Whether or not you’re pondering of heating your pool or changing your geyser, you’ve most likely questioned about the price of a photo voltaic water heater.
These water heaters assist scale back your carbon footprint by lowering your month-to-month electrical energy invoice. In truth, yow will discover your self reaping month-to-month financial savings of fifty% to 80%
Nevertheless, like the whole lot on this world, these methods come at a worth.
So what are you able to count on to pay for considered one of these heaters? What elements affect their price? And the way a lot is set up?
This text solutions these questions and extra.
Climatebiz specialists design, analysis, fact-check & edit all work meticulously.
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What Components Have an effect on Photo voltaic Water Heater Price?
Supply: Shutterstock
Pinpointing the precise price of a photo voltaic water heater is difficult as there’s no definitive reply. Nevertheless, you’re between $800 and $2,800, relying on the next elements:
- Variety of photo voltaic panels being put in and their measurement;
- Water storage tank measurement;
- Doable extra plumbing necessities;
- Switches and {hardware} required to put in the system;
- Labor price;
- Required permits and their price; and
- Price to take away the previous system.
Take into account all these elements whereas figuring out the kind of system you’d like to put in. Moreover, don’t underestimate how a lot a few of these variables will price.
Moreover, be cautious of going the DIY route. Many householders consider they’ll do that as an alternative of hiring skilled labor. There could be unexpected issues with switches, {hardware}, and plumbing, so it’s greatest to depart this job to the professionals.
How Does Measurement Impact Photo voltaic Water Heater Price?
A easy system can be extra reasonably priced, whereas a extra intensive one would require vital funding.
In the end, your system’s measurement will rely in your water demand and the photo voltaic water heater’s power effectivity.
Figuring out The Vitality Effectivity Of A Photo voltaic Water Heater
You will want to make use of the photo voltaic power issue (SEF) and a photo voltaic fraction (SF) to find out your photo voltaic water heater’s effectivity degree.
- Photo voltaic Vitality Issue (SEF): the power delivered by a system divided by its electrical enter. The upper the issue, the extra environment friendly the system can be. Widespread elements are between 2 and three.
- Photo voltaic Fraction (SF): the full typical sizzling water heating load (delivered power and tank standby losses). The upper the photo voltaic fraction, the extra vital the photo voltaic contribution. Photo voltaic fraction varies from 0 to 1.0.
Please notice: preserve these two variables in thoughts. You’ll discover ways to use them to find out the price of your photo voltaic water heater within the sections to return.
The Measurement Of Your House
One of many main elements it’s good to account for is the scale of your property.
Generally dialog, we regularly measure a home by what number of rooms it has. Nevertheless, it’s greatest to make use of the variety of occupants or sq. toes when calculating your water necessities.
The quantity of sizzling water you devour is dependent upon your loved ones’s water utilization habits. Do you are inclined to take extra baths or longer showers? In that case, you’ll want a extra intensive photo voltaic water heater system.
For reference functions, in 2022, the common American house is 6,150 sq. toes and has a household of three dwelling in it.
If we proceed to work with averages, this family will use 64.3 gallons each day. That’s equal to 12.03 kWh per day.
Use our photo voltaic calculator to measurement your property’s system.
How A lot Do Photo voltaic Water Heaters Price?
Figuring out the price of a photo voltaic water heater is a matter of market analysis. It is dependent upon location, state-offered rebates, and required effectivity ranges. Moreover, it is dependent upon the scale of your property.
An individual makes use of a median of 101.5 gallons of water per day, of which 22.5 gallons is sizzling water. Utilizing this, you may rapidly gauge your superb tank measurement.
As all the time, around the quantity up; no one needs to expire of sizzling water throughout a bathe.
Photo voltaic Water Heater Prices/Gallon
| Tank Measurement | Individuals | Tank Solely | Tank With Warmth Alternate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 50 Gallon | 1 individual | $800 – $1,500 | $1,200 – $2,300 |
| 80 Gallon | 2 individuals | $1,000 – $1,600 | $1,400 – $2,700 |
| 120 Gallon | 5 individuals | $1200 – $2100 | $1,750 – $2,800 |
All costs are primarily based on this supply from homeguide.com. Nevertheless, for extra correct estimates, discovering a neighborhood installer or ironmongery store could be greatest.
Calculation (Price Per Particular person)
Time to delve into the nitty-gritty. We’ve already mentioned the elements influencing the price of a photo voltaic water heater. However how do you exit the calculations?
It’s fairly easy to plot a calculation that may be tailored to all household sizes. To do that, we’ll calculate the common price per gallon of a photo voltaic water heater. We are able to then calculate what number of gallons of sizzling water your property makes use of and the value.
We all know that the common individual makes use of 22.5 gallons of sizzling water each day. So for the common family of three, that’s 67.5 gallons.
We are able to use the above desk to calculate that the common photo voltaic water heater prices $47 per gallon. Nevertheless, the fee per gallon is closely influenced by the tank measurement. For instance, a 120-gallon tank is cheaper per gallon than a 50-gallon tank.
For a Household of Three
Price Per Particular person = (individuals) x (gallons per individual) x (price per gallon of 80 gallon tank)
(3) x (22.5) x (23.13)
= $3,172.50
For a Household of 5
Price Per Particular person = (individuals) x (gallons per individual) x (price per gallon of 120 gallon tank)
(5) x (22.5) x (16.66)
= $1,874.25
For a Single Particular person
Price Per Particular person = (individuals) x (gallons per individual) x (price per gallon of fifty gallon tank)
(1) x (22.5) x (31)
= $697.50
One thing fascinating to notice is {that a} photo voltaic water heater for a household for 3 is the most costly possibility. It’s because the value contains set up charges that are the identical for a bigger 120-gallon tank.
