Method · Load review · Solar planning · Backup discipline

How It Works

The Solar Plumber method is simple: find the water-related electric loads, understand when they run, decide what matters during outages, and then design the solar and battery conversation around facts instead of guesses.

The central idea

Water systems become solar problems when they need electricity.

Pipes, tanks, valves, wells, pools, rainwater systems, and livestock troughs may look like plumbing problems. But when a pump starts, a controller runs, a heater recovers, a pressure system cycles, or a battery is expected to carry the load, the solar conversation begins.

TheSolarPlumber.com is not about replacing plumbers, well contractors, pool professionals, water-treatment specialists, or engineers. It is about coordinating the electrical side of water equipment so solar and batteries are not designed blindly.

ABC Solar’s role is to look at solar, battery, inverter, utility-rate, and backup-load planning. The water-system trades still own the water design, code compliance, health safety, and equipment-specific work.

Step 1

Identify the loads before designing the system.

A solar water plan starts by making a list. Pumps, water heaters, controls, pressure systems, pool equipment, valves, sensors, and treatment equipment should be visible before anyone promises performance.

Pumps

Pool pumps, well pumps, booster pumps, transfer pumps, sump pumps, and livestock water pumps all behave differently.

Solar pumps

Heating Loads

Water heating is different from water movement. Hot-water loads need separate planning around energy, timing, equipment, and safety.

Water heating comparison

Controls

Timers, relays, automation, float switches, pressure switches, sensors, and controllers can determine when equipment actually runs.

Step 2

Study runtime, schedule, and motor behavior.

A load is not just a nameplate. The important questions are how much power it uses, when it runs, how long it runs, and whether it has a startup surge that can challenge an inverter.

A pool pump running six hours a day during expensive utility periods is a schedule problem. A well pump that must start during an outage is a surge and backup problem. A booster pump that short-cycles may be a pressure-system problem before it is a solar problem.

Load facts to collect

Voltage and phase
Horsepower, wattage, or amperage
Startup surge or motor type
Hours per day
Time of day
Automatic or manual operation
Seasonal changes
Failure behavior

Step 3

Separate water storage from battery storage.

A battery stores electricity. A tank stores water. A pressure tank stores pressurized water. A hot-water tank stores heat. These are different kinds of storage, and they should not be confused.

The best system may not be the one with the biggest battery. It may be the one that pumps water during sunlight, stores gallons, avoids bad peak-rate timing, and protects battery reserve for truly critical loads.

Storage questions

How many gallons are already stored?
How much pressurized water is available?
Can pumping happen during solar production?
Can water be stored before an outage?
What loads require battery power at night?
Can nonessential loads be locked out?

Step 4

Rank the loads before promising backup.

Battery backup requires discipline. A well pump, livestock pump, pool pump, irrigation pump, decorative fountain, and water heater should not all be treated as equal outage priorities.

Blackout water readiness planning with solar battery and water storage

Critical Loads

Essential water, animal water, pressure for basic use, and required treatment controls may deserve backup priority.

Blackout water readiness

Flexible Loads

Some loads can move to daylight, run manually, or wait until solar production is available.

Excluded Loads

Pool features, irrigation, heaters, or comfort equipment may need to stay off backup unless the system is specifically designed for them.

Step 5

Define the scope before the trades collide.

The plumber, electrician, solar contractor, pool professional, well contractor, water-treatment specialist, inspector, and customer all need clear boundaries. The Solar Plumber concept works best when every trade knows what it owns.

ABC Solar can help define the solar, battery, inverter, utility-rate, load-panel, and backup-power questions. The water side still needs qualified water professionals. A clean project scope prevents confusion and protects the customer.

Scope questions

Who owns plumbing design?
Who owns pump selection?
Who owns electrical work?
Who owns solar and battery design?
Who owns controls and programming?
Who owns permits and inspections?
Who owns customer operating instructions?

Method table

The Solar Plumber planning sequence

Step	Question	Why It Matters
1. Load list	What equipment uses electricity?	You cannot size or schedule what you have not identified.
2. Runtime	When and how long does it run?	Runtime determines energy use and utility-rate exposure.
3. Surge	Does the motor need startup power?	Inverters must handle startup behavior, not just running load.
4. Storage	Can water storage reduce electric demand?	Stored water can reduce battery strain and improve resilience.
5. Priority	Is the load critical, flexible, or optional?	Battery backup should protect the loads that matter most.
6. Scope	Which licensed professional owns each part?	Clear boundaries prevent unsafe assumptions and project confusion.

Manga method

Solar Sensei opens the utility-room notebook.

The pump wants power. The tank wants respect. The battery wants boundaries. The pool heater wants everything. The plumber and electrician stare at each other. Solar Sensei says, “First we make the load list. Then nobody gets surprised.”

The Pump

“Read my nameplate before you promise anything.”

The Battery

“I help critical loads. I do not babysit bad schedules.”

Solar Sensei

“A clean scope is cheaper than a messy argument.”

Start with Solar Water Systems See Manga Episodes

Important safety and licensing note

TheSolarPlumber.com is educational only. It is not plumbing advice, not pump-selection advice, not well-system advice, not pool-code advice, not water-treatment advice, not electrical engineering advice, not fire-safety design, and not a substitute for licensed professionals. Pumps, pressure tanks, wells, pools, rainwater systems, graywater systems, water heaters, batteries, PV systems, generators, backup-power systems, and electrical panels require proper design, permits, inspections, maintenance, and qualified professionals.

ABC Solar Incorporated

Need help making the load list?

ABC Solar can review the solar, battery, inverter, utility-rate, and electrical-load side of water equipment so the project begins with facts, not assumptions.

Contact ABC Solar Call 1-310-373-3169 Visit ABCSolar.com