Some people say solar hot water is better because it saves energy, but isn't it just a myth? What's the truth behind heat pump vs. solar hot water? The Answer: It Depends!

There are many things that will determine your preference for either option. Cost is one factor that will be important in deciding if you should go with solar hot water or a heat pump. If you have a very small budget, then solar could be an excellent choice because the heat pump is quite expensive to run.

However, if you can afford to invest more money into your home, then a hot water heater that uses a heat pump might be right for you. The main thing to remember is that there are pros and cons on both sides, so it comes down to personal preferences.

On top of all that, heat pumps cost more than most other solutions. In fact, they're usually running costs quite expensive compared to traditional electric storage resistance heaters and stand-alone tanks. This means that installing them may not make financial sense for some homeowners.

However, it's important to know that even though they're more costly upfront, heat pumps often pay off handsomely over their lifespan. They use less energy than conventional electric resistance heaters, which makes them cheaper to operate.

In terms of efficiency, heat pumps are far superior to solar hot water systems. A typical heat pump unit can save up to 80 per cent of its energy consumption when compared to the same size solar panel.

Solar hot water also has drawbacks. The biggest drawback is that the amount of energy you get out of a solar panel depends heavily on weather conditions. 

Heat pumps are designed to save energy. They convert regular air into warm or cold air using heating and cooling elements. This makes them efficient at heating/cooling homes during colder months. The downside of this design is that they require power 24 hours a day.

The same technology used in heat pumps can be used for hot water heating. These types of units don’t need as much power so they work great for off-grid applications where your home has no grid connection.

Heat Pumps

Pros:

• Great when you live without grid service.

• Can be combined with renewable energy sources such as photovoltaic (PV) panels and wind generators.

• Aerobic tanks could help reduce odours from hot water pipes.

Cons:

• May not work well if the temperature difference between inside and outside temperatures is large. You could need an auxiliary heater on cold days.

Hot water storage tanks must be able to hold enough water to keep the house comfortable all year long.

Solar Hot Water

Solar hot water uses mirrors and lenses to concentrate sunlight on evacuated tubes filled with water. A fan moves the heated water through your house to keep you comfortable. Because there aren’t any moving parts, these continuous flow systems tend to last longer than other options.

If your electricity goes out and you have a backup generator, you may still use your solar hot water system. You would simply switch over from power to natural gas.

Pros:

• No electricity needed

• No fuel needed

• Can work even when the sun doesn’t shine

Cons:

• Not all areas have enough sunshine to support solar hot water

• Requires expensive equipment (mirrors and lenses)

• Does not provide immediate relief after an electricity outage

Solar panels also generate electricity, but they produce less energy. The sun heats the earth directly; therefore, it is free, unlimited, and widely available. When the weather gets too cloudy, solar panels stop heating the house, even though the sun is shining outside.

There are two main types of solar hot water systems: passive and active. 

Passive solar systems rely on heat gain from the sun for heating purposes. Active solar systems use additional sources such as oil or propane for heating.

Solar Collectors reduce energy consumption and help save money for homeowners. Solar energy from the sun is free energy. The only expense is setting up the equipment. 

Both technologies provide clean, renewable sources of energy. Both heat pumps and solar panels provide high efficiency and low maintenance. To compare both technologies in terms of cost, you should take into consideration initial investment, buy and installation, electricity cost, maintenance, operating cost, benefits and drawbacks.

Cost Comparison

In comparison, heat pumps do require an upfront purchase price, but once it is paid off, they will pay for themselves. In addition, heat pumps are less expensive to maintain than solar hot water systems.

When you consider the initial cost of installing a new heat pump versus a solar hot water system, which one is best? It depends on how much money you want to spend and the amount of time you can devote to maintaining the split system.

We are Alzaria Construction, one of the leading custom home renovator's in the Cincinnati Tri-State area. We wish to serve you as well. Do not hesitate to reach out if you want to get started on your dream home project. You can contact us at 859.657.1777, by emailing us at [email protected], or even by using our chat feature. You construct a dream, we construct it in to reality. Our quotes are transparent, our prices are fair and our customers can vouch for each claim we make.