Solar Thermal Installers and Technicians
Install or repair solar energy systems designed to collect, store, and circulate solar-heated water for residential, commercial or industrial use.
What is this job like?
- 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.
- Test operation or functionality of mechanical, plumbing, electrical, and control systems.
- Install circulating pumps using pipe, fittings, soldering equipment, electrical supplies, and hand tools.
- Install solar thermal system controllers and sensors.
- Install flat-plat, evacuated glass, or concentrating solar collectors on mounting devices, using brackets or struts.
- Apply operation or identification tags or labels to system components, as required.
- Install plumbing, such as dip tubes, port fittings, drain tank valves, pressure temperature relief valves, or tanks, according to manufacturer specifications and building codes.
- Perform routine maintenance or repairs to restore solar thermal systems to baseline operating conditions.
- Install heat exchangers and heat exchanger fluids according to installation manuals and schematics.
- Cut, miter, and glue piping insulation to insulate plumbing pipes and fittings.
- Fill water tanks and check tanks, pipes, and fittings for leaks.
- Install copper or plastic plumbing using pipes, fittings, pipe cutters, acetylene torches, solder, wire brushes, sand cloths, flux, plastic pipe cleaners, or plastic glue.
- Connect water heaters and storage tanks to power and water sources.
- 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.
- Apply weather seal, such as pipe flashings and sealants, to roof penetrations and structural devices.
- Cut, miter, and glue piping insulation to insulate plumbing pipes and fittings.
- Install solar collector mounting devices on tile, asphalt, shingle, or built-up gravel roofs, using appropriate materials and penetration methods.
- Test operation or functionality of mechanical, plumbing, electrical, and control systems.
- Test operation or functionality of mechanical, plumbing, electrical, and control systems.
- Design active direct or indirect, passive direct or indirect, or pool solar systems.
- Install monitoring system components, such as flow meters, temperature gauges, and pressure gauges, according to system design and manufacturer specifications.
- Determine locations for installing solar subsystem components, including piping, water heaters, valves, and ancillary equipment.
- Fill water tanks and check tanks, pipes, and fittings for leaks.
- Apply ultraviolet radiation protection to prevent degradation of plumbing.
Local Wage Data
Showing wage data for: New Orleans
Entry
Median
High
Salary
Hourly Wage
$36,770
$59,380
$77,890
$17.68
$28.55
$37.45