While the upfront cost of a solar water heater may be higher than a traditional water heater, the solar energy you will be harnessing can yield huge savings and environmental benefits.Hot water accounts for 18 percent of a home’s energy use, but solar water heaters can cut your hot water bill by 50 to 80 percent.
In this article, we’ll explain how solar water heaters can help you take advantage of free renewable energy that saves money and benefits the planet.Armed with this information, you can make the best decision as to whether a solar water heater is a good investment for your home’s hot water needs.
To see how much a complete home solar system will cost your home, you can get a free, no-obligation quote from a top solar company in your area by filling out the form below.
The basic function of a solar water heater is to expose water or heat exchange liquid to sunlight and then circulate the heated liquid back to your home for domestic use.The basic components of all solar water heaters are a storage tank and a collector that collects the heat from the sun.
A collector is a series of plates, tubes or tanks through which water or a heat transfer fluid absorbs the sun’s heat.From there, the fluid circulates to the tank or heat exchange unit.
Solar water heaters are the most commonly used energy-saving devices for preheating water before entering a conventional water heater in a home.But some solar water heaters heat and store water without the use of traditional tanks, providing fully solar hot water.
There are two main categories of solar water heaters: passive and active.The main difference between the two is that active systems require a circulating pump to move the water, while passive systems rely on gravity to move the water.Active systems also require electricity to operate and can use antifreeze as a heat exchanger fluid.
In the simplest passive solar collectors, the water is heated in a pipe and then connected directly to the tap through the pipe when needed.Active solar collectors either use antifreeze — from the solar collector into a heat exchanger to heat drinking water for storage and domestic use — or heat the water directly, which is then pumped into the tank.
Active and passive systems have subcategories dedicated to various climates, missions, capacities and budgets.Which is right for you will depend on the following factors:
Although more expensive than passive systems, active solar water heaters are more efficient.There are two types of active solar water heating systems:
In an active direct system, potable water goes directly through the collector and into a storage tank for use.They are best suited for mild climates where temperatures rarely dip below freezing.
Active indirect systems circulate a non-refrigerated fluid through solar collectors and into a heat exchanger where the heat of the fluid is transferred to drinking water.The water is then recycled to a storage tank for household use.Active indirect systems are essential for cold climates where temperatures often drop below freezing.Without active indirect systems, pipes run the risk of freezing and bursting.
Passive solar water heaters are a cheaper and simpler option, but also tend to be less efficient than active systems.However, they can be more reliable and last longer, so you shouldn’t ignore them as an option, especially if you’re on a budget.
The Integrated Collector Storage (ICS) system is the simplest of all solar water heating installations – the collector can also be used as a storage tank.They are very effective, but only work in climates with very low risk of freezing.An ICS system can be as simple as a large black tank or a series of smaller copper pipes affixed to the roof.ICS units with copper tubes heat up faster due to the increased surface area, but dissipate heat faster for the same reason.
ICS systems are often used to preheat water for conventional heaters.In such a system, when water is needed, it leaves the storage tank/collector and goes to the traditional water heater in the home.
An important consideration for ICS systems is size and weight: because the tanks themselves are also collectors, they are large and heavy.The construction must be strong enough to support a bulky ICS system, which may be impractical or impossible for some homes.Another disadvantage of an ICS system is that it is prone to freezing and even bursting in colder weather, making it only suitable for use in warmer climates or otherwise draining before cold weather hits.
Thermosyphon systems rely on thermal cycling.The water circulates as warm water rises and cold water falls.They have a tank like an ICS unit, but the collector slopes down from the tank to allow thermal cycling.
A thermosiphon collector collects sunlight and sends hot water back to the tank through a closed loop or heat pipe.While thermosiphons are more efficient than ICS systems, they cannot be used where regular releases are made.
The more hot water you use, the more likely your solar water heater will pay for itself over time.Solar water heaters are the most cost-effective for households with many members or high hot water needs.
A typical solar water heater costs about $9,000 before federal incentives, reaching upwards of $13,000 for higher-capacity active models.Small systems can cost as little as $1,500.
