Off Grid water Heating: 4 systems worth considering

Tankless Water Heaters

Tankless water heaters give you an unlimited supply of hot water. It heats the water you need right now so that you won’t waste energy. You can either use propane-fueled or battery-powered tankless water heaters.
1. Propane-fueled

Pros:
• Space saver: Propane-fueled water heaters are designed to be space-efficient. These tanks are usually mounted on a dolly, which makes it a portable water system.
• No energy wasted: Because of the water being heated only when needed, you don’t waste energy heating up a tank of water when you don’t need it.
• Endless hot water: At your disposal, your propane-fueled water heater supplies an unlimited amount of hot water if need be.

Cons:

• Cost: This type of tankless water system sells at a higher price because they need proper ventilation to the outdoors upon installation. It also means that the installation fee cost higher. However, if you live in a place with warm climate conditions, you don't need to worry about ventilation issues.
• Maintenance: Using a propane-fueled water system also means more maintenance in the future. The tank needs an inspection annually to ensure everything works well. It has a more complex design than the battery-powered tanks, so maintaining them means expensive rates as well.

Battery-powered 

Pros:

• Less expensive: Battery-powered water heaters cost less than propane-fueled ones. It depends on how many gallons per minute (GPM) you compare it. The installation also costs cheaper because you don't need to use an elaborate ventilation system.
• Less maintenance: All the maintenance you need to do in this type of water system is to clean the tank's filter.
• Saves space: Like propane-fueled tanks, they are also designed to be mounted on a wall or dolly to be mobile.
• Saves energy: Because you only need to heat the water on demand, you don’t waste energy heating a tank of water if you’re not using it.
• No vent: With a battery-powered tankless water heater, you won’t need the use of a ventilation system since it doesn’t exhaust fumes inside your home.
• Unlimited hot water: With a battery-powered water heater, you can get all the hot water you want as long as you turn on the water heater. It heats your water on your demand.

Cons

• Battery Consumption: Since you are using a battery-powered tank, you will need to have many spare batteries to replace the used-up battery installed in your tank.

Solar water heaters

Solar water heaters need to absorb sunlight and solar radiation through their solar panels or solar tubes. It allows water to get heated inside the tank connected to the panels or tubes without electricity. An excellent example of a solar water heater system is the Sunbank. You can install this water system on the roof, and it has the versatility to be installed in other locations.

Pros:

•    No movable parts: You don't have to worry about pumps or movable parts in a solar water heating system. Hot water is stored inside the tank. If you turn on the hot water faucet, cold water will be pushed inside the tank, pushing out the hot water to the faucet.

•   No monthly expenses: Unlike propane-fueled water heaters, after installing your solar water heater, you don’t have to worry about additional charges or expenses like refilling for propane.

Cons:

•    Initial expense: You must be prepared with your budget if you consider installing this Off Grid Water Heating Systems. A 40-gallon solar water heater costs $3000. But the good thing you can take from this is that it pays itself in 8 years compared to a propane-fueled system.

•    Depends on the climate: If you live in a sunny area most of the time, you don't need to worry about this problem. But if you don't, then it would be a big problem for you.

•    Water supply is limited: After consuming all the hot water inside the tank, you will have to wait for a few hours before hot water is produced again because it relies on the solar energy available at the moment.