Getting your hands on the best solar water heater is not an easy feat as there are many outstanding solar energy collectors on the market and choosing one unique solar device with solar energy absorption support requires a certain amount of work.
The rooftop solar water heater ensures that you have sufficient hot water in storage for daily use and for that reason, the demand for solar water heating kits is more than ever in cold climates.
To help you get your hands on the great solar heater we have reviewed many solar water heaters including some conventional water heating systems and open solar water systems.
After careful consideration, we have selected the top-rated solar water heater, which is a portable solar water heater with many amazing features and specs. So, read our review and get your hands on a trusted solar water heater system.
If you are in a rush, you can make do by reading our top pick.
SolarPoolSupply Highest Performing Design
- 15-20 Years Life Expectancy
- Polypropylene Construction
- Tube and Web Design
SolarPoolSupply Highest Performing Design is the best overall unit that has 15 to 20 years of life expectancy and is a universal panel replacement.
This solar heater is made of Polypropylene and can withstand all weather and harsh rooftop climate. It is tested against freezing weather and will not corrode or have deposits of rust against the walls.
It has a tube and web design that complements the thermal expansion and contraction to enhance lifespan.
The comparison table of the best solar hot water system is given below. The table has 6 entries of the carefully selected hot water systems running on solar power.
Comparison Table Of The Best Solar Hot Water System
- 15-20 Years Life Expectancy
- Polypropylene Construction
- Tube and Web Design
- Pre-compounded Polypropylene Construction
- Black Color
- 7.5 sq. ft. Solar Irradiation Area
- Construction: Stainless Steel
- Capacity: 300 Liters
- Max Op. Pressure: 100 pounds per square inch
- Construction: Copper
- Max Flow Rate: 5.25 GPM
- Max Op. Pressure: 87 pounds per square inch (PSI)
- Polyurethane Construction
- Silver Color
- Capacity 40 GALLON
- 10 Years Life Expectancy
- Pre-compounded Polypropylene Construction
- Tube on Web Design
We have tested over a hundred solar heater systems and have come up with this extensive review article, where we have selected the 6 best solar hot water systems.
Read the detailed and in-depth review of these 6 best solar heating systems in the coming passages.
- 15-20 Years Life Expectancy
- Polypropylene Construction
- Tube and Web Design
If you are looking for ways to save on the utility costs of hot water systems, then installing solar kits could prove to be a one-time investment that let you enjoy hot water without demanding you to break the banks.
Solar hot water systems are innovative, and efficient, and work more efficiently than fossil fuel-driven systems.
Features:
This solar pool supply heater is featuring a 3-Tube Water Heater Collector that is complimented by the Web on Tube design.
This design poses no problems installing and is the highest performing design offering a continuous and consistent supply of water to let you enjoy a warm shower.
The material used in this solar system’s construction is Polypropylene which is pre-compounded to pose resistance against UV rays.
This construction process is suitable for households as only a durable construction fully expresses the strengths of any product.
This fully-functioning solar system has many protective systems integrated into the design such as overheating protection and waterproofing.
This SolarPoolSupply Highest Performing Design solar hot water system also offers protection against freezing which makes it suitable for cold weather and its DIY installation makes it very easy to set up.
The Hassle-free maintenance support of the solar pool supply heater makes it very straightforward to maintain.
- Excellent retention of heat
- Generous water flow
- Very durable & sturdy design
- Eligible for a tax rebate
- Reliable protection against overheating
- Limited flow rate
Verdict:
- Pre-compounded Polypropylene Construction
- Black Color
- 7.5 sq. ft. Solar Irradiation Area
If you are in pursuit of an above-ground heating system with an easy-to-drain evacuated heat tube assembly, then this Xtreampower heating system can prove to be a wise investment.
This above-ground heating MISOL product is a great training project that helps with swimming training and has a very basic design that looks like a photovoltaic system.
Features:
Another notable addition of this web-on-tube design is that it allows thermal expansion and contraction which is the prime reason for its longer lifespan.
If thermal contractions and expansions are not allowed a significant room then the durability of the product will be compromised and it may be worn out in a year or two.
The capacity of this best overall solar hot water system is 40 gallons with a 5.25 GPM flow rate.
This heating unit will provide you with a hot shower quality that you will find in commercial Spas or Jacuzzis.
The primary use of this XtremepowerUS Swimming Pool DIY heating system is to heat the water in your pool and let you enjoy the hot water while swimming and bathing in cold weather.
The active systems for solar heating have a re-circulation pump that offers a substantial reduction in utility cost and offers you excellent savings.
The efficiency rating of this hot water system is quite high and together with its innovative design and high-quality solar vacuum collectors, it can retain heat for longer durations and thus offers good performance with a very cost-saving nature.
