How to use the Solar Water Heater Efficiency Calculator
The Formula
Flat-plate and evacuated-tube collectors convert intercepted sunlight into sensible heat in your tank. Scale, shading, stagnation, and plumbing losses all show up as a gap between incident solar and measured ΔT. Field-checking efficiency explains “why the tank is lukewarm” before you replace hardware.
Practical Example
Water energy ≈ liters × 4.186 × ΔT ÷ 3600 kWh. Incident solar ≈ collector m² × sun hours × 0.75 kW/m² average irradiance. Thermal efficiency % = water kWh ÷ incident kWh (capped at 100%). Savings compare the same kWh at your retail electric rate versus a resistance element.