Do (including Their Typical Day At Work)

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Job Description, Daily Responsibilities, and Work Life

Solar Hot Water Installers

Solar Hot Water Installers install or repair solar energy systems designed to collect, store, and circulate solar-heated water for residential, commercial or industrial use.

Salary
$44180
Becoming One
Medium
Education
No degree required
Job Satisfaction
Low
Job Growth

Personality
Interest Match



Job Description

Job Description

Solar Hot Water Installers install or repair solar energy systems designed to collect, store, and circulate solar-heated water for residential, commercial or industrial use. They also test operation or functionality of mechanical, plumbing, electrical, and control systems.

Other tasks include:

  • Apply weather seal, such as pipe flashings and sealants, to roof penetrations and structural devices.
  • Install solar collector mounting devices on tile, asphalt, shingle, or built-up gravel roofs, using appropriate materials and penetration methods.
  • Install copper or plastic plumbing using pipes, fittings, pipe cutters, acetylene torches, solder, wire brushes, sand cloths, flux, plastic pipe cleaners, or plastic glue.
  • Identify plumbing, electrical, environmental, or safety hazards associated with solar thermal installations.
  • Demonstrate start-up, shut-down, maintenance, diagnostic, and safety procedures to thermal system owners.
  • Install circulating pumps using pipe, fittings, soldering equipment, electrical supplies, and hand tools.

We asked Solar Hot Water Installers how satisfied they are with their job. Here is what they said.

Job satisfaction

63%

How meaningful is this job

56%


63% of them said they were satisfied with their job and 56% said they find that their job makes the world a better place or helps to make someone else’s life better.



Typical Day At Work

On a daily basis, Solar Hot Water Installers determine locations for installing solar subsystem components, including piping, water heaters, valves, and ancillary equipment. They identify plumbing, electrical, environmental, or safety hazards associated with solar thermal installations.

A typical day for a Solar Thermal Installer and Technician will also include:

  • Demonstrate start-up, shut-down, maintenance, diagnostic, and safety procedures to thermal system owners.
  • Cut, miter, and glue piping insulation to insulate plumbing pipes and fittings.
  • Assess collector sites to ensure structural integrity of potential mounting surfaces or the best orientation and tilt for solar collectors.
  • Install copper or plastic plumbing using pipes, fittings, pipe cutters, acetylene torches, solder, wire brushes, sand cloths, flux, plastic pipe cleaners, or plastic glue.
  • Apply operation or identification tags or labels to system components, as required.

We asked some Solar Hot Water Installers a few questions to find out what else does their work day look like. Here is what we found.

Do you have telephone conversations everyday in this job? 65% said yes
How important is it to work in a team in this job? 57% said very important
Do you have group discussions everyday in this job? 55% said yes
Do you talk or work with customers everyday in this job? 51% said yes
Do you have to deal with angry customers everyday in this job? 0% said yes
Do you have to make decisions everyday in this job? 60% said yes

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, Solar Hot Water Installers also apply weather seal, such as pipe flashings and sealants, to roof penetrations and structural devices. They may also install circulating pumps using pipe, fittings, soldering equipment, electrical supplies, and hand tools.

On a weekly to monthly basis, Solar Hot Water Installers Fill water tanks and check tanks, pipes, and fittings for leaks. They might also Install solar collector mounting devices on tile, asphalt, shingle, or built-up gravel roofs, using appropriate materials and penetration methods.

In addition, they Design active direct or indirect, passive direct or indirect, or pool solar systems.

Although specific duties may vary, many of them Install plumbing, such as dip tubes, port fittings, drain tank valves, pressure temperature relief valves, or tanks, according to manufacturer specifications and building codes.

To some Solar Hot Water Installers, it is also their responsibility to Install monitoring system components, such as flow meters, temperature gauges, and pressure gauges, according to system design and manufacturer specifications.


Working life

Working hours

Standard 40 hour work week

Working schedule

Irregular work schedule that changes depending on weather conditions, customer demand or contract duration.

In a typical work week as a Solar Thermal Installer and Technician, you can expect to work 40 hour work week.

Do Solar Hot Water Installers work in an office-style work environment?

Once a month
42%


Once a week
27%


Do Solar Hot Water Installers work outdoors?

Every day
60%


Once a week
18%



Is this right for me

Best personality for this career

The Builders and The Organizers

People who are suitable for this job tends to like work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They like working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery..

They also like following set procedures and routines. They like working with data and details more than with ideas.

You can read more about these career personality types here.



Learn more about Solar Hot Water Installers

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Related to Solar Thermal Installers and Technicians Job Description

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Additional resources

http://www.bls.gov/ooh/construction-and-extraction/solar-photovoltaic-installers.htm
http://www.bls.gov/green/solar_power/


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