Solar Hot Water

For most homeowners and businesses, solar hot water is the easiest way to control unpredictable fuel costs and dramatically reduce the use of polluting fossil fuels. We offer a variety of solar hot water systems to suit your particular application and budget. In most instances, a system will be comprised of a collector, a super-insulated storage tank, and a pump station/heat exchange. The diagram below provides a simple example.

When properly sized, a solar hot water system will provide the typical household with all the hot water it needs throughout the summer and for most of the spring and fall. Because there are fewer daylight hours in winter, you can expect the solar system to provide approximately 50 - 60 percent of your hot water needs during those months. Therefore, we always incorporate a backup into the total system, which may be your existing boiler, a secondary direct-fired tank, or a tankless water heater. Based on the current cost of oil and propane, most households can expect a payback of their initial investment in five to eight years. After that, you have free hot water for life!

Solar Hot Water Collectors

• Evacuated Tubes
  Sunda collector tubes are evacuated and sealed with a patented thermo-compression sealing technology to prevent heat losses and to provide protection from corrosion. The heart of these collector tubes is an absorber plate with its aluminum nitride selective coating. The selective coating ensures the exceptionally high solar absorption and low thermal emission of the tubes. Sunda collector tubes offer longevity while maintaining a very high efficiency all year round.
• Flat Plates
  Stiebel Eltron flat-plate collectors reliably collect the incoming solar energy and convert it into available heat. As a rooftop design, it can be used both to backup heating systems and to heat domestic hot water. Advanced absorber technology captures 95 % of the available insolation. As a result, a single panel can harvest enough energy to cover the hot water demand for up to three people. It is also no problem to arrange the collectors in rows, side-by-side, or above each other, to provide plenty of energy for a higher hot water demand.
• Thermomax
  Thermomax vacuum solar tubes are acknowledged as the most efficient method of generating solar hot water whatever the weather - designed specifically for North American climates. Thermomax tubes are made from the highest quality European glass and can operate within a variety of severe weather conditions, including hail. These super-efficient tubes have been designed specifically to generate heat even in cold, windy or humid conditions—supplying up to 70% of your annual hot water needs and dramatically reducing dependence on increasingly expensive fossil fuels.

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Solar Storage Tanks

Marathon In our opinion, Marathon makes the best tank on the market for solar hot water applications. Four inches of dense foam insulation provides unparalleled heat retention. Built-in electric backup simplifies design. And because it’s made of plastic, the Marathon is literally the last tank you’ll ever have to buy—it’s even warranted for life! Available in a wide range of sizes to suit the majority of domestic applications. Stiebel Eltron With its outstanding insulating qualities and rugged design, Stiebel Eltron solar storage tanks provide an excellent solution where integration with existing tankless boilers or direct-fired water heaters is the goal. Its two specially-designed smooth indirect coils are superb at transferring heat in most efficiently. At the same time, they are just as resistant to scale deposits as the entire inner casing, which features a special enamel coating. Available in a wide range of sizes to suit the majority of domestic applications.

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Pump Stations

• Purist
  The Purist Pump Station is a dual pump and heat exchanger all in one. Advanced electronics manage the solar loop and flow of water into your storage tank with the highest efficiency. While the sun is shining, the pump station continuously transfers heat from the collectors to your domestic water, with over-heat protection to prevent scalding or damage to your solar system.
• Stiebel Eltron
  The Stiebel Eltron FlowStar pump station and companion differential controller provide a complete solution for controlling and managing your solar hot water system. Combined with a solar collector, a dual-coil Stiebel Eltron tank or a single-coil tank with a Rinnai tankless water heater, and you have a reliable year-round solution for all your domestic hot water requirements.

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Integrated Solar Hot Water Systems

• Velux
  For a seamless solar hot water system that integrates architecturally into your house design and provides a complete, turn-key solution it’s hard to beat Velux. Known primarily for its beautiful skylights, Velux solar hot water systems incorporate the same great looks with a sophisticated storage and heat exchange package.
  
  And because Velux collectors are flashed right into your roof, they eliminate any issues should you need to replace your roof. You simply install the new shingles right around the Velux collectors.
• Enerworks
  The EnerWorks solar water heating appliance is a clean, cost-effective solution that uses the sun's energy to heat your water. The appliance is attractive, safe, and reliable with minimal maintenance required over its long operational life. EnerWorks is North America's leading solar technology provider. Its proven, patented technology offers a reliable all-season solar appliance that will improve your home's energy efficiency without compromising comfort.

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