Solar Hot Water Heater

[kickchk]

Has anyone ever thought about solar hot water heating? Here where I live it's not feasible to go totally solar because of the cost of electricity here is comparably low compared to other cities(states). However we have looked at different ways to go solar with out hot water needs.
Has anyone else tried this before?

The system we're interested in is called a active system

[starshard0]

Solar water heaters are a neat thing indeed. I've heard good things about them, and I believe they cost quite a bit less to install than the photovoltaic cell panels.

[kickchk]

I agree. We've calculated the cost at about $1500, compared to the amount of panels we'd need for solar electric at $40,000. Plus I'm not sure our electric company would buy our excess electricity back.

[starshard0]

Have you calculated how long it would take for the panels to pay for themselves?

[kickchk]

It would take us about 14 years to break even on the expense.

[starshard0]

Of course, if the price of natural gas/electricity rises, then it could be a lot sooner. I'm definitely looking into getting as many eco-tricks installed into my house when I finally decide to buy one.

[lucille]

We looked at both pv panels and solar hot water. Plumbing solar hot water would be a big logistical head ache because of how our house is designed. But probably the biggest deterrent for us was resale of the house. Since were planning on selling it when the market recovers it is a big issue. Just about anything "non standard" seems to have a negative impact on resale of a home where we are at. There are just too few people who would see a PV or solar water heater as a benefit and still so many who would see it as a big albatross that would scare them off.

[kickchk]

That is something to take into consideration. In our area solar has become more popular, as well as geo-thermal heating/cooling systems. We’re not looking to sell anytime soon considering we just added a new Florida room and finished out our basement. We were thinking ahead while doing the basement and left openings around the water heater just in case we do add solar water heating.

[starshard0]

I always figured "non-standard" things would help the resale value of a house. I suppose not everyone is into that sort of stuff though.

[trustno1]

Come on, fellow frugalites...grab a pair of work gloves and a hacksaw and follow me...hehehe

If you are a "do-it-yourselfer", you can make your own from cutting off the coils on the back of old refrigerators! Here is the bad news...you probably will not make the cut for the next issue of Better Homes & Gardens, but you will have hot water "free". Unless you dump the refrigerant in your back yard...then you will go to jail...lol