Q. How does the Solar Hot Water System work with tankless on demand water heaters?
Savings are even bigger for those with electric water heaters. If you plan on purchasing an on-demand system, call the manufacturer to make sure that model is compatible.
from Manny Bade of Globe Solar...
A. The concept of tankless water heaters (on demand hot water heaters) is that the water is heated not in a tank but directly through a high velocity heaters that burns gas instantaneously consuming tremendous amount of gas in a very short time. Our solar water heater is installed before the tankless water heater in the same way it is installed before a conventional hot water tank.
When water gets into your house, it is at a temperature of 4C in wintertime and 10C in the summertime. Whether it is heated by tankless or conventional tank, it takes the same amount of gas to heat the water from 4 or 10 Celsius up to 50 Celsius.
When we use solar water heaters, the sun pre-heats the water up to 30C so that the water heater (tankless or conventional) will need to heat it for just 20C, thus saving you a large chunk of the gas.
How does the Solar Hot Water System work with hard water and well water?
from Manny Bade of Globe Solar...
Regarding hard water, Toronto's water is not hard, therefore if used in Toronto, there is absolutely no problem with our solar hot water heater.
For residents in areas with hard water, there is hardly any problem with our solar hot water heaters because water is not circulated in the tubes themselves, therefore there is no danger of scale build-up in the tubes. Regular flushing of the overhead water tank will solve the problem so the accumulated gunk will not build up inside the tank. Even with conventional gas or electric water tanks, it is recommended that flushing be done once every 6 months or at least once a year.
Again, well water's problem is that sometimes it does have hard water. The same procedure will be taken as to flushing the solar water tank once every 6 months.
How safe is the solar heated hot water to drink if plastic tubing has been used?
Some set ups use plastic piping as well as copper piping.
I asked Manny Bade of Globe Solar about this...
As to plastic tubes used, it is advisable that drinking water is normally taken from the cold water pipe not from the hot water pipe since hot water goes through the hot water tank (solar or conventional) and normally there is gunk inside your conventional tank, and therefore it is already not really safe or healthy! Note that there are actually no real safety cautions against drinking from your hot water tap, but it's certainly not the tastiest water whether you have a solar hot water heater or conventional system!
What area is RRReAct's Solar Hot Water Heating System available?
You can participate if you are virtually anywhere in North America! Globe solar Energy has agents and expert installers all over the continent. Simply contact me by phone or email and I'll refer you.
What is the process for getting Solar Hot Water Heating System?
Call or email me and I'll refer you to RRReAct's partner, Manny Bade of Globe Solar Energy. He'll schedule a short home visit with you at your convenience. He'll check for shading or technical issues, and discuss the system details with you. Then simply sign your Solar Agreement with a small deposit, and he'll schedule your solar audit. This audit will include a report of expected savings based on your hot water usage and solar availability.
Is there enough sunshine in southern Ontario to make this worthwhile?
There is enough sunshine in most regions of North America to make solar a worthwhile investment. In fact there is more solar energy available in Toronto than Frankfurt, Germany. Manny will assess your specific installation conditions.
What type of roofing materials can you install on?
We can install on traditional roofing materials such as asphalt shingles, gravel and membrane. During the home consultation, Manny will factor in the condition of your roof before making a recommendation.
Won’t snow block the tubes in the winter?
After a heavy snowfall, the snow may cover the tubes for a day or two. The snow does slide off quite easily without your having to do anything because the tubes are circular and they are on an angle.
What is the efficiency of the system?
You can save up to 60% per year on your hot water costs. We'll provide you with more information during you in home consultation and presentation, where you'll learn about case studies of homes in your neigbourhood.
How long does the installation take?
Installation time varies from house to house. The average installation time is 1 day but an additional day may be required depending on your roof and weather conditions.
What if I am planning to replace my roof soon?
It's best to replace your roof if it requires this before your solar unit is installed for many reasons including that you will have to pay for the solar unit to be removed and reinstalled by a trained solar panel installer.
Is any maintenance required and if so, who do I call?
No maintenance is required. This system does not use glycol or pumps. This is a huge advantage because with other systems, glycol has to be replaced every year and the back flow valves have to be professionally checked every year. Globe solar Energy warantees the system and its installation for 5 years.
Is financing available?
Yes. We have partnered with TD/Canada Trust and they are offering our solar customers a pre approved $5,000 loan package that will be paid for entirely in rebates, credits and savings.