
How much does it cost to install a solar hot water heater? The national average cost for installing a solar water heater is between $8,000 and $10,000, with most people paying around $9,000 for a fully-installed, 100-gallon solar active indirect hot water heating system.
How long does it take to install a solar water heater? Solar water heater installation averages $70 per hour by a trained professional. The installation of these systems can be much more involved than that of other water heaters. A conventional style typically won’t take more than one day to install, whereas solar units may take several days.
How is a solar water heater installed? Solar water heating systems use panels or tubes, called solar collectors, to gather solar energy. The solar collectors convert the infra-red portion of visible light into heat. They are filled with a mix of water and glycol. This fluid is pumped round a circuit, which passes through the hot water cylinder.
How much does a solar collector cost? A single evacuated tube collector typically costs between $1,000 and $2,500 to purchase—which will sufficiently hold between 40 and 80 gallons of water. For more water, several collectors will have to be set up in a series and the price of the system will increase for each added system.