Solar Water Heater Suggestions
 

Mom's water heater broke and she wants to install a solar water heater. She's in the hills north of L.A., so great climate for solar. Any suggestions or sources of info? Anyone know local dealers?

She's not much of a do-it-yourself type. So, the $5 heater made from refrigerator tubing won't work for her. http://goldismoney.info/forums/showt...r+water+heater

Re: Solar Water Heater Suggestions
 

Check out these two websites. They have the best information about all solar stuff.

http://www.homepower.com

http://www.backwoodshome.com

Re: Solar Water Heater Suggestions
 

Thanks Phideaux, appreciate the great links.

One more thing, does anyone know if the federal tax credits that were going to expire at end of 2007 have been or are going to be renewed?

Re: Solar Water Heater Suggestions
 

I would suggest using an indirect (heat exchanger) water heater upstream of a regular water heater, with a roof solar collector piped to the indirect water heater. If the sun shines, then the incoming water for the normal heater has been pre-heated by the indirect heater...ergo reduced energy consumption. If the sun is not shining, then the normal heater will provide domestic hot water. You will need a circulating pump to get the lesser density hot water on the roof down to the indirect water heater. If your mother's property would allow you to mount the solar collector at a lower elevation than the house level, then the density differential would circulate the water (slowly) without a pump

I have a used, 40 gal. stainless steel indirect water heater in my tool shed, which I previously used with a boiler application. Send me a PM if you are interested.