Things You'll Need:
- New electric hot water heater.
- Plywood
- Double Pane Sliding glass door.
- Screws
- 1/2 inch Copper pipe
- Soldering tools
- Screw gun and drywall screws.
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Step 1
First, I apologize for the lack of detailed drawings, but you can see from the first picture this is not a complicated design.
You will need a new 30 gallon electric hot water heater to tear apart.
You will start by removing the metal jacket that surrounds the tank. You will need gloves and a screw gun and #1 or #2 phillips bit.
Take off all the metal sheath, remove the insulation (wear a respirator and gloves) and remove the electrical wires from the thermostat. you can leave everything else intact. -
Step 2
Next you will need to get some marine plywood and build a box that is at the same slope as your roof. If you have a 6/12 pitch, build the bottom and top slope of the box the same. It will need to be large enough to hold the hot water tank from the step above and of the same dimension on top as a used, double pane sliding glass patio door.
Use at least 3/4 inch plywood, brace the sides with metal brackets on the inside for added strength.
Insulate the sides and bottom of the box with fiberglass insulation and then cover that with foil bubble wrap insulation.
Mount the tank on the inside of the box with metal strapping every six inches and bolt it to the bottom and uphill side of the box. Remember the box will be carrying the weight of the heater full of water. More bracing may be needed on steep roofs. Mine is mounted on a flat roof. And I added extra support underneath in the attic. -
Step 3
You will want to paint the tank before mounting it on the roof. Paint with all season, black house paint.
Once the tank has been mounted inside the sturdy box you have made attach 1/2 inch connections so you will be ready to solder the the copper cold and hot water lines on the roof. ( you will want to insulate these lines with foam insulation, covered with reflective foil bubble wrap, then reflective tape.)
