Solar

PRODUCT OVERVIEW
Sungrabber Solar Water Heater
Sungrabber captures free renewable energy from the sun to heat your household water, reduce your water heating bill and reduce the amount of electricity or natural gas that you use in your home.
Benefits
• Reduces your water heating bill by an average of 50%
• Helps protect you from rising energy costs by using free renewable energy from the sun to heat your water
• Allows you to take advantage of the 30% federal tax credit and most state and utility incentives
• Works with existing electric, gas and tankless water heaters
• Captures solar energy when it’s available with its fully automated system
• Installs in less than one day with minimal impact to your roof
• Adds value to your home, delivering a long-term return on investment
Key Features
• Polymer solar collectors are efficient, lightweight and flexible
• 10 year worry-free solar collector warranty
• Proudly manufactured in the USA
Sungrabber is Environmentally Friendly
• Reduces reliance on fossil fuels by decreasing the amount of electricity and natural gas used to heat water
• Reduces carbon footprint by lowering the CO2 emissions from conventional hot water heaters
• Increases the use of an infinitely renewable source of energy—the sun

ADDING SOLAR TO YOUR ELECTRIC WATER HEATER
Existing electric water heaters are ideal for conversion to solar because they are well insulated and already have the required plumbing connections. The single-tank configuration shown in the diagram on the right is applicable for electric water heaters. Natural gas and tankless water heaters require a diferent configuration.
Sungrabber channels warm, solar heated water through the system and into your home.
System options, such as an additional solar storage tank, two or more solar collectors and a tempering valve, are available. Ask your installer which options are best for your household hot water needs.
Depending on the selected configuration, your Sungrabber installation can be completed in less than a day.

HOW IT WORKS
Sungrabber Solar Water Heater
How Sungrabber Heats Your Water
Using Solar Energy
1. Automated pumps circulate two separate loops of water, one through the solar collectors and one through the water heater
2. The solar loop is heated on the roof inside the Sungrabber collectors
3. This heat is transferred down to the water tank where it heats a separate cold water loop
4. The sun’s energy then takes the place of the majority of the electricity or gas normally used to heat water
Sungrabber has been designed to work with electric, natural gas and tankless hot water heaters. Note, there are different requirements for each type of installation.
The image shown reflects the Sungrabber base model. Speak with your local installer to determine the system configuration that best suits your needs.
Manufactured in the USA, Sungrabber Solar Water Heaters are eligible for the 30% Federal Tax Credit as well as state and local incentives.

30% FEDERAL TAX CREDIT
For all Sungrabber Solar Water Heaters placed into service between January 1, 2006 and December 31, 2016
The Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPACT), provides a 30% tax credit for the purchase of solar water heating appliances used exclusively for purposes other than heating swimming pools and hot tubs.
Sungrabber Solar Water Heaters are eligible for this 30% tax credit! How to Buy
Improvements must be installed in or on the taxpayer’s principal residence in the United States. Home improvement tax credits apply for improvements made between January 1, 2006 and December 31, 2016.

LOCAL AND STATE TAX INCENTIVES AND REBATES

Visit the Database of State Incentives for Renewable Energy (DSIRE), a comprehensive source of information on state, local, utility, and selected federal incentives that promote renewable energy. Local and state governments often offer tax incentives to encourage residents to invest in solar energy technologies. In addition, electric utility companies often offer rebates to customers who install solar energy equipment because these installations help utilities reduce peak loads.

SOLAR BENEFITS
Renewable solar energy is easy and cost-effective:

• Reduces your energy bills
No matter how high the cost of energy gets, you’ll enjoy an abundant supply of hot water when you have your own solar water “utility.”
• Adds value to your home
An article from The Appraisal Journal suggests that home values increase by about $20 for every $1 deduction in annual utility bills.*
• Is eligible for the 30% federal tax credit
Saving energy is a national priority, which is the reason the federal government is offering a 30% tax credit when you purchase the Sungrabber Solar Hot Water Heater. Some states also offer additional tax credits for even greater savings.
• Is the most environmentally friendly energy
Solar energy is the cleanest, safest and quietest source of energy; it does not produce any greenouse emissions; it reduces greenhouse gas emissions by decreasing the use of electricity generated by fossil fuel power plants.
Sungrabber Solar Water Heaters:
• Reduce your water heating bill by an average of 50%
• Help protect you from rising energy costs by using free renewable energy from the sun to heat your water
• Allow you to take advantage of the 30% federal tax credit and most state and utility incentives
• Work with your existing electric or gas, or tankless water heater
• Capture solar energy when it’s available with a fully automated system
• Have the lowest operational costs ~ energy is free from the sun
• Have the lowest maintenance costs
• Last longer due to fewer moving parts and no corrosion
Sungrabber Solar Pool Heaters:
• Heat your pool to a warm, comfortable temperature using the power of the sun
• Extend your swim season with luxuriously warm water on those cooler days or nights
• Dramatically reduce pool heating costs
• Pay for themselves within 2 to 4 years
• Work with both inground and above ground pools
• Work with most existing pool pumps
• Help protect you from rising energy costs by using free renewable energy from the sun to heat your pool water
• Have the lowest operational costs ~ energy is free from the sun
• Have the lowest maintenance costs
• Last longer due to fewer moving parts and no corrosion

