Don Vandervort, Head Homeboy, has written more than 30 DIY home improvement books, been a segment host on HGTV, served as MSN.com's home improvement expert and written countless magazine articles.
Of the reasons to install a solar hot water heater, the primary one is saving money on your monthly energy bills. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, hot water heaters account for 10 to 15 percent of a single-family home's monthly energy bill.
By using the sun to augment the delivery of heat to your water, you can significantly reduce the amount of gas or electricity used to heat water.
By some estimates, homeowners can save over $500 in their first year of operation and, with the more aggressively priced commercial systems, should see a complete return on investment in as few as five years. This is especially true in homes that use electric hot water heaters, which tend to be less efficient than gas systems.
With power prices expected to rise significantly over the next decade, adding a solar solution to your home could save you thousands of dollars over the lifetime of the system.
