FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What are my cash savings?
Unlike space heating, people tend to use hot water in the same amounts each month over the course of the year. One easy way to get an idea as to what you will save would be to look at what you spend on natural gas in a typical summer month and then to multiply this by 12.
A solar water heating system installed by PolarSolar will save you between 60-90% a year, so take this number you calculated and multiply it by 0.75 to get a rough estimate of your savings in the first year.
Natural gas prices have increased at an average of about 7% yearly over the last 20 years and could likely increase at a rate as high as 12% as demand continues to increase. Our solar calculator can estimate your savings at a conservative 7% yearly increase in the cost of natural gas. Basically the story is this: In California, we pay a premium to transport natural gas into the state while a free, abundant, and renewable source of energy shines down on us every day.
The 60-90% you could be saving is money that you are guaranteed to lose to the utilities to burn their gas, but this isn’t the best way to think about your savings because it doesn’t give the full picture.
What is the full picture on solar water heating?
First, for every dollar your home saves in utility costs per year, your home equity increases $20, though this value is subject to depreciation - For the average installation, this means that the day your system is installed, the value of your home increases by about $5,220. The system is installed at no net cost to you – in the majority of households of three or more people, government rebates and tax credits make your investment in a solar water heater a net gain for you. Very simply, these are your stimulus dollars at work...
And unlike other home improvements, your investment brings increasing cash returns each year as the price of natural gas rises. Going solar with your water heating over continuing to heat your water conventionally is very similar to the decision you made to buy your home and stop renting. Here the decision is to stop wasting money by investing up front in becoming your own utility.
At a 7% average annual rise in the cost of natural gas, prices will double every 10 years. In year ten, the cost is double what it is today. You’re saving $522 a year on your utility bills and your home is worth more than it would be had you put in a conventional heater today. In twenty years, the numbers double again.
Our systems are built in America – built to last 25-30 years.
What is the environmental benefit?
It is a proven fact that human energy consumption is affecting climate change. At current rates of population increase and energy consumption, our ecosystems simply cannot survive.
Average temperatures at the polar ice caps are increasing at twice the rate they are elsewhere on the planet. Polar ice keeps our global climate cool by reflecting solar radiation back out into space, and this ice is now thinning, breaking, and melting rapidly. The largest single block of ice in the Arctic, the Ward Hunt Ice Shelf, had been intact for over 3,000 years before it started cracking in 2000. Within two years it had split all the way through and is currently breaking into pieces.
Installing a solar water heater on your roof puts a renewable energy utility on your home that spares the atmosphere over 3 tons of heat-trapping gas each year - about 90 tons over the life of the system.
Annual CO2 emissions from residential water heaters alone are about equal to the emissions from every car and light truck on the road driven 60,000 miles. Simply put, installing one in your home is the equivalent of not driving your car.
Why haven’t I heard much about this before? I always hear about Solar Electricity, not Solar Water Heating?
It amazes us, too – but this technology has been relied on for decades in many countries around the world. Because the US has not had the energy shortages that European countries have had that led them to invest in solar water heating decades ago, the US has been remiss in catching on. This technology is very popular worldwide. Over 90% of the homes in Israel have solar water heating. If 50% of homes in California had solar water heating, it would be the carbon equivalent of 34,325,049 cars off the road!
How does it work? Is it similar to Solar Electricity?
It is a different technology than Solar Electricity. In fact, it is much simpler and much more efficient. If you’ve ever left a bottle of water in a car during the day then you basically understand how it works - The differences being that our system’s controls and insulation are much more advanced. Even on a cold, 50-degree morning, the temperatures inside our systems can reach over 150 degrees.
When the sun heats the panels, a non-toxic glycol solution inside is heated to as high as 280 degrees. This fluid rises to the top of the tilted panel and then runs back down to a storage tank. In the storage tank, the heated glycol runs through copper coils that are submerged in your water tank. Since the water is constantly heated by the coils, the water temperature rarely drops below the temperature threshold set on your water heater to trigger the natural gas burner. This means that the conventional backup heater only has to work a fraction of the time, and that you will save 60-90% on water heating. For a more detailed account, watch our introductory video found on our main page.
What accounts for the range in savings?
Savings fluctuate depending on weather, orientation, the amount of water you use at a time, and the time of day you draw the most hot water. Regardless, our installers will show you how to gain the most from your investment, and we guarantee you will keep half of the money that you now give away to the utility company. In the face of rising natural gas and electricity prices, going solar now will save you big money, and besides, its the right thing to do.
What happens when it is cloudy and rainy outside? Do I ever have to go without a hot shower?
No, you will never have to go without hot water. Your hot water tank still has a backup heater. So if the sun is not shining as much, your conventional heating component will still be working – you will only see the difference in your savings.
It is important to know that unlike solar electric panels, which only convert 20% of the solar energy that touches them into useable energy, solar water panels convert 80% of the sun’s energy that touches them. This is because solar electric panels require direct sunlight to operate. Solar water panels work in ambient sunlight and do not require direct rays to do their job.
What does a high-efficiency water heater cost fully installed? How long does it last?
An average high-efficiency water heater costs about $1,025 fully installed, averages $350 a year to run, and will last anywhere from eight to twelve years depending on the quality of the heater and how well it is maintained. See the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (ACEEE) web page on water heating for more information (though the page has not been updated in a few years, so some information is outdated).
What's the deal with demand or tankless water heaters? I hear a lot about them and they seem to be pretty popular. Why should I choose a solar water heater?
While heating water directly as needed conserves some energy, these heaters still require considerable amounts of natural gas.
When comparing tankless or direct heating to solar water heating, choosing to go tankless will save you from 24 to 34 percent of your water heating bill, while our system can save you 60 to 90 percent.
Also, installing a tankless heater can be quite expensive because they often require a costly upgrade to your gasline and an expensive stainless steel venting system. The gasline upgrade and venting systems are typically not included in your quote. To learn more about demand or tankless water heaters, check out the Dept. of Energy's web page on demand water heaters.
We think it makes more sense to use the free and clean energy provided by the sun.
How is the unit installed?
Our fully-trained, professional installers fix four mounts directly into your roof rafters and then slide and attach the solar panel in place. We then drill an additional roof penetration for piping and wiring. All penetrations are expertly sealed and flashed.
In the home’s interior, we run well-insulated pipes down through non-visible areas, such as closet corners, to ensure that the pipes are both out of sight and no damage has been made to your home’s dry wall. Lastly, we replace your existing water heater with your new solar tank. We will dispose of your existing water tank for you if you would like.
Who do I call if something goes wrong?
You can call our customer service center 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and we will set up the most convenient time for a local representative to visit your residence and service your system. Remember, in the unlikely event that the system malfunctions, you will still have a conventional heater to heat your water, so you will not be without it for any period of time.
Can I get a better price somewhere else?
You may come across a variety of price quotes. All solar water heating systems in the market are different in terms of product design, function, and quality. However, we offer our systems at competitive prices - and a major difference with PolarSolar is that our quote includes all permitting, additional materials, sales tax, and our unrivaled standard of service – we will not vary on price from the day of your free quote to the day of your system installation, and we make sure you get your incentive money. We pride ourselves in giving you all the information and making your experience the best possible.