*Source: The Appraisal Journal: More Evidence of Rational Market Values for Home Energy Efficiency, October 1999.

Why use a Solar Hot Water Heater?
A FAFCO solar hot water system can save you up to 50 percent or more on your hot water heating costs. Our systems are environmentally friendly and easy to install. A solar hot water system can add great value to your home.

Why buy the FAFCO solar hot water system?
The FAFCO solar hot water system has many benefits over other systems:
• Your FAFCO dealer is knowledgeable on FAFCO products and solar energy systems, having worked with FAFCO solar products for many years.
• It is the simplest to install. The FAFCO solar hot water system can be installed by a FAFCO dealer in half a day without large work crews or cranes to hoist heavy panels on the roof. This means that the overall installation costs are less than the cost of most other solar hot water systems.
• The FAFCO system does not use expensive materials such as copper and aluminum. This results in a more affordable system with good performance that offers the most BTUs for the dollar.

Is there enough sun where I live?
Yes. There is enough sun in most areas of North America. For more specifics on the amount of sun in your area, visit the Solar Radiation Resources Information website and their Solar Radiation Data Manual, which provides information on solar radiation in your area and charts for areas across the U.S. for a 30-year period.

How does a solar water heater work?
There are three main components of the solar hot water system that work together to deliver heat from the sun to your faucet: the controller, the collectors and the circulation module.
The controller is the brain of the system. It has one sensor on the roof and one sensor on your water tank. When the controller determines that the temperature on the roof is warmer than the temperature in your tank, it sends power to the circulation module.
The circulation module is where the heat from solar is transferred to your water heater. It circulates one loop of water up to the roof to be warmed by the sun and it circulates a second loop of water from your water tank. The heat is transferred from the solar water to the potable water via a heat exchanger inside the circulation module.
The solar panels are where the energy is collected from the sun. The black polymer panel on your roof absorbs sunlight in both the visible and the invisible spectrums and turns it into heat. As the water flows through the panel, the heat is transferred to the water and then to the water heater through the heat exchanger.

I have a large family, can I expand the system?
Yes, one way to expand the system is to add a solar storage tank which will make any number of panels perform better. If desired, additional solar panels can also be added. Your FAFCO dealer can assist you in configuring the best system for your needs.

Does it replace my existing hot water heater?
No. A solar hot water system works in conjunction with your existing gas or electric hot water heater. In most situations, the addition of a FAFCO solar hot water system will extend the life of your existing system by reducing the amount of scaling.

Does the FAFCO solar hot water system require maintenance?
You will need to keep an eye on the drainback tank to make sure that it doesn’t run dry of water when the system is running. This should be checked monthly. See also your FAFCO Owner’s Manual.

How long will it take a FAFCO dealer to install the system?
The system can be installed in about ½ day with a two-person team.

How will well water and possible sediment affect the system?
Sediment or hard water can cause mineral build up on the heat exchanger. Many off-the-shelf “de-scaling” products can be used to dissolve this build up if it becomes necessary.

Will the polymer panel affect the taste of my water?
No. The circulation module in the solar hot water system pumps water through two separate loops, one to the solar collectors and one to your hot water tank. Heat is transferred between the two loops without the solar water ever mixing with the household water.

Will the system have to be removed from my roof when it gets below 32 degrees Fahrenheit?
No, the drainback feature of FAFCO’s system ensures that water is not in the panels when the pump is not running. As long as the drainback tank is in an area that does not see freezing temperatures, the system should be fine.

How do I purchase a system or receive more information?
You can use our Find a Dealer page to locate the dealer nearest you.

What is covered by the warranty?
The FAFCO warranty provides 10 years peace of mind on the solar panels and a 1-year warranty on system parts. For detailed warranty information check with your FAFCO dealer.

What is the expected life of the system?
FAFCO is the oldest and largest solar thermal panel manufacturer in the country. With 1,700,000 panels installed in the field, we have seen that most panels last at least 20 years.