Frequently Asked Questions

Are solar hot water heaters worth it?

Absolutely, solar water heaters are worth it! Although they cost a bit more upfront than a conventional gas or electric water heater, that cost difference is quickly paid back by savings on your utility bill. Plus, SRCC certified solar water heaters qualify for the 30% federal tax credit, which means that you get 30% of the cost back (on the equipment and installation) on your tax bill. In addition to the financial savings, you can also rest easy knowing that you’re not burning fossil fuels just to have hot water. That is priceless.

What if I use a lot of hot water at night?

That’s fine. The Sunbank solar water heater is installed in such a way that you always have hot water; either as a pre-heater to your existing water heater or as a stand-alone system with a backup electric heating element installed in the Sunbank. And the Sunbank tank is very well insulated. If you use a lot of hot water at night then you will use the heat stored in the Sunbank and then the backup heater will kick in for any hot water consumed in excess of the amount stored.

Do I need to keep my conventional water heater?

No! Our system comes with a backup heating element so you can use it as your only water heater. If you do this, you will also need either our WiFi or hard wired controller. However, if you live in a cold climate, want more hot water capacity, or prefer to keep using gas as a backup, then you may want to install the Sunbank as a pre-heater to your conventional water heater.

Can I use this with a tankless or on demand water heater?

Absolutely! That is a very efficient installation scenario because you avoid the standby losses of a conventional tank water heater. Most all modern tankless water heaters accept pre-heated water, or are “solar ready,” but check with the manufacturer before installation so that it doesn’t void your tankless water heater warranty. They can be sensitive systems, and sometimes manufacturers will want to make sure your water is not too hard, also, in order to honor their warranty.

It’s worth mentioning that when comparing a tankless system to a solar water heater, from an economical perspective there is almost no comparison. Tankless water heaters are relatively expensive to install, so while they may cost the same as a solar water heater they still burn gas or consume electricity and are 75% less efficient than a solar water heater.

How long does it take for a solar water heater to heat water?

While solar water heaters work a little bit differently than conventional electric or gas water heaters, the user experience of always having hot water is the same. Solar water heaters heat water slower than a conventional water heater, but they are heating the water constantly as long as the sun is shining and heat the water to higher temperatures. Slow and steady wins the race. By heating the water in the tank to high temps, like 160F, you have plenty of hot water as it is mixed down to 120F before it comes into the house using what is called a mixing valve. And solar water heaters are always installed with a conventional backup, by either using the heating element in our tank or pre-heating a second tank, so that you always have hot water.

Is there any maintenance needed?

The only maintenance needed is the replacement of the Magnesium anode which, depending on you water quality, is every 3-5 years. Although we recommend checking the anode after one year and basing future changes on how much of the anode remains.

What if I'm on well water or have hard water?

If you’re on a well, our advise is to install a whole house reverse osmosis filtration system before installing a Sunbank. High mineral content water causes corrosion and will shorten the life of the tank. Installing a filter will help your entire plumbing system last longer.

What are the disadvantages of a solar water heater?

As far as we can tell, the disadvantages of a solar water heater are: higher upfront cost, harder to find an installer, and takes up space on the roof. The flipside of these are: lower operating cost (much lower net cost), perfect for a DIY installer, and frees up space in the garage or living area. We think the big advantages of lower cost and emissions way overshadow the disadvantages.

Do solar water heaters work in the winter?

Solar water heaters do work in the winter, although you typically get less heat from the sun in the winter since the days are shorter and the sunlight is less intense. Whereas in the summer (and most of spring and fall) you would expect to get 100% of your hot water from the sun, in the winter it is closer to 50%. That’s why solar water heaters have backup heating elements, that kick in to seamlessly provide hot water when the temperature falls below your set point. Of course this is climate dependent. We recommend our systems for installation in the southern half of the U.S. You would not expect 50% of your heat from the sun in the Alaskan winter!

What if I'm off grid?

Then you’ve found the right system. This system works perfectly as an off grid solar water heater. Our system requires 0 kWh of electricity to function and you can use the system whenever you have hot water. Or, if you want to always have hot water or a place to store your excess electricity production, we have a 120V element option that you can use for that.

What happens to the temperature when I take a shower?

The Sunbank typically stays in the 100F-160F temperature range. Your Sunbank may be at 140 degrees when you take a 10 minute shower at 2 gallons per minute. That means you have used 20 gallons of hot water thus introducing 20 gallons of 60 degree ground water into your Sunbank tank. For an 80 gallon tank that means you have used 1/4 of the heat which would drop the temperature of the tank by 20 degrees (140-60 X .25) to 120F. In reality you would be using less than 2 GPM of hot water because you would mix down 140 degree water to 120 so that it doesn’t scald you. You would actually use 15% less hot water or 1.71gpm (140/120 X 2) and therefore be left with 123F in the tank. Any water temperature over ground water temperature means gas or electricity savings. And when your Sunbank is over your backup temperature set point you are not using any fossil fuel to heat that water.