- Ease of installation
- Clean-energy technology
- Excellent winter resistance
- Retention of heat
- Complete set for easier installation
- Expensive
Verdict:
- Construction: Stainless Steel
- Capacity: 300 Liters
- Max Op. Pressure: 100 pounds per square inch
If you don’t have any bucks to have a Polypropylene solar water heating system then you can try stainless steel units that are reliable and budget-friendly.
The Duda Solar system is an elegantly curved shape water heater that has foldable and adjustable legs.
These legs are designed specifically for Bestway and Intex swimming pools and are also compatible with most in-ground and above-ground pools.
Features:
This hot water system is made up of stainless steel that is complimented with the 4-ply material and includes an insulator panel.
There is also an integrated gauge that comes with a reflector panel and thus captures the maximum solar radiation.
This hot water system comes with inlet tubes that have an ultra-flexible construction using fiberglass-reinforced headers.
There is also an internal baffle that provides a separate installation kit for the Spa or Flat pools.
The Duda Solar kit has no complicated components and its curved surface with gradual elevation provide the most optimum angle for maximum sun exposure.
This Duda Solar 300 Liter SUS304 hot water solar system has Hailstone resistance due to which the temperature is modest and it also helps eliminate scaling.
This hot water system with flexible and adjustable legs has a portable design that comes with a pocket and features an easy-to-use showerhead.
Thus, you can have access to all the bath essentials in a single kit which is a perfect solution for in-ground pools. Stainless steel water tan
- Excellent thermal retention
- Great for hard water
- Active split system
- Use food-grade components
- Non-toxic propylene glycol construction
- Requires a submersible water pump
Verdict:
- Construction: Copper
- Max Flow Rate: 5.25 GPM
- Max Op. Pressure: 87 pounds per square inch (PSI)
If you are a fan of the Duda solar water heating system but don’t like the idea of having a curved or flat design then you ought to try this Solar Tube water heater by Duda.
This 30-tube solar heater is a high-quality heater with many ADVANCED ELEMENTS such as Velcro straps to boost performance and efficiency.
Features:
This is a high-quality solar water heater that is not dependent on fossil fuels for heating the water.
The most distinguishing feature of this solar water heater is its Thermos-like heat-retention support that is based on its double-walled vacuum-insulated water thermos design and a large-capacity bladder that sandwiches a vacuum between the two thermos insulation layers and traps heat collected to increase the water temperature.
This solar water heating system is very easy to clean and you can use a wet cloth to keep it in a top-notch appearance. You can secure your washcloth using the mesh pocket that comes built-in with a very simple design.
This hot water system has different methods of installation and you can choose the one that suits your requirements best and have the least installation cost.
This Duda Solar 30 Tube Water Heater retention helps in an efficient conversion and therefore, you can experience a fast water heating rate.
There are Integrated Collection Storage systems marked by the MAX-FLOW technology that warms the water in tubes.
In this way, you can have an extended period of turning that not only heat the water in the main body of the container but also the water within the pipes and tubes.
A tempering valve incorporated into the tubes controls the flow of water and you can select how much hot water you want to be running in your water heating system.
- Stainless steel water tank
- Workstation with integrated sensors
- Allows for multiple applications
- Robust construction
- Good overall value
- Most affordable
- No freezing protection
Verdict:
- Polyurethane Construction
- Silver Color
- Capacity 40 GALLON
If you are fed up with the electric water heaters and don’t want to use electric pumps, you should try a solar hot water system that will not only be helpful in saving electric bill but will also boost the water heating performance and gives better heat retention than most electric heating systems.
The Sunbank solar water heater is suitable for residential use and is used best with great tank capacity.
Features:
Sunbank solar water heater uses flat collector plates covered by tempered glass and is set in a sequence using a copper tube. This tube assembly utilizes evacuated tube collectors where water is stored in a bigger glass tube.
Although the Sunbank solar water heater is made of Polyurethane the heat absorber uses a metal tube that is complimented by the Polyurethane insulation on both sides to retain the heat for long hours.
This solar hot water system is very easy to clean and can be cleaned with the help of a wet cloth.
The water collector of Sunbank solar kits has 10 years warranty and you don’t require any pump, Glycol, or other moving accessories to install or operate this hot water system.
This kit can be installed with the help of a plumber or you can also Do It Yourself.
This is a 100% solar-powered system that is great for camping, hiking, and other outdoor adventures that require you to carry a dedicated water heating system for providing a hot water bath facility during off-road journeys.
This SRCC Certified 26% Tax Credit portable solar water heating system is frequently mounted on top of RVs to heat the water for outdoor use.
