How to Choose a Solar Powered Water Heater

All modern homes have a fully equipped solar water heater. You and your family need this large appliance to enjoy warm and hot water for everyday tasks like cooking, washing your hands, bathing, doing laundry and even washing the dog. However, in buying one you might feel bogged down by the wide variety of options. After doing some research, you may find that a solar-powered water heater is the right choice for your home.
Figure out how much hot water you and your family are likely to use in a day. To calculate this number, multiply the number of people in your household by 18. This will give you the number of gallons per day you're likely to use.
Find out the difference between smaller batch solar powered water heaters and larger collector models. Generally smaller households of one or two people use a batch solar water heater and a large collector solar collector goes into larger homes. The size of the collector can vary greatly.
Look for a solar powered water heater that can handle the amount of hot water that your household uses in a day. Each system will have a recommended or estimated amount of gallons per day that it can generate.
Factor in your climate. You may be able to choose a smaller capacity solar panels if you live in an area that gets lots of sun, such as Florida or Arizona. However, if you live in a cloudier area, such as Seattle or Northeastern Ohio, then you might actually need a larger system to get enough hot water.
Consult with several solar powered water heater dealers before you choose one. Each dealer will estimate how large a system you need and offer you a price for the system and installation. You will need a reputable, experienced dealer to install this type of system, but should factor in size recommendations and price to your decision as well.