For buildings that use hot water all day, every day, solar thermal can supply a large share of the load and let the gas or electric heater do the rest.
How commercial solar water heating works
Roof-mounted collectors heat a fluid that transfers its heat to a storage tank. The building draws from that pre-heated storage, and the existing water heater or boiler only tops up the temperature. On a North Carolina roof the collectors do most of the work for much of the year, and the backup heater carries the load on cloudy days and at night.
Solar thermal suits loads that are steady and large: hotels, laundries, car washes, multifamily buildings, athletic facilities, food processing and healthcare. It suits them far less when the load is small or intermittent, and we will say so.
What Progressive provides
- Load analysis and system sizing against your actual hot water use.
- Collector, storage and heat-exchanger design, integrated with your existing boiler or water heater as backup.
- Installation by licensed plumbers with the roof, structural and electrical work coordinated under one contract.
- Freeze protection, controls, and scheduled maintenance of the glycol loop and collectors.
Frequently asked questions
Does solar water heating work in the winter?
Yes. Output is lower on short cloudy days, which is why every commercial system keeps a conventional backup heater in the loop. The system is designed for annual savings, not for any single day.
What incentives are available?
Federal and state incentives for solar thermal change over time. We identify what applies when we quote the project and show the payback with and without incentives.
Can solar be added to an existing water heating system?
In most cases, yes. Solar pre-heats the water and the existing heater or boiler becomes the backup.
Call (877) 325-0180 or request a proposal. Commercial plumbing crews are on call 24/7 across Raleigh, Durham and the Triangle.
Reviews
Trusted by your neighbors
Review from Ashley S., Durham
Ashley S., Durham
I called Progressive because of storm/tree damage, which took out both my power and caused my water main to burst. Progressive could do both. From my initial call to the arrival of the electrician and plumber, I couldn’t have been more pleased. … I would use them again and highly recommend them for your ‘mechanical’ needs.
Review from Wendy L.
Wendy L.
Everything was taken care of today. They were just amazing. They got everything done real quick, no mess, real polite. They were just awesome. … The best news we’ve had since we’ve moved into this house.
Review from Lee & George H., Wake Forest
Lee & George H., Wake Forest
We really appreciate the extra time, phone calls to the supplier, and careful reading of the instructions to do the job right. Gilbert expressed his philosophy as ‘doing the job the way he would want it done in his own home.’ Once again, we are most pleased with the professional and courteous service your company provides.