Solar Water Heating Products

Products Needed

• A solar domestic hot water system is made up of nine products: two glazed solar collectors for water heating, one 80-gallon solar water storage tank, heat exchanger, expansion vessel, solar circulation pump, propylene glycol (heat transfer fluid), solar control system, copper piping and valves.

Quality Considerations

• Solar collectors, or panels, should have copper tubes and ideally a copper absorber that will not corrode and are 4-millimeter-thick security glass tempered on the inside, Huber says. The copper piping for the solar loop should be type "M." Look for a solar tank with a minimum of a 5-year warranty and collectors with 10-year warranties. Other components should be ASA approved in the United States and CSA approved in Canada. The installation has to be done in a professional manner, or even the best quality components won't perform at high level.

Component Origins

• Solar collectors and the other solar hot water products are made in Australia, Canada, China, Indian, U.S.A. and various countries in Europe, notably France. China is one of the world's largest producers of these products.

Cost

• A complete solar water heating system, including a two-panel system and installation for a family of three to five people costs between $8,500 and $9,500, as of March 2011. Costs vary depending on site conditions such as distance from the roof, where the solar collectors are installed and the storage tank size. Check state or federal government energy departments for programs that offer subsidies and grants for domestic hot water installations.