What is the water temperature first thing in the morning?

The Sunbank solar water heater has a very well insulated tank. When sized correctly (you have enough storage and solar production to roughly match your consumption), the Sunbank typically stays in the 100F-160F temperature range. If you go to sleep when the tank is 140F and it is 70F ambient air temperature, you will have roughy 130F water temperature the next morning. In the winter, if it is 30F overnight you may lose roughly 20F. Any water temperature over ground water temperature means gas or electricity savings. And when your Sunbank is over your backup temperature set point you are not using any fossil fuel to heat that water.

What if the water gets too hot, won't it burn me?

The Sunbank should always be installed with a thermostatic mixing valve, otherwise knows as an anti-scald valve. This is a common spring loaded mechanical device that automatically mixes hot water down to a set point. We recommend a set point that is comfortable for showering, typically 110F – 120F, so that you can turn on the hot water in your shower without the need to do extra mixing at the tap. Other than the obvious benefit of not being burned, the mixing valve also saves hot water. If you have 140 degree water in your Sunbank, for example, and are mixing it down to 120, then you are using 1.71 gallons of solar heated water in order to get 2 gallons of hot water. This, in effect, extends your hot water capacity.

Why not 100% solar?

Solar water heaters, when designed correctly, produce an average of 75% of the necessary hot water per year in a 4 season climate. The correctly sized solar water heater will handle 100% of your water needs in the summer but less during the winter. If you wanted a solar water heater that provided 100% of your heating capacity year round in a 4 season climate, you would have to install a system that could provide 100% of your hot water in the winter. This is not a cost efficient strategy as you would have excess heat capacity in the summer.

A year round 95% solar solution is possible in places that do not experience a significant winter, like Florida, parts of the South, the Southwest, coastal California, etc. Even so, we recommend that the system be installed with a controller and auxiliary heater for those times when there is excess demand and/or a long period of rainy weather.

What do I need to place one at my house?

The only thing you truly need is a place to put the Sunbank. Roof mount or ground mount, with a ground mount often being easier, avoiding roof penetrations and shorten the plumbing run. Preferable you would have a at least 4 hours of direct sunlight per day and a relatively simple chase to your existing plumbing or existing water heater if pre-heating.

Will it work on a cloudy day?

The Sunbank works even on cloudy days, but it won’t produce nearly as much heat as it does in full sun.

How do I keep it from freezing in the winter?

The Sunbank collector and tank are both protected from freezing by their insulation. The tank has 55mm of high density polyurethane insulation. The collector tubes each have a heat pipe which contain a small bit of anti-freeze solution in it. That, combined with the fact that the tubes are evacuated means they are freeze protected to -35° below zero.

External plumbing is the most vulnerable point for freezing. The first point here is that we recommend PEX tubing instead of copper as PEX tubing does not burst when frozen. Your PEX must be well insulated and for prolonged freezing temperatures should include thermostatic heat tape in the insulation bundle or a re-circulation pump with a timer set to run at 5 minute intervals during the night in the winter. The added benefit of the re-circulation pump is that you can also use it to deliver hot water instantly your shower. In the case of a power outage where these freeze protections fail, we recommend a freeze protection valve be installed as a last line of defense.

Can I paint it?

You can paint the it any color under the sun. As long as the tubes don’t get painted the Sunbank will work fine.

Can I heat my pool with it?

The Sunbank is designed to heat a relatively small volume of water from ground water temperature to well over 120 degrees. There is a different technology designed to heat pools which heats a large volume of water only a few degree. This technology is “lower tech” than the Sunbank, not able to heat domestic water, and thus less expensive per BTU than a solar water heater. Feel free to contact us and we can tell you more about solar pool heaters.

Will I have to worry about snow sticking to it and piling up?

In normal conditions you will not have to worry about snow on your Sunbank. There are spaces between the tubes for snow to fall between and if snow does stick to the curved surface then it will quickly melt or evaporate off.

Would I have to cut down trees to put one in?

It is optimal to have at least 6 hours of full sun per day or more, but the Sunbank will still make valuable heat in indirect sun and if it only has direct sunlight for, say, 4 hours. Any solar energy you absorb is free and contributes to your savings.

    EXCELLENT  
  16 reviews on
 
 
         
   nic maier 
 
 
 
   I don't write reviews but I have to tell others about James from Sunbank! We got an 80 gallon solar water heater and installed it ourselves. It works very well in Southern California. The installation was a little challenging for us, but James helped every step of the way and was even available to give us advice a full year after we had purchased the unit. He was always quick to respond with a thorough and helpful answer! I wish all businesses were run like Sunbank with people like James!
  