How A lot Do Photo voltaic Water Heaters Price To Set up?
Supply: cat.org.uk
The common set up price is $100/ft2 ($1000/m2). Nevertheless, collector kind, system configuration, and the native market can affect this worth.
As such, installers cost between $50/ft2 and $424/ft2.
The common-sized residence we’ve been working with would have two photo voltaic collectors for an space between 64 and 80 sq. toes. That’s $800 on prime of the photo voltaic water heater price of $2,100.
Associated Studying: Photo voltaic Thermal Vs. Photovoltaic
How A lot Can Photo voltaic Water Heaters Save You?
How a lot cash you save is dependent upon the next:
- Family measurement and water utilization;
- Collector kind and system efficiency;
- Geographic Location;
- Rebates, incentives, and tax credit; and
- Typical gasoline costs.
Based on the Division of Vitality, you need to save between 50% to 80% in your water heating prices.
Let’s use our 3-person family instance to hold out our calculations.
Calculate The Typical Annual Working Price
To find out how a lot a photo voltaic water heater can prevent yearly, you’ll want to ascertain the price of a standard water heater.
There are two methods to go about this:
- You’ll be able to check with your electrical invoice to see your present spending.
- Alternatively, if you happen to’re constructing a brand new residence, use the calculations on this part.
Every day Water Heating Vitality
You’ll have to know your typical water heater’s effectivity earlier than you proceed.
The effectivity is the Uniform Vitality Issue (UEF). That is the quantity of sizzling water produced per unit of power consumed. The upper the UEF, the extra environment friendly your water heater is.
For electrical water heaters, the UEF is all the time 1.0 as all of the power is used and transferred into the water.
Now you may calculate how a lot power you utilize each day to warmth your water.
Every day water heating power = (gallons of sizzling water per day) x (8.35 lols/gallon) x (1 however/lbs/F) x (Sizzling water temp – chilly water temp)
In our examples, we’ll use a sizzling water temperature of 135ºF and a chilly water temperature of 58ºF. These are the identical temperatures that the DOE makes use of of their testings.
Every day water heating power = (64.3) x (8.35 lols/gallon) x (1 however/lbs/F) x (135ºF – 58ºF)
= 0.413 therms/day
To transform therms to kWh, you multiply the unit by 29.3001. Subsequently, 0.413 therms equal 12.1 kWh per day of electrical energy. Thus, for a household of three, you’ll want a photo voltaic system that may produce 12.1 kWh each day.
Annual Price of Electrical Auxiliary Tank
Subsequent, it’s good to calculate the price of power that the tank consumes. That is easy— all you’re doing is multiplying the electrical energy price by the each day kilowatts used.
In 2022, the common electrical energy worth was $0.144/kWh. Utilizing this, we will calculate:
Annual water heating price = (12 months/yr) x Every day Water Heating Vitality / (1.0) x $0.144
Annual water heating price = $635.97
Evaluating Prices And Figuring out Payback For A Photo voltaic Water Heating System
Lastly, you have to calculate what number of kWh you’ll save and if the photo voltaic water heater is price the fee. Use the UEF and the photo voltaic power issue (SEF) to calculate the annual photo voltaic power financial savings. Typical values for the SEF fall between 2 and three; thus, we’ll use 2.5 in our calculation.
Annual Photo voltaic Vitality Financial savings = (12.03kWh/day) x 365 ((1/1.0) – (1/2.5))
So for a photo voltaic system with a 2.5 SEF and 1.0 UEF:
Annual Photo voltaic Vitality Financial savings = (12.03kWh/day) x 365 ((1/1.0) – (1/2.5)) = 2635 kWh/yr
Annual Photo voltaic Prices Financial savings: 2634 kWh x $0.144 = $379.29 saved.
Payback Interval
Lastly, and that is principally for extra data, you may calculate how lengthy the payback interval can be. To do that, use the next calculation:
Payback interval (years) = (preliminary price $)/(Annual price financial savings $/yr)
When in comparison with our instance:
Payback interval (years) = (tank price + set up price)/(Annual price financial savings/yr)
= (2,100 + 800)/(379.29)
Payback interval = 7.6 years
Are There Rebates Accessible For Photo voltaic Water Heaters?
Supply: Treehugger
Many U.S. states supply tax credit, rebates, and incentives that may scale back the price of your photo voltaic water heater. Nevertheless, laws is about to alter, so now could be one of the best time to make a purchase order.
If you buy your photo voltaic water heater earlier than 2023, you’re eligible for a 26% Renewable Vitality Tax Credit score; nonetheless, if you happen to set up your system in 2023 or after, the tax credit score share falls to 22%.
As well as, numerous states supply extra tax credit and rebates of $1,000 to $5,000. Nevertheless, your photo voltaic water heater should meet the next necessities:
- Licensed by the Photo voltaic Ranking and Certification Company (SRCC)
- Put in within the home-owner’s residence, not an income-generating property
- Used for water within the residence, not in a swimming pool or sizzling tub
To search out tax incentives and rebates in your state, go to energystar.gov or the Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Effectivity.
Closing Ideas
We all know that in direction of the tip of the article, issues grew to become a bit difficult, however we hope you had been capable of comply with alongside.
As a remaining reminder, the tax rebate share will fall to 22% by the tip of the yr. So, if you happen to’re planning on putting in a photo voltaic water heater, now could be the time.
What are your ideas on the rebate share falling? Will you be putting in a photo voltaic water heater whatever the price? Tell us within the feedback part under or be a part of the dialog on Twitter.
