Solar Water Heater Estimate?

[jb589134]

What is the typical ballpark cost of solar water heater system, installed? I've received one quote so far at about $15K. This would be a two panel system with a 75 gallon tank in Maryland.

[DanKegel]

What is the typical ballpark cost of solar water heater system, installed? I've received one quote so far at about $15K. This would be a two panel system with a 75 gallon tank in Maryland.

Have you compared with a PV / heat pump water heater? I suspect that might be cheaper, at least as an incremental additiion when installing PV anyway.

[Naptown]

Seems very high
But do not know any details
Depending on number of people living in house you may be better off with doing PV
It takes at least 3-4 people living there with an electric water heater and not in the Potomac Edison service area to make hot water work on a strictly economic basis.

[jb589134]

Four people in the house (includes two small children), with water demands only growing. House is all electric in the BGE area. I am planning to have a 18 panel PV system put in as well and trying to maximize my bang for the buck.
I have limited roof area to fully offset my energy usage, current estimate with PV only is that will take care of about half my total usage. I was hoping that solar water heater would take care of a significant chunk as well.

[Naptown]

Same contractor doing both?
The hot water portion should be in the ballpark of about 10-11k

[LucMan]

What is the typical ballpark cost of solar water heater system, installed? I've received one quote so far at about $15K. This would be a two panel system with a 75 gallon tank in Maryland.

That would be about right for a 64 sq ft. flat panel drainback system here in NY before incentives and tax credit, etc.

[DanKegel]

Four people in the house (includes two small children), with water demands only growing. House is all electric in the BGE area. I am planning to have a 18 panel PV system put in as well and trying to maximize my bang for the buck.
I have limited roof area to fully offset my energy usage, current estimate with PV only is that will take care of about half my total usage. I was hoping that solar water heater would take care of a significant chunk as well.

It was a good thought, but from the rumors I've heard (e.g. http://www.greenbuildingadvisor.com/...r-thermal-dead ), solar hot water systems look expensive and flaky.
(But see http://greenbuildingelements.com/201...-water-heater/ for a report
of $1,100 including installation from a happy solar hot water heater user. No idea why the price varies so
much, I've only been paying attention to PV.)

A few questions:

How are you doing on energy efficiency? Have you switched to all LEDs, checked your fridge with a kill-a-watt, etc.?

Could you cram more PV panels on the roof if you put a few on non-optimal sides (e.g. north side, possibly with reverse tilt)?

What's your goal - saving money, reducing carbon footprint, or ...?

[SunEagle]

What is the typical ballpark cost of solar water heater system, installed? I've received one quote so far at about $15K. This would be a two panel system with a 75 gallon tank in Maryland.

The cost can depend on the type of panels, tank, piping and added insulation as part of the project but that $15K seems high unless there is something special added like a heat exchanger between the thermal panel and storage tank.

I put in an 80 gallon tank with a single 40ftsq panel back in 2010 but also installed a thermal barrier in the attic and additional insulation. If I had just gotten the solar thermal panel and tank I would have spent 2/3rds of the total. I have not priced a similar system to see if the price has gone up or down.

Have you gotten any other proposals?

[jb589134]

It was a good thought, but from the rumors I've heard (e.g. http://www.greenbuildingadvisor.com/...r-thermal-dead ), solar hot water systems look expensive and flaky.
(But see http://greenbuildingelements.com/201...-water-heater/ for a report
of $1,100 including installation from a happy solar hot water heater user. No idea why the price varies so
much, I've only been paying attention to PV.)

A few questions:

How are you doing on energy efficiency? Have you switched to all LEDs, checked your fridge with a kill-a-watt, etc.?

Could you cram more PV panels on the roof if you put a few on non-optimal sides (e.g. north side, possibly with reverse tilt)?

What's your goal - saving money, reducing carbon footprint, or ...?

House is new, built with good insulation.
LEDs in 75% of used lighting, CFLs in rest. (Will switch to all LEDs as soon as the store has more in stock.)
Fridge was new 4 years ago
There is space for a few more panels at odd angles to the sun.
Main goal is to save money.

[DanKegel]

If goal is to save money, I'd stick with a natural gas water heater (and clothes dryer) if that's an option.

[Naptown]

I don't know where that person got that batch heater installed.

With regard to thermal being dead the article is somewhat true.
However it depends on the situstion.
1-2 people in the household it does not make sense
Gas water heater again doesn't make sense.
The break point comes when there are 3 or more with an electric water heater.
Since demand is higher the savings are greater.
The system he would need is roughly the equivalent of a 3 kW PV system. Savings wise.
PV will take up an area about 13x11
Hot water will take up an area about 9x8 or about half the roof space.

[jb589134]

I'd love to get natural gas, but unfortunately it is not available in my area.

Thank you everyone for the help, much appreciated. I think I'm going to go with someone other than the original quote I got. I found another company with a comparable system for a much more reasonable price. So all in all, I'll be getting a PV and a solar water heater system.

[DanKegel]

I'll be getting a PV and a solar water heater system.

Can you share the quote (without installer name, but maybe with brand of heater)?

Good luck and let us know how it turns out!

[jb589134]

Can you share the quote (without installer name, but maybe with brand of heater)?

Good luck and let us know how it turns out!

Sorry for taking so long, been very busy. So the quote was for about $11K with a Vaughn water heater.

[fredliu]

Manufacturer of solar water heater

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---Mod Note: Hi Fred, your participation in discussions here is welcome, but not trolling for business. Especially on your first post.