I'm considering solar water heater with a propane tank-less backup.

[DemoTex]

Does anyone have any experience with either solar or tank-less water heating? How about the combo? It looks like it will pay for itself in about 7 years.

[BR_Parkway]

1. We're building a new place with solar hot water, radiant floor heat

and using propane tank-less. What do you want to know?

[DemoTex]

3. Have you used it yet?

I'm wondering how reliable a supply of hot water will I have. I wash cloths in cold water; so the sink, dishwasher, and showers will be the load on the system. Would the system run three showers at once?

On edit: Hey, I see we are nearly neighbors. I am in the mountains of Transylvania County, southwest of Asheville. What brand equipment are you going with?

[BR_Parkway]

10. Probably Takagi, they make a commercial sized unit and we'll have to

gang 2 of them in serial. Still building, but we have another B&B that also uses on demand units - one is a Monitor that I don't recommend, it uses kerosene and clogs up routinely. But the propane ones work great.

Figure a typical solar panel (4 x8) in our area to generate somewhere around 40,000 BTU per DAY, most household uses are recommended 1 panel per person in the house. Systems aren't designed to handle all the hot water needs because there are issues with excess heat.

One of my contractors is down around Mars Hill area, pm me if you want a name/phone number

on edit:

Here's a link to the NC Solar Center

http://www.ncsc.ncsu.edu/

[GreenPartyVoter]

2. Ask this here

http://solarhouse.com/

[DemoTex]

4. Thanks for the link ..

[GreenPartyVoter]

5. You bet. :^)

[jpak]

6. The best thing to do is contact your local solar energy vendors

and ask them about what works in your area and the costs involved.

If your state has a solar energy association, give them a call, they have a lot of hands-on experience.

I'd look into a PV option too (a solar panel that powers the pumps).

Also find out if your state has a solar rebate program.

.

[Boo Boo]

7. Solar is a Good Thing in Texas,

I'd imagine, what with the HOT freakin' weather and all---as long as you can swing the initial investment. Seems like it would boost resale value as well.

Here's a tankless alternative to propane that looks interesting:

http://www.e-tankless.com/

[DemoTex]

8. Even better here in the mountains of western NC!

I have a great southern exposure. If the sun is out my roof gets it all day long. I moved from Texas last year.

[Boo Boo]

9. Demo Ex Tex(ina) /nt

[NMDemDist2]

11. I have had a tankless for a couple years now

and I love it. We are a family of two so it is easy to avoid the "one faucet at a time" issue

I've also had solar and the combination should work great

I don't think the tankless will run 3 showers at once though, and we had to scale back the GPM of water pressure. Our tankless is electric though... better call the manufactoror they were very helpful to us