I'm getting a solar water heating system.

[trof]

Met with the contractor last week.
Our bathrooms are at the other end of the house from the water heater (electric). It takes a long time to get hot water to them as I watch gallons of clean water go down the drain. He will also install a recirc line so that hot water will be available instantly. The savings on the water bill will probably eventually pay for it.
All approx $5,300, installed:

We are pleased to offer a closed-loop drainback type solar water heating system for $5,300, installed,
capable of producing an average of around 75 GPD of 120 degree F hot water. The system includes:
1. 80 gal integral exchanger HW storage tank w/ a 10-gallon drainback tank located in your laundry
room
2. One 4’ x 10’ solar collector roof-mounted with stainless steel and aluminum hardware
3. Bronze circulating pumps, differential temperature controller, anti-scald valve, sensors, copper
and PEX piping
4. Dial temperature thermometers in circulating loop return line and HW outlet line
5. Recirculating line and timer-controlled pump from far end of house back to solar tank
6. Documentation and familiarization
7. Rearrangement of your laundry room and tie-in to your HW tank
I expect this solar HW system to repay your investment in about 4-5 years (with tax credit factored in) and
have a lifetime of 20 - 30 years. We will provide invoice documentation showing it being in service in
2008 for the 30% federal tax credit.

[havocmom]

1. Great! Keep us posted on how the project goes!

Havocdad is looking to solar and wind for our retirement nest. If he finds property we like that includes a little hill, there will also be juice generated from a closed falling water system, supplied by a large catch pit then pumped up hill with solar power with falling water juice backup.

Me, I want a bathroom on the south side of the house so I can put a greenhouse along the outside wall. The bathroom vent will feed steam from into the greenhouse so I can have lovely humidity for my veggie plants. (We live in arid local)

[jpak]

2. Yay!!

:thumbsup:

[all.of.me]

3. You won't be sorry!

[ctaylors6]

4. do you mind telling me what brand the system is & how you found contractor?

I need a new water heater and new roof. I was hoping to use solar water heater and to put (separate) solar panels on my roof.

[kristopher]

5. I'd recommend investigaing on demand hot water heaters first.

Extremely efficient and probably a much lower initial cost.
Rinnai is a brand I hear advertised. I lived with them for years overseas and was very satisfied.

[diane in sf]

6. A friend of mine made his own preheater, he built a black-painted

cucumber frame which he topped with glass at a 45 degree angle on the south side of his house, he ran a bank of black painted pipes inside which absorb the heat, the pipes lead directly into his old style water heater tank--cuts down on his bills considerably.