- Prevents convection heat loss
- Efficient at retaining heat safety valves
- Avoid getting scalded
- Virtually no maintenance is required
- Promotes optimum water flow
- Better used in residential areas only
Verdict:
- 10 Years Life Expectancy
- Pre-compounded Polypropylene Construction
- Tube on Web Design
If you are looking for some cool in-ground pool heaters that have high-efficiency sun absorption and Fantastic value on the market then you ought to try this SunHeater solar heater.
SunHeater is a well-known brand that is famous for its First rate service and 5 Star Feedback.
The products under the flagship of SunHeater have Globally Sourced Parts and a National Network of Installers that help the High-quality components of the hot water systems to be efficiently installed.
Features:
This solar heater is coming with a Class-leading vacuum tube and it’s Electric and Gas Boosting technology can raise the water temperature to 15 degrees F.
This is a Passive System solar heater and you can find many large Size Options available in the market for passive water heaters.
This hot water solar heater has an Extremely Efficient Collection of Hot Water Tank Sensors that will help you monitor and control the temperature of water in your tank.
In this way, you don’t have to wait for the water to be bearable or let it cool down for reaching the optimum temperature.
This hot water solar system has an Incredible Monitoring Platform and its ultra-easy installation allows you to mount it on the water container and position it however you like.
Mounting this SunHeater Solar Heater on the tank on the Roof Saves Space and you don’t have to locate any additional spot for installing your unit.
For operating the solar water heater, the energy conversion efficiency of the solar panels is enough and the “No Pump Needed” claim of the manufacturers stands valid.
- Incredibly Low Maintenance
- Terrific Construction Quality
- Backup Electric Element
- Great For Colder Conditions
- Extremely Weather Resistant
- Suitable only for in-ground pools
Verdict:
Best Solar Hot Water System: A Comprehensive Buyer’s Guide
Are you searching far and wide on the web to get your hands on the best solar hot water system: if that is the case then you are presumably at the right spot as we are going to dig deep into the working and modus operandi to find see what type of solar hot water systems are worthy of purchase and which systems should be discarded all together.
Keep in mind that distinguishing the worthy solar hot water system from an overwhelming sea of choices is not an easy feat.
Buying Guide Of Best Solar Hot Water System – Infographics
Nevertheless, choosing the right one requires you to be equipped with some insight and technical expertise to distinguish the features and specs of solar hot water systems as claimed by the manufacturers.
Unfortunately, it is not possible for everyone to have all the knowledge and common customers are generally laymen who don’t have the technical expertise to sort the quality and cheap goods apart.
In our opinion, knowledge can be gained through proper research and if you want, you can get yourself equipped with the required knowledge on any topic you like.
If you feel like you don’t have enough time to search the web for the required answers, don’t worry, not anymore, as we will help you select the right one, and other than that, we will also help you acquire the desired knowledge of the tech and operation of these solar hot water systems and make your decisions.
You can make sure you get the right solar hot water system by going down the lane and reading through our buyer’s guide.
Here in this comprehensive buyer’s guide, you can go through the working of a solar hot water system and look for the compulsory features and specs that need to be looked upon before buying the solar water system.
So, let’s start with the working of a solar hot water system.
If you’re ready, let’s begin.
“How Solar Hot Water Systems Work?”
The solar water system is the typical water heating system that has the same working principle as other electric or fuel-driven heaters.
The gas or electric heaters use the required fuel to heat up the water in the tank but the solar hot water systems, on the other hand, run on solar energy, after all, and are most cost-effective when it comes to heating water in the tanks.
The working of solar or electric heaters is similar to gas water heaters and all of these water heating systems turn the cold water into hot water by absorbing the energy produced by the specific fuel powering the unit.
The only difference lies in their utility or running cost. Since the gas or electric hot water systems have to rely on non-renewable energy and constantly need to refill the fuel to heat the water, these units cost greatly and the utility bill keeps on rising with the time and units you have spent on heating the water.
For gas-powered water heating systems, a utility bill is not the only requirement as you have to spend sufficient bucks to access the gas fuel each time you use the water heater.
Therefore, solar hot water systems are the best when it comes to running or utility costs.
The working of a solar hot water system is very simple and you have to keep in mind the design of the solar heater for understanding the working principle of these solar hot water systems.
The general working of the solar hot water system is that:
The cold water from the water tank is flown to the solar collector that is mounted on the roof and the water passing through these solar collectors is heated using the solar energy trapped by the thermal cells in these collector tubes.
The hot water is then transferred back to the water tank using the collector tubes and settled at top of the water inside the tank.
On the contrary, the cold water is returned to the bottom surface inside the water tank and when turned on again, the cold water at the bottom is passed through solar collectors, thereby turning into hot water and accumulating at the top.
Cold water is naturally heavier, and therefore, settles at the bottom while hot water is lighter and settles at the top.