 
 
       
   Bob Billings 
 
 
 
   James, thanks for your continued support.  Our 40 gallon Sunbank water heater is the best. Installed in October of 2021 and we would not trade it. Our life off-grid has worked out well. Bob Billings
  
 
 
       
   Jonathan Bishop 
 
 
 
   My only regret is not getting the Sunbank sooner! I installed the 40 gallon system which has been perfect for 3 people. It has a 1500 watt element to heat the tank when the sun isn't shining and because of the low power demand, we are able to run it completely off-grid. James also took time to answer any questions I had and has been excellent to work with!
  
 
 
       
   Robert Thorlin 
 
 
 
   James and the team at Sunbank are exceptionally knowledgeable and willing to help.  Pre-sale and post-sale support was wonderful, even to the point of shipping a bunch of extra T-bolts I needed for my unique installation, bolts and shipping all at their cost.

I would bot hesitate to work with them again on anything... 10 stars if I could...

Mike
  
 
 
       
   Elsa Hennings 
 
 
 
   Living in the Mojave desert, I've wanted to "go solar" for our home's energy needs for a long time (I like free stuff). We put in a solar electric system in 2004, which has long since paid for itself, and bought a plug-in hybrid car to use our "free gas" several years ago.  I finally decided to heat our water with the sun, and after looking at a number of systems, I chose SunBank Solar based on it having no moving parts (I don't like to fix stuff). I mounted it on the ground since we have no shading on the other side of the wall from our old electric water heater, which made the plumbing pretty simple. For overheating protection in the desert, I painted half of each heating tube with reflective silver paint as James recommended (see photo on right), so when we leave on vacation I just rotate each tube to prevent heat absorption, turning the system off. The instructions provided, along with some how-to videos on youtube for using pex tubing, allowed me to get it all put together with no prior plumbing experience.  James was an invaluable resource when I had questions, which was often!  The system has now been running for over a month, quietly generating all the hot water we need!  I highly recommend not only the system but the company for the high quality materials and excellent product support!
  
 
 
       
   debra covey 
 
 
 
   Installed the Sunbank 40 water heater 12/2019. We didn’t install the controller until 8/2020 in case we needed it in the coming winter, but still haven’t needed supplemental heat in south Florida as of 4/2021.  Love this thing! Works great for the 2 of us in our small (1000 sq ft) home.  So glad we installed it.  Company was very responsive to all questions prior to ordering through install.  Highly recommend!
  
 
 
       
   Jim Feldhan 
 
 
 
   I rarely write reviews; however, I am very happy and impressed with the Sunbank solar hot water heater. It appears to be made from top quality material. I was replacing a Solarhart which was not a stainless steel tank and the heat exchanger developed a leak. I started with a 40-gallon system and installed it myself. I’m very handy with DIY projects.
The Instructions online were clear, and James was very helpful with any of the questions I had.
Being in Phoenix I thought a 40-gallon system would be enough. Once Witter arrived, I realized that I use more hot water than I thought and wanted to have 100% solar hot water. Thus, I installed a second 40-gallon system to boost my capacity to 80. I also install a couple of radiators to heat the master bath and home office allowing me to heater those room in the fall, winter, and spring with excess hot water.
In summary, I am very happy and give Sunbank 5 stars for quality and service.
  
 
 
       
   Timothy Clayton 
 
 
 
   I installed the Sunbank and the water temp went from 50F to 101F in 4 hours the 1st day.  By the 3rd day I was up to 160F.  It only loses approx 5 degrees overnight.  It is awesome!  James at Sunbank is one of the best support guys I've dealt with.  Definitely recommend buying this for solar hot water.
  
 
 
       
   Cuyler Smith 
 
 
 
   Our family purchased a 40 Gallon Sunbank Solar Water Heater just over a year ago and we are VERY pleased with its performance, ease of installation, and energy savings!  We have it installed on top of our spring house roof, located about 125 ft. away from our house.  When combined with the Federal Tax Credit and the savings associated with the solar offset of electrical usage for heating water, this Sunbank system quickly pays for itself and is a great investment.  I was able to install the system on my own and it has performed flawlessly during its first year of use.  James at Sunbank Solar has been more than helpful in responding to any questions I have, even after the initial purchase, which says a lot!  I would recommend the Sunbank Solar Water Heater to anyone wanting to save money and reduce our environmental impact!
  
 
 
       
   tutti hacking 
 
 
 
   I recently installed two 40 gallon Sunbank solar water heaters - one on my garage and one on my ADU. They have been awesome! Water is super hot and now I don't have any qualms washing my laundry with warm, solar heated water! I have wanted a Sunbank system for almost four years now, and James has patiently helped me through the process. I used my local solar panel installer to get the job done. Took 3 days to fully install (I did need some reinforcement for 2x4 rafters) and inspection was quick and easy. James steered me to a great structural engineer to get what I needed for City Planning. It feels great to have gotten rid of my natural (fracked) gas water heaters! And the 30% tax credit, along with the California Solar Initiative rebate, really makes it affordable.
  
 
 
  
 
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