Solar Water Heating Systems FAQs, Solar Heating Panels Questions, Solar Water Heating FAQs

Home Page > > FAQs

FAQs

What are the different types of solar power?

There are two main methods of generating solar power. The first uses sunlight to generate electricity by utilizing photovoltaic or solar electric systems. Alternatively, you can use the sunlight to heat up a fluid (generally based on water) for solar hot water heating, solar pool heating or solar space heating (commonly referred to as solar thermal systems).

What are the advantages of solar hot water?

Solar energy is clean, safe, and affordable. It's also renewable, replenished every day as the sun rises. Vaillant's solar hot water systems cut energy costs, reduce CO2 emissions, and ensure the comfort of your home or business. Learn more about the advantages of solar and discover what you can do to save money and the environment one shower at a time.

How much will I save if I install a solar water heating system?

Due to the ample availability of sunshine in the Southwest, solar savings can be as high as 80% of your energy use, for heating domestic water. These results vary and depend entirely on the specific circumstances of your system. For a customized simulation of your potential savings, please contact our technical solar experts who will run a personalized solar simulation based on your unique needs.

How much does a solar hot water heating system cost?

The cost of a solar hot water system will vary depending on your specific needs, including the number of people in your household, your geographic location, the weather patterns in your area, your roof’s orientation, and several other factors. However, typical solar hot water systems are priced between $6,000 to $8,000 before tax credits and incentives. Depending on your state and local solar incentives, a solar hot water system could cost around $3,000 to $4,000. These costs cover the entire solar hot water system including solar panels, hot water tank, solar controls, and installation.

How long will it take to recover my investment in a solar water heating system?

In general, payback times tend to be shorter for propane and electricity-fired hot water systems and longer if you are currently relying on natural gas. Due to the magnitude of factors of influence, it is impossible to offer one precise figure here. However, simulation results suggest that payback times can start as low as 5-8 years. For a more accurate figure of the payback time for your specific home, please contact our technical solar experts, for a customized simulation based on your specific needs.

Are there any incentives in place?

There are a variety of solar incentives available on different levels (federal, state, and local). For details, please visit dsireusa.org or contact Vaillant Solar Systems for more information about the incentives available in your neighborhood.

What happens when the sun is not shining?

In general, a solar hot water heating system should be able to generate up to 80% of your hot water needs from solar energy. In the event that there are many cloudy days in a row, or you have increased demand in your hot water consumption (several guests spending the weekend at your house), a back-up heater kicks in and provides the required amount of hot water.

What makes Vaillant Solar Systems different?

We are committed to providing total satisfaction to our customers, reflected in our exceptional solar hot water products and responsive service. Vaillant Solar offers products of exceptional quality and we complement those products with industry-leading services. In order to ensure proximity to our customers, we have focused our network on the US southwest states (California, Nevada and Arizona). To ensure quality, we only collaborate with extensively trained and certified contractors. At the end of each installation, a factory-trained service technician inspects each system and reviews the installation according to our meticulous standards.

In addition, we benefit from being the subsidiary of one of the leading HVAC-companies, The Vaillant Group, which is an industry leader in the European market. The Vaillant Group has been family-owned since its founding in 1874 and has grown to over 12,000 employees to date, with annual revenues in excess of $3.4 billion (USD).

Where can I buy a Vaillant Solar System?

Vaillant Solar Systems are only available for sale thru certified partners. Please contact Vaillant Solar Sales to find the partner nearest to you.

I don’t live in a warm, tropical climate. Will solar water heating still work for me?

Germany receives the same amount of solar radiation as Alaska and is the global leader in solar usage. Therefore, every zip code in the US is a prime candidate for solar water heating.