installing solar water heaters Archives - Optimized Plumbing & Piping - sonora ca plumbing repair- plumbing contractor

Solar water heating in Northern CA has never been a better deal. Solar rebates are making this a great time to install a solar water heater in Northern CA Water heaters use about 20% of the energy consumed in the average American home. They are the second largest energy user in the home.(The first is space heating) They are also much cheaper to install than solar electric (photovoltaic) making them a great value for many homeowners, and even businesses especially areas where natural gas is absent like Sonora, Angels Camp, Copperopolis, Groveland etc.

A solar water heater in Northern CA homes can dramatically cut the amount you spend to heat water by using the energy of the sun instead of using fossil fuels. (Using electric water heaters also uses fossil fuels because 29-41% of the state’s electricity comes from burning natural gas). When you consider that water heating consumes the second largest amount of energy in the home, and the sun produces heat naturally it makes sense to harness the energy of the sun instead of paying high fuel prices. A solar thermal system can easily last 20 + years so the cost saving benefits last for years.

Things to look for when hiring a contractor to install a solar water heater in Northern CA.

*Licensed contractor

*Bonded and insured

*Part of the California solar initative program ( to qualify for rebates)

*Experience not only with plumbing, but with mechanical piping as well.

*Experience with hydronic heating.

(This is not the same as plumbing a standard water heater, but plumbing experience is necessary because some modifications may be needed to the existing plumbing system)

For more information about solar water heating in Northern CA contact Sonora plumbers at Optimized Plumbing & Piping. (209) 352-4294 We provide solar water heater installations in northern California, as well as Sonora plumbing service, and plumbers in Modesto CA. We are part of the California Solar Initative so you can receive any rebates available for solar water heating. We are also familiar with other energy efficient solutions for heating water including high efficiency tankless water heaters, and heat pump water heaters. Let us put together a hot water system that works for you.

There are many options available when considering solar water heating in Northern CA. In this post we’ll go over the kinds of collectors, and benefits of each. For more information Call Optimized Plumbing & Piping at 209-352-4294.

Flat Plate Collectors

Flat plate solar collectors are the most used type for solar water heating. They last a long time, and work well. These collectors can come in many different sizes to meet your needs but are normally 4-6″ in depth. They have a frame, a glass front, and are insulated on the sides, and the back. Normally copper is used for the heating coils. It is very important to make sure the glazing on these collectors is glass and not plastic (plastic will not hold up in direct sunlight).

Evacuated Tube Collectors

Evacuated tube solar collectors were invented to solve a problem of flat plate collectors which is : there is no way to insulate the front side (the glass). There is a collector plate inside of a glass tube that has a vacuum pulled while it is formed. This vacuum is what insulates the collector plates. Because of the insulating effect of the vacuum higher temperatures are are possible. These higher temperatures can be a problem because it can boil the glycol solution that is used to heat water.

Integral Collector Storage

This type of collector uses the tank as the collector. Many times they are painted black to absorb the sun’s heat. The tank can sit inside a black box which is insulated on all sides except the front which is glazed. Integral collectors are a good choice for solar water heating if freezing conditions are not a concern. This makes them a poor choice for many areas of Northern California including Sonora, Angels Camp, Copperopolis, and Groveland. The weight can also be a problem if trying to mount them on a roof because they can weigh over 400 LBS when full of water.

Call Optimized Plumbing & Piping at 209-352-4294 for more information on installing a solar water heater in northern California.

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Solar water heating in Northern CA Benefits

Solar water heating (Types of collectors) Northern CA

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