Solar Hot Water

Installing a solar water heater is one of the easiest ways to get the sun to work for you and conserve our valuable natural resources. When correctly installed, a solar hot water system can reduce your hot water costs by 40-80%, depending upon water consumption. In addition, when a solar hot water system is combined with an electric water heater, pollutant emissions are reduced by about 2,800 pounds per year. A solar system replacing natural gas will reduce pollution by 1,200 to 1,600 pounds annually.

There are two types of solar water heaters available, passive and active.

The passive system consists of a water container on the roof that preheats the water prior to entering the water heater. A passive system is usually combined with a natural gas water heater, which is used as a backup during the cloudier periods and when hot water use increases.

The active system consists of a roof-mounted collector with a special 80-gallon solar water heater. Environmentally safe glycol is exchanged through the solar collector which then passes through an internal heat exchanger in the 80 gallon tank. For the cooler months and during high water use periods, the electrical element in the middle of the water heater provides backup heat.

Typically, a solar hot water system would be installed on the roof of your home, facing south at about a 40 degree angle. If you have a flat roof, the collector can usually be placed toward the center of the structure, therefore reducing the line of sight from the street or neighboring homes.