NABCEP Solar Heating Installer
Certification Exam Questions And Correct
Answers (Verified Answers) Plus Rationales
2026 Q&A | Instant Download Pdf
1. What is the primary purpose of a solar thermal collector?
a. Store thermal energy
b. Convert sunlight to electricity
c. Absorb solar energy and transfer it to a fluid
d. Reflect sunlight away
Solar thermal collectors are designed to absorb sunlight and
transfer the heat to a working fluid for heating purposes.
2. Which type of solar collector is typically most efficient for high-
temperature applications?
a. Flat-plate collector
b. Evacuated tube collector
c. Unglazed collector
d. Passive collector
Evacuated tube collectors minimize heat loss and can achieve
higher temperatures compared to flat-plate collectors.
3. What is the function of a heat transfer fluid in a solar thermal
system?
a. Generate electricity
b. Cool the collector
, c. Transport heat from the collector to storage or load
d. Increase sunlight absorption
The fluid carries the collected thermal energy from the collector to
where it will be used or stored.
4. Which of the following fluids is commonly used in closed-loop
solar heating systems?
a. Tap water only
b. Glycol-water mixture
c. Diesel fuel
d. Pure alcohol
Glycol-water mixtures prevent freezing in closed-loop systems and
ensure heat transfer even at low temperatures.
5. What is the main reason to use an expansion tank in a solar
heating system?
a. Increase pressure
b. Filter the fluid
c. Accommodate fluid expansion due to temperature changes
d. Improve collector efficiency
Thermal expansion causes fluid to increase in volume, and the
expansion tank prevents overpressure and damage.
6. Which type of system is most suitable for residential domestic hot
water?
a. Concentrated solar power
b. Solar pond
c. Active solar water heating system
d. Passive solar air system
, Active systems use pumps to circulate fluid and are most effective
for residential water heating.
7. In a direct (open-loop) solar water heating system, the collector
fluid is:
a. A separate glycol loop
b. The potable water itself
c. Air
d. Steam
Open-loop systems circulate potable water directly through the
collector for heating.
8. Which system component prevents overheating in a solar thermal
system?
a. Pump
b. Controller with high-temperature limit
c. Storage tank
d. Heat exchanger
Controllers monitor temperature and can shut down circulation or
activate protection modes to prevent overheating.
9. What is the purpose of a solar storage tank?
a. Generate electricity
b. Pump water
c. Store thermal energy for later use
d. Reduce system pressure
Storage tanks hold heated water or fluid until it is needed.
10. What is the primary advantage of an indirect (closed-loop)
system?
a. Lower initial cost
Certification Exam Questions And Correct
Answers (Verified Answers) Plus Rationales
2026 Q&A | Instant Download Pdf
1. What is the primary purpose of a solar thermal collector?
a. Store thermal energy
b. Convert sunlight to electricity
c. Absorb solar energy and transfer it to a fluid
d. Reflect sunlight away
Solar thermal collectors are designed to absorb sunlight and
transfer the heat to a working fluid for heating purposes.
2. Which type of solar collector is typically most efficient for high-
temperature applications?
a. Flat-plate collector
b. Evacuated tube collector
c. Unglazed collector
d. Passive collector
Evacuated tube collectors minimize heat loss and can achieve
higher temperatures compared to flat-plate collectors.
3. What is the function of a heat transfer fluid in a solar thermal
system?
a. Generate electricity
b. Cool the collector
, c. Transport heat from the collector to storage or load
d. Increase sunlight absorption
The fluid carries the collected thermal energy from the collector to
where it will be used or stored.
4. Which of the following fluids is commonly used in closed-loop
solar heating systems?
a. Tap water only
b. Glycol-water mixture
c. Diesel fuel
d. Pure alcohol
Glycol-water mixtures prevent freezing in closed-loop systems and
ensure heat transfer even at low temperatures.
5. What is the main reason to use an expansion tank in a solar
heating system?
a. Increase pressure
b. Filter the fluid
c. Accommodate fluid expansion due to temperature changes
d. Improve collector efficiency
Thermal expansion causes fluid to increase in volume, and the
expansion tank prevents overpressure and damage.
6. Which type of system is most suitable for residential domestic hot
water?
a. Concentrated solar power
b. Solar pond
c. Active solar water heating system
d. Passive solar air system
, Active systems use pumps to circulate fluid and are most effective
for residential water heating.
7. In a direct (open-loop) solar water heating system, the collector
fluid is:
a. A separate glycol loop
b. The potable water itself
c. Air
d. Steam
Open-loop systems circulate potable water directly through the
collector for heating.
8. Which system component prevents overheating in a solar thermal
system?
a. Pump
b. Controller with high-temperature limit
c. Storage tank
d. Heat exchanger
Controllers monitor temperature and can shut down circulation or
activate protection modes to prevent overheating.
9. What is the purpose of a solar storage tank?
a. Generate electricity
b. Pump water
c. Store thermal energy for later use
d. Reduce system pressure
Storage tanks hold heated water or fluid until it is needed.
10. What is the primary advantage of an indirect (closed-loop)
system?
a. Lower initial cost
