How Solar Hot Water Works 

Solar water heaters may be used in two ways

Solar Domestic Hot Water:

These solar heaters circulate a transfer fluid through one or more solar collectors on your roof. After being heated by the sun, the fluid enters the house where a heat exchanger passes the heat to your domestic water system. A storage tank, similar to a conventional hot water heater tank, then holds the heated water until it is used. Your traditional hot water heater (tank) is left in the system where it can turn on when there are cloudy days. Typically, a solar domestic hot water heater can provide 60-75% of your annual domestic hot water needs.

Solar Space Heating:

Solar space heating water heaters are typically much larger in size than a domestic hot water heater. The water is heated and stored in the very same manner as with the domestic hot water heater described above. Once the water in the storage tanks is heated by the sun, it is used to supplement the water previously heated only by your existing boiler. This is done by either tying the solar storage tanks into your existing heating system, or by installing a separate loop that feeds radiant heaters to heat discreet additional areas of your home. Either way, a solar space heater can provide as much as a 35% reduction in your annual heating costs.

Reliability:

Today's solar hot water systems are very reliable. They have a typical lifespan of 25 years or more. Many of the components in a solar water heater are commonly found in a typical home's conventional heating and plumbing systems. Maintenance of a solar water heater is minimal and no annual cleanings are needed, although a system check up is recommended every 5 years.

Solar water heaters are designed to be fully automatic, so your familiar lifestyle and water use will be virtually unchanged. However, your energy consumption and carbon footprint will be dramatically reduced!