Prices vary based on many factors, including your choice of materials, system size, installation and maintenance costs, and more.While ICS systems are the cheapest option (about $4,000 for a 60-gallon unit), they don’t work in all climates, so if your home sees normal temperatures below freezing, you have no choice but to spend Buy an active indirect system, or at least use a different system for part of the year.
The weight and size of less expensive passive systems may not be for everyone.If your structure can’t handle the weight of a passive system or you don’t have the space, a more expensive active system is again your best option.
If you’re building a new home or refinancing, you can factor the cost of your new solar water heater into your mortgage.Including the cost of a new solar water heater in a 30-year mortgage will cost you $13 to $20 a month.Combined with federal incentives, you might pay as little as $10 to $15 a month.So if you’re building new or refinancing and your traditional hot water bill is over $10-$15 a month, you’ll start saving money right away.The more water you use, the faster the system will pay for itself.
In addition to the cost of purchasing and installing the system itself, you also need to consider the annual operating costs.In a simple passive system, this is negligible or not.But in most systems using conventional water heaters and solar heaters, you will incur some heating costs, albeit much lower than with conventional heaters alone.
You don’t have to pay the full price of a new solar water heating system.Federal tax credits can significantly reduce installation costs.The Federal Residential Renewable Energy Tax Credit (also known as the ITC or Investment Tax Credit) can provide a 26% tax credit for solar water heaters.But there are some conditions to qualify:
Many states, municipalities, and utilities offer their own incentives and rebates for installing solar water heaters.Check out the DSIRE database for more regulatory information.
Solar water heater components are available at many national chains, such as Home Depot.Units can also be purchased directly from the producer, with Duda Diesel and Sunbank Solar offering several great residential solar water heater options.Local installers can also provide quality solar water heaters.
Since there are many factors that influence which solar water heater you should buy, it is advisable to work with a professional when choosing and installing a larger solar water heating system.
Solar water heaters are not as common as they used to be.This is largely due to the dramatic drop in the cost of solar panels, which has led many people who would otherwise have installed solar water heaters to forgo using the electricity generated by solar panels to heat water.
Solar water heaters take up valuable real estate, and for homeowners interested in producing their own solar power, it may make more sense to maximize available space and eliminate solar water heaters entirely, instead purchasing solar panels.
However, if you don’t have room for solar panels, solar water heaters may still be a good fit as they take up much less space than solar panels.Solar water heaters are also a great option for people living in remote areas or as an eco-friendly add-on to existing solar power.Modern electric water heaters are very efficient, and when powered by solar power and paired with solar water heaters, will save your wallet a lot of money and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
For many homeowners, the decision comes down to price.Solar water heaters can cost as much as $13,000.To see how much a complete home solar system will cost your home, you can get a free, no-obligation quote from a top solar company in your area by filling out the form below.
Whether or not a solar water heater is worthwhile depends entirely on where you live, your needs and preferences, and whether you plan to install solar panels.The lost ground for solar water heaters is largely due to the proliferation of home solar: People installing solar water heaters also want solar power, and often choose to retire solar water heaters that compete for precious roof space.
If you have the space, a solar water heater may lower your hot water bill.Used in conjunction with other renewable energy sources, solar water heaters remain an excellent choice for almost any application.
A typical solar water heater system costs about $9,000, with high-end models going up to over $13,000.Small-scale heaters will be much cheaper, ranging from $1,000 to $3,000.
The biggest disadvantage of solar water heaters is that they won’t work on foggy, rainy or cloudy days, nor at night.While this can be overcome with traditional auxiliary heaters, it is still a disadvantage common to all solar technologies.Maintenance could be another shutdown.While generally requiring very little maintenance, some solar water heaters require regular drainage, cleaning, and corrosion protection.
Solar water heaters circulate liquid through solar collectors (most commonly flat plate or tube collectors), heat the liquid and send it to a tank or exchanger, where the liquid is used to heat domestic water.
Christian Yonkers is a writer, photographer, filmmaker, and outdoorsman obsessed with the intersection between people and the planet.He works with brands and organizations with social and environmental impact at their core, helping them tell world-changing stories.