Solar Water Heater Services: Fort Myers, Naples and Surrounding

Solar Water Heater: “World’s Most Efficient Household Appliance”

A solar water heater is one of the best ways for homeowners and businesses in Fort Myers, Naples and surrounding areas that use hot water to reduce electric bills and energy consumption. Solar water heaters have been used in Florida since the early 1900’s. As electricity became available and cheap, power companies gave away electric water heaters in order to sell more electricity. Today with utility rates increasing approximately 6% each year, investing in a solar water heater is economical and will reduce energy consumption.

Solar Water Heating: Rebates, Savings and Conservation

The Federal Government offers 30% of the cost of a solar water heater, and many electric utility companies pay a rebate as well. In Florida, there is no sales tax on solar systems and all solar systems are exempt from increased property tax.

It cost about $18.00 per person in a household for hot water each month. A solar water heater can produce up to 90% of the hot water for a family of 2 and approximately 80% for a family of 4. A solar water heater will provide a 15% annual return on your investment for 2 people in a household and a 25% annual return for a household of 4 people.

Besides helping cut electricity bills, a solar water heater can also help conserve energy. Annually, a solar water heater can reduce a household’s carbon footprint by 14,000 pounds of carbon. That’s more carbon than an average car produces in a year and also saves the equivalent of 11.4 barrels of oil annually!

How a Solar Water Heater Works

In the morning, the sun rises and shines on the installed solar collector and the photovoltaic panel mounted on your roof. The photovoltaic panel generates electricity to a small DC current pump that circulates water from the bottom of your hot water storage tank through the solar collector on the roof. As the water is pumped through the solar collector, it absorbs the sun’s heat and then flows back to the tank. The more intense the sun, the faster the pump circulates the water through the solar collector. During periods of cloudy weather, a back-up electric element automatically comes on so you never run out of hot water. This type of system also has built in freeze protection. However, it is designed for south and central Florida, where freezing weather is rare.

A thermal solar water heater cost 1/5 the amount it would cost to install photovoltaic solar electric panels to generate enough electricity to heat your hot water. If you are considering a photovoltaic solar electric system, a solar water heater should be included in the system.