Now, let us consider the working of each part of the solar hot water system to completely understand its functioning.
Solar cells of the solar panels (collectors) are mounted on the roof and capture the sunlight.
These solar panels are usually positioned on the roof facing the south to maximize sun exposure. The sunlight strikes the glazing surface of these solar panels which contain an absorbing material.
This absorbing material captures the sun radiations that are afterward converted into heat energy by the solar cells (photovoltaic cells).
The glazing screen retains the heat inside these cells and doesn’t let them move out. Thus, the sunlight is converted into heat energy by the cells in solar panels.
An antifreeze solution (water + anti-freeze) is pumped into the water storage tank passing through the heat exchanger.
This heat exchanger captures the heat energy of the antifreeze solution and passes it into the water inside the storage tank.
The absorbed heat by the heat exchanger is used to heat the water inside the water storage tank.
The hot water rises at the top of the tank while the cold water enters the bottom. Opening a tap draw water from the top and thus provide you with hot water.
Things To Consider Before Buying The Best Solar Hot Water System:
Before heading for the final purchase of the solar hot water system, one needs to mind a few things that may pop up in your mind before you go shopping.
You shouldn’t put these mind pop-ups on hold and rather look for satisfactory answers to those queries so that you can save your hard-earned bucks and don’t get yourself stuck with faulty products.
Are you ready, let’s get started!
I. Material Of Construction:
The very first thing that you need to pay attention to is the construction material used in the solar hot water system. There are plenty of good options for construction materials used in making solar water heating systems. These materials include
- Polypropylene
- Polyurethane
- Aluminum
- Stainless steel
- Copper
The strength and durability of the solar water heating system are dependent upon the material used in its making. Polypropylene material is the best and most expensive when it comes to solar hot water systems.
This material gives the longest lifespan and enhances solar energy conversion efficiency. Polyurethane is also effective for solar water heating systems but is overshadowed by the efficiency and durability of polypropylene units.
II. Design:
The design of the solar hot water system is not only important for its functioning but also determines the positioning and space required for its installation.
Web Tube design is the highest-performing design that poses resistance to UV rays and enhances the lifespan.
This design also ensures maximum sun exposure to the collector and therefore, maximum solar energy is captured and thus converted into heat energy.
The design also helps with the space demands of the product. Many portable units have foldable and flexible parts that allow for a space-saving design.
You should consider your space availability on the rooftop and go with the design that suits your space requirements.
III. The Installation:
The installation cost of solar hot water systems can never be ignored as many entry-level units have installation costs as much as 2 X their price.
Therefore, you should go with a hot water system that has easy installation and can be easily carried out either by yourself or with the minimal help of a plumber.
FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
1. How Long Does A Solar Hot Water System Last?
The average lifespan of a solar water system lasts somewhere between 10 to 12 years with many high-quality solar systems made up of Pre-Compounded Polypropylene having an average life expectancy of 15 to 20 years.
While poor-quality solar water systems with cheap collectors can have a 1 to 2 years lifespan.
2. Which Is the Most Effective Solar Water Heating System?
Duda Solar SUS304 with a 300-liter capacity and active split water system is the most effective solar water heating system.
It is a stainless steel system with 100 PSI max operating pressure and 93 to 96% sun absorption efficiency.
3. What Brand Of Hot Water System Is Most Reliable?
Duda Solar heaters are the most reliable and well-established in the market. These hot water solar systems are made up of globally sourced parts and have zero technical defaults claimed by the manufacturers.
Furthermore, the 24/7 customer care and support center make it the most reliable and trustworthy.
4. What Are The Disadvantages Of A Solar Water Heater?
The most common and legit disadvantage of solar water heaters is that they require direct sunlight exposure and will not work on cloudy, foggy, or rainy days.
Another biggest drawback is that these solar water heaters demand sufficient roof space which is not plausible in all situations.
5. How Do Solar Hot Water Systems Work?
The basic principle behind the working of the hot water system is that cold water is stored in tanks from where it flows to the solar collector.
The thermal cells in the solar collector capture sun radiations and heat the water passing through them.
Hot water naturally rises at the top of the tank while the cold water stays beneath it, thus returning the cold water to the bottom and adding hot water at the top for use.
Final Words:
In our detailed buyer’s guide, you can look for the working of hot water systems and understand how your solar kit will work best. We have also mentioned the necessary things and features that should be looked upon before finalizing the purchase of a solar hot water system. In the end, we have answered some common queries that consumers usually have about solar water systems. We have also highlighted the disadvantages of these solar hot water systems such as the space requirements on the roof or sunlight requirements on cloudy or rainy days. If you want to know more, then watch this video. Renewablecop is is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Learn moreVideo Help:
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