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            #  Commercial Solar Water Heaters 

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.



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## 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](/commercial/plumbing/water-heaters/boilers) or [water heater](/commercial/plumbing/water-heaters/high-efficiency) 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](/contact). Commercial plumbing crews are on call 24/7 across Raleigh, Durham and the Triangle.



[ High-Efficiency Commercial Water Heaters If your building runs hot water all day, the fuel bill is the real cost of the heater. Condensing high-efficiency units recover heat that older systems send up the flue. Learn more →](/commercial/plumbing/water-heaters/high-efficiency)[ Commercial Hot Water Boilers For large buildings, a boiler feeding storage tanks is often the most reliable way to deliver domestic hot water. Progressive designs, installs and services these systems as part of our commercial water heating specialty. Learn more →](/commercial/plumbing/water-heaters/boilers)[ Commercial Water Heaters Hot water is not optional in a restaurant, hotel, clinic or apartment building. Progressive has specialized in commercial water heaters since 1983: sizing, installation, repair, maintenance agreements and same-day replacement, with temporary units when you cannot wait. Learn more →](/commercial/plumbing/water-heaters)

 

 

### Need an expert today?

Same-day service. Flat-rate pricing. Licensed, background-checked technicians.

 [Call (877) 325-0180](tel:8773250180) [Request a Callback](/contact)

 

 



### Facility down? We answer 24/7.

Commercial plumbing, HVAC and electrical crews under one roof. Emergency response any hour; maintenance agreements that prevent the next call.

 [Call (877) 325-0180](tel:8773250180) [Request a Proposal](/contact)

 

 



 ### Commercial Plumbing Services

- [Water Heaters](/commercial/plumbing/water-heaters)
- [Pipe Lining](/commercial/plumbing/pipe-lining)
- [Backflow Certification](/commercial/plumbing/backflow-device-certification)
- [Sewer Main Repair](/commercial/plumbing/sewer-mains)
- [Drain Cleaning](/commercial/plumbing/drain-cleaning)
- [Grease Traps](/commercial/plumbing/grease-traps)
- [All Commercial Plumbing →](/commercial/plumbing)

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Special offer

### New systems from $85/mo with approved credit

 [See details](/promotions) 

 [ ![Pink piggy bank beside clipboard and calculator, with outdoor AC unit and people on patio](/sites/default/files/2026-06/financing-bg-image.png?alternateWidths=/sites/default/files/styles/canvas_parametrized_width--%7Bwidth%7D/public/2026-06/financing-bg-image.png.avif%3Fitok%3D4vOG4lWu)

### Financing Available

Comfort Now, Pay Later

 

 ](/financing) 

 

 



Maintenance agreements

### Scheduled service keeps your building off the emergency list

Planned HVAC, plumbing and electrical maintenance for facilities, property managers and businesses.

 [Ask about an agreement](/contact) 

 

 



 

 



 

 

 



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.
 


 

 



 

 

 

 



 

## Serving the Triangle and beyond

[All service areas →](/service-areas)



- [Apex](/service-areas/apex)
- [Cary](/service-areas/cary)
- [Chapel Hill](/service-areas/chapel-hill)
- [Clayton](/service-areas/clayton)
- [Durham](/service-areas/durham)
- [Fuquay-Varina](/service-areas/fuquay-varina)
- [Garner](/service-areas/garner)
- [Holly Springs](/service-areas/holly-springs)
- [Knightdale](/service-areas/knightdale)
- [Morrisville](/service-areas/morrisville)
- [Raleigh](/service-areas/raleigh)
- [Rolesville](/service-areas/rolesville)
- [Wake Forest](/service-areas/wake-forest)
- [Wendell](/service-areas/wendell)
- [Zebulon](/service-areas/zebulon)



 

 

 



 

##  Day or night, call Progressive. 

 [(877) 325-0180 ](tel:8